The Preseason AP Top 25 has been released and the Texas Longhorns begin the season ranked No. 5. UT is No 4 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Why has the media ranked the Horns lower?
The top three in each poll is the same. The Ohio State Buckeyes are No. 1, the Oregon Ducks are No. 2 and the Georgia Bulldogs are No. 3. But in the media poll, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish jump Texas into the fourth spot.
The Texas A&M Aggies are No. 8 in both rankings, while the Oklahoma Sooners check in at No. 10 in AP after being ranked No. 9 by the coaches.
The Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with nine teams in the preseason Top 25. This is the third straight year the SEC has had at least nine teams in the initial poll. Five of the top 10 are from the SEC. The Big Ten lands eight teams in the poll. Four Big 12 and three ACC teams are ranked.
https://t.co/T23NtgfCyw
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 17, 2026
Ohio State and Oregon are 1-2 in the preseason poll while the SEC leads conferences with nine ranked teams. pic.twitter.com/KIcOlA5YyB
After an overwhelming love-in with Texas and new starting quarterback Arch Manning last year, ranking Texas No. 1 in the preseason and Manning the Heisman favorite, the media possibly felt burned when the Longhorns struggled out of the gate. Sports writers have long memories.
Voters would rather underestimate a team than overestimate expectations. Even though writers get caught up in the moment, hence adoration heaped on Texas before the 2025 campaign. Fool me once?
There has also been a lot of media attention towards the Irish this preseason. With Notre Dame's national brand, relatively easy schedule, a good coach in Marcus Freeman and Heisman candidate QB in CJ Carr, it is understandable.
Texas Steve Sarkisian won't mind the No. 5 ranking. He can pitch it to the team as "disrespect," giving them another rallying point. The Longhorns also have the toughest schedule in the country. If Texas is worthy of being ranked higher than No. 5, they will get the opportunity to prove it.
No. 1 Ohio State visits Austin in Week 2 of the season. The rankings will certainly get a shakeup then to be sure.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Does Media doubt Texas? Longhorns No 5 in new Preseason AP Top 25 Poll