The football poll of record since 1936, the AP released their preseason poll Monday morning.
Oregon begins the season ranked No. 7, while fellow Big Ten powers Penn State and Ohio State rank No. 2 and No. 3. SEC contenders Texas and Georgia place No. 1 and No. 5.
In all 10 teams from the SEC begin the season ranked in the Top 25. Besides the Big Three, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana made it from the B1G.
The poll matters because it shapes perception about the relative strength of teams and the strength of their schedules.