The Associated Press preseason poll was released Monday, less than two weeks before the start of the 2025 season. Texas was No. 1 for the first time in school history, followed closely by Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson and, of course, Bellyaching U.

Only this year, the complaints aren’t limited to the placement of teams. There is more griping about the preseason poll’s existence than ever before, in part because of recent developments at the conference level.

The Big 12 dispensed with its preseason media poll last month, wary of the adverse effects preseason expectations can have on a team’s trajectory throughout the fall and the preference given to blue blood programs from the most powerful conference.

That concern was seemingly justified Monday morning.

The Big Ten placed six teams

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