Ohio State is ranked third in the preseason AP poll – behind two teams it will play in the Shoe this year.
While the Buckeyes were ranked second in the preseason Coaches Poll, Ohio State is ranked third in the preseason AP Top 25 behind Texas and Penn State. Ohio State will face Texas in a top-three matchup to begin the season while it will host Penn State on Nov. 1.
| Rank | Team | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEXAS | 0–0 | 1552 (25) |
| 2 | PENN STATE | 0–0 | 1547 (23) |
| 3 | OHIO STATE | 0–0 | 1472 (11) |
| 4 | CLEMSON | 0–0 | 1398 (4) |
| 5 | GEORGIA | 0–0 | 1331 (1) |
| 6 | NOTRE DAME | 0–0 | 1325 (0) |
| 7 | OREGON | 0–0 | 1236 (1) |
| 8 | ALABAMA | 0–0 | 1179 (0) |
| 9 | LSU | 0–0 | 1174 (0) |
| 10 | MIAMI (FL) | 0–0 | 889 (0) |
| 11 | ARIZONA STATE | 0–0 | 791 (0) |
| 12 | ILLINOIS | 0–0 | 713 (0) |
| 13 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 0–0 | 667 (0) |
| 14 | MICHIGAN | 0–0 | 662 (0) |
| 15 | FLORIDA | 0–0 | 626 (0) |
| 16 | SMU | 0–0 | 565 (0) |
| 17 | KANSAS STATE | 0–0 | 512 (0) |
| 18 | OKLAHOMA | 0–0 | 463 (0) |
| 19 | TEXAS A&M | 0–0 | 434 (0) |
| 20 | INDIANA | 0–0 | 423 (0) |
| 21 | OLE MISS | 0–0 | 370 (0) |
| 22 | IOWA STATE | 0–0 | 309 (0) |
| 23 | TEXAS TECH | 0–0 | 274 (0) |
| 24 | TENNESSEE | 0–0 | 192 (0) |
| 25 | BOISE STATE | 0–0 | 191 (0) |
Texas was voted by the AP’s panel of voters as the top team entering the season even though the Longhorns lost to the Buckeyes in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.