Oklahoma will start the year ranked in the AP Poll. Brent Venables’ Sooners checked in at No. 18 in the preseason poll, which was released on Monday. Just as in the Coaches Poll, which was released last week, the Texas Longhorns will start 2025 as the No. 1-ranked team.

— No. 1 Texas is the AP preseason No. 1 team for the first time. The Longhorns have been No. 2 in the preseason five times (1962, 1965, 1970, 2005 and 2009). — No. 2 Penn State has its highest preseason ranking since it was No. 1 in 1997. That team lost its last two games and finished 9-3 and No. 16 in the final poll.