For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25.

The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.

Texas received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points to give the Southeastern Conference the preseason No. 1 team for a record fifth straight year. The Nittany Lions got 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points for their highest preseason ranking since they were No. 1 to open the 1997 season.

HOW DAVID BRIGGS VOTED

1. Ohio State; 2. Texas; 3. Penn State; 4. Notre Dame; 5. Clemson; 6. Alabama; 7. Georgia; 8. LSU; 9. Oregon; 10. Oklahoma; 11. Miami (Fla.); 12. Illinois; 13. South Carolina; 14. Michigan; 15. Arizona State; 16. SMU; 17.

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