One thing we know about preseason polls is how little it means in the grand scheme of things. A high ranking doesn’t automatically mean success, and there’s always teams not ranked that surprise.
But that doesn’t stop fans — or the media — from letting the rankings set the expectations.
The preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is out and it provides the first real snapshot of who are the contenders for this season’s College Football Playoff.
While there are plenty of teams obviously positioned to compete for a national championship and potential darkhorse candidates, there are clearly some that have the summer hype train at over capacity.
Whether it’s built off last season’s finish or some hyped up additions, there are some squads that have too much excitement to start. Now, it’s not saying they will have a disappointing season. For all we know, they could be playing meaningful football in January. But these teams need to prove something before we can say they deserve the number next to their name.
2. Ohio State
The defending national champions are ranked second and are poised to compete for another title, but there are still so many questions regarding the Buckeyes.
Yes, they have arguably two of the best players on both sides of the ball in receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. But Ryan Day has to replenish so much from last season’s squad, from installing new coordinators while having to replace veterans at quarterback, running back and both lines of the ball.
The Buckeyes have a top five recruiting class coming into Columbus and some potential stars ready to shine, but they’re an extremely unproven team that seems to benefit from winning it all last year. Of course, they can erase all concern when they face top ranked Texas in the season opener.
15. Mississippi
Lane Kiffin continues to make Mississippi a respectable squad in the SEC, but like last year, lofty expectations are being put on a Rebels team that has yet to break through.
The 2024 squad felt like Ole Miss’ best yet, but it couldn’t avoid traps and missed out on the playoff. Now Jaxson Dart and a plethora of talent are gone and Kiffin has to practically rebuild from scratch. He went deep into the transfer portal to replenish the offense, which will be led by sophomore quaterback Austin Simmons. There are holes to fill at receiver and offensive line to keep the high standard established under Dart.
On the plus side, the Rebels have a chance to jump up the rankings with an easy start on the schedule, but it will remain a question whether it is legit until the big game start at the end of September.
16. SMU
Can the Mustangs repeat magic? SMU had a tremendous run to the College Football Playoff in 2024, but it will take a lot for it to get back into the field.
SMU benefits from Kevin Jennings returning under center, and Rhett Lashlee went into the portal to replenish the skill positions that really paved the way for last season’s successful run. While the pieces are there, it’s worth noting SMU greatly benefited from a relatively easy schedule that avoided the top four teams in the ACC. The schedule in 2025 is much more difficult, with Baylor and TCU in non-conference action and Clemson, Miami and Louisville in conference play.
If SMU can navigate a tougher schedule, they will present a solid argument to the playoff committee to be back in. But a tougher slate makes it tough for the Mustangs to survive.
18. Tennessee
Despite all of the offseason drama in Rocky Top, Tennessee has a favorable starting position. However, Josh Heupel has quite the task to keep a high potent offense.
The loss of Nico Iamaleava was not only tough for the Volunteers after guiding them to the playoff, but it came at a difficult time when there wasn’t a wide pool for the Volunteers to look for at signal-caller. They essentially did a swap with UCLA and brought in Joey Aguilar. Could the former Appalachian State quarterback take over the job? A lot of pressure rests on him trying to guide a young offense. Defense will have to lead.
Tennessee should be a dark horse contender for the SEC title, but they are in the position of what they can do. Right now, it’s not a guarantee the Volunteers are contenders. They need to prove something before it should be in the top 20.
23. Brigham Young
Of all the ranked teams, the most questionable one on the list is Brigham Young.
The Cougars fell just short of the playoff and had a real shot of contending in the Big 12 again. But the outlook drastically changed when Jake Retzlaff departed the team. Now whomever wins the job will have the Cougars rolling with a quarterback that doesn’t have significant experience, making it look like they won’t be able to replicate the magic from 2024.
There’s a good shot BYU starts the season 3-0, but the Big 12 scheduling is daunting by mid-October. Don’t be shocked if the Cougars are just trying to make sure they are bowl eligible.
Receiving votes: Auburn
Twenty-six teams received votes in the poll, and there’s no team that has a bigger question mark and spot than Auburn. The Tigers earned 50 points, putting them at No. 32 among teams in the rankings.
Sure, the Tigers had some back luck in 2024, but they still went 5-7 and nothing has shown it will take a major step forward. The quarterback room has experience but none of them are proven stars, and they’re trying to show they can start. Hugh Freeze showed promise with a strong recruiting effort, but he hasn’t shown he can put together a winning team yet in his two seasons at Auburn.