The preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll has arrived. And what do you know? Your alma mater is ranked too low, and all of your rivals are far too high.
On a more serious note, the poll’s publication is a sign that the start of the 2026 season is oh so close. Week Zero is just 12 days away, though there are no games between two top-25 teams on the docket. Even Week 1 only has one clash between two ranked teams: No. 24 Louisville vs. No. 9 Ole Miss.
Arguably the game of the year is set for Week 2 when No. 1 Ohio State faces No. 5 Texas in a Big Ten-SEC clash. The Longhorns were in the top spot when these teams played a season ago. The Buckeyes got the best of them in that meeting, continuing a years-long trend of Big Ten supremacy that bore out in the postseason when the conference won its third straight national championship.
The SEC can take some solace in the fact that it landed an FBS-best nine teams in the preseason poll. That includes five of the top 10 teams. The Big Ten came in second with eight in the top 25, including the top two teams and three of the top six. The Big 12 came in third with four, closely followed by the ACC with three. Notre Dame rounded out the top 25 as the only independent. Zero teams from the Group of 6 were ranked for the first time since 2024.
- Related: As SEC Tries to Reassert Supremacy, Big Ten Looms Large
The order of the top 25 fell largely in line with our projections, which slotted nine teams exactly and 11 within one spot of their actual ranking. There also weren’t many outliers from Athlon’s top 25. So there’s not much to be outraged with the voters for — just yet, at least.
But as always, there are some quibbles with the order — or inclusion — of a few teams. Athlon identified one overrated team and one underrated team in the preseason top 25.
2026 CFB Preview: Top 138 Team Rankings | All-America Teams | Playoff Predictions | Bowl Projections
© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Overrated: Missouri Tigers (No. 25)
The Tigers earned the same position in the AP poll as they did in the coaches poll. However, that position is four spots higher than where Missouri landed in Athlon’s top 138 rankings.
This is the second time under coach Eli Drinkwitz that the Tigers landed in the preseason top 25. Mizzou clocked in at No. 11 in 2024 on the heels of an 11-win season with more than half of its starters back. Compare that consistency to this year’s rampant turnover, in which the Tigers return just six starters — none on defense — from an eight-win team.
Missouri reloaded with a well-regarded transfer portal class, but its best defender (edge rusher Damon Wilson II) transferred out, and its best offensive player (running back Ahmad Hardy) might not be available for Week 1. Hardy led the country in rushing last season with 1,649 yards. Even though running back Jamal Roberts is a good second option, there are questions about how the offense will look under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, especially with Austin Simmons (Ole Miss) taking over under center.
Simmons has performed well when called upon, but he’s started just two games three years into his college career. Tight end Brett Norfleet and former Rebels wide receiver Cayden Lee will help ease his transition to a full-time SEC starting job. He’ll also be protected by one of the better lines in the conference with a strong running back room at his disposal. Simmons projects as a middle-of-the-pack starter in the conference.
- 2026 Heisman Trophy Watch: CJ Carr, Arch Manning Headline the Top 10 Contenders
It’s also fair to anticipate a step back on defense from the Tigers after allowing the third-fewest points per game in the conference in 2025. Beyond the departures on that side of the ball, Missouri’s 2026 schedule is considerably harder than the last few years. Only three SEC teams have a better record than the Tigers since 2023, so Drinkwitz has earned the benefit of the doubt. But No. 25 still feels a hair too high heading into the season.
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Underrated: Houston Cougars (No. 23)
The AP voters showed the Cougars a bit more love than the coaches, who slotted Houston in at No. 24. Though this is just the Cougars’ second appearance in the preseason poll in the last decade and their highest position since 2016, they’re still a few spots lower than their No. 19 placement in Athlon’s top 25.
Houston returns 12 starters from a 10-win team. After a four-win debut in 2024, coach Willie Fritz continued a trend of elevating programs in his second season at the helm. With so much production back from that squad and a narrowing gap between defending Big 12 champion Texas Tech and the next tier of contenders, which includes the Cougars, Houston is well-positioned to build on last season’s success.
The Cougars are among the most balanced teams in the conference. They might not have the best quarterback, offensive line or secondary in the Big 12. But they stack up well across the board — not only with talent but also with experience and depth.
- Related: Who Will Be the Next Fernando Mendoza? 5 Heisman Sleepers to Watch This Season
Quarterback Conner Weigman has rare continuity on offense after what’s been a chaotic college career. Offensive coordinator Slade Nagle is back, as is star wide receiver Amare Thomas. The 2025 campaign was a late breakout for Weigman, who’s solid in the pass and run game. The unit in place around him could help facilitate an even stronger season.
Houston’s defense is also littered with returning contributors, and that was its better performing side of the ball a season ago. The Cougars can take advantage of a soft schedule — which includes a road trip to play the Red Raiders on the road — to take the next step this season. Unlike last season, they won’t be coming out of nowhere. But based on their preseason position, there’s still a case that this group is underrated heading into 2026.
