For the first time in history, the University of Texas is opening its college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Longhorns received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference its fifth consecutive preseason No. 1 team.
Texas faces a tough test in its opener against defending champion Ohio State on August 30. This rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff semifinal could provide insight into the Buckeyes’ strengths and weaknesses. The Longhorns have been on an upward trajectory since Steve Sarkisian took over as head coach, winning 25 of their past 30 games.
Despite having just 38.5% of the first-place votes, Texas has high expectations for the season. Coach Sarkisian emphasizes that competing for championships is a standard at the University of Texas. The team’s defense is considered strong, with returning talent from last season.
The Buckeyes received 11 first-place votes and are ranked third. They face a new look under coach Ryan Day, who wants to establish his own identity while also chasing back-to-back national championships. The opener against Texas will be a crucial test of their abilities.
Other top-ranked teams include Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama, LSU, and Miami. The SEC leads all conferences with 10 teams in the preseason Top 25 for the fifth straight year.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/45944406/texas-ranked-no-1-preseason-ap-top-25-first