Ohio State was named the top team in the USA Today preseason coaches football poll released Tuesday, receiving 38 of the 72 first-place votes. Oregon secured the second spot, with six first-place votes, followed closely by Georgia at No. 3, which garnered seven first-place votes.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) maintained a strong presence in the rankings, with five teams among the top 10. Georgia’s No. 3 ranking was joined by No. 6 Indiana, the defending national champions, which received 14 first-place votes. Miami, the runner-up in the recent College Football Playoff championship, was ranked seventh.

Texas was positioned at No. 4, receiving two first-place votes, while Notre Dame came in at No. 5 with five first-place votes. Rounding out the top 10 were Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.

Outside the top 10, Texas Tech led the Big 12 contingent at No. 12 and was one of four teams from the conference included in the rankings. Overall, the SEC had the highest representation with nine teams ranked in the poll.

The preseason coaches poll reflects coaches’ expectations heading into the upcoming college football season, taking into account returning talent, previous performance, and program outlook. The rankings highlight the competitive balance among conferences, particularly the strength of the SEC alongside programs from the Big Ten, Pac-12, and other Power Five conferences.