College football rankings: Preseason AP Top 25 for SEC
Here's a look at where SEC college football teams ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll ahead of the 2026 season:
The Associated Press published its annual preseason AP Top 25 poll on Monday, Aug. 17, signaling the commencement of college football season. This ranking exerts significant influence and sparks extensive discussions. The Big Ten schools of Ohio State and Oregon claim the top spots, followed by Georgia, Texas, and Notre Dame in the top five.
Notably, the SEC secures nine teams in the initial release of the 2026 college football rankings, mirroring the number from the Coaches Poll. Georgia and Texas lead the way in the top five, with Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma occupying spots 6 through 8. LSU and Alabama occupy the 11th and 15th positions, while Tennessee ranks 19th.
Missouri is ranked last among SEC teams. Vanderbilt, which concluded the previous season with a 10-3 record and included a Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Deigo Pavia, did not make it into the top 25. Instead, they garnered eight total votes. Other SEC programs that received votes include Indiana, Miami, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, LSU, Texas Tech, Alabama, and BYU.
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- College football rankings: Preseason AP Top 25 for SEC sports.yahoo.com
