Ohio State Opens at No. 1 in 2026 US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll

Ohio State claimed the top spot in the 2026 US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll released Tuesday, with Oregon checking in at No. 2 and Georgia at No. 3. Texas came in fourth, followed by a field heavily tilted toward the SEC and Big Ten.

The Southeastern Conference placed nine programs in the Top 25: Georgia (3rd), Texas (4th), Texas A&M (8th), Oklahoma (9th), Ole Miss (10th), Alabama (11th), LSU (13th), Tennessee (18th), and Missouri (25th). The poll underscores the continued depth of both the SEC and Big Ten entering the season.

High-Profile Matchups Already on the Horizon

Ohio State's schedule stands out as one of the most demanding among ranked programs. The Buckeyes are scheduled to face both Oregon and Texas — ranked second and fourth, respectively — making them one of the teams tied for the second-most preseason-ranked opponents on their slate. The matchup against Texas is set for Week 2.

Elsewhere in the poll, Miami checked in at No. 7 following last year's run to the national title game, with new quarterback Darian Mensah arriving after leading Duke to an ACC Championship in 2025. Clemson entered at No. 23, BYU at No. 15, Texas Tech at No. 12, SMU at No. 20, Houston at No. 24, and Utah at No. 21 — the latter beginning a new era under head coach Morgan Scalley following Kyle Whittingham's departure.

Missouri's appearance at No. 25 marks the second time the Tigers have earned a preseason coaches poll ranking in the Eli Drinkwitz era. In 2024, Mizzou entered the season ranked 11th. The Tigers face five fellow SEC ranked opponents on their schedule this season.

Among the teams with lighter ranked-opponent loads, SMU and Texas Tech each face just one preseason Top-25 opponent. The Mustangs will meet Notre Dame on the road in Week 12, while the Red Raiders — entering as defending Big 12 champions — will face Houston as their lone ranked foe. The full poll sets up a regular season with several marquee inter-conference and rivalry matchups involving ranked programs from the opening weeks onward.