Texas edged Penn State for the No. 1 ranking and earned the top spot in the preseason Top 25 poll for the first time in program history.

The Longhorns received 25 first-place votes in the AP poll compared to 23 for Penn State, which was last ranked this high entering the season in 1997. That year the Nittany Lions opened at No. 1 and lost for the first time on Nov. 8 to eventual national champion Michigan.

Texas opens the season on Aug. 30 against defending national champion Ohio State. The Buckeyes check in at No. 3 in the preseason poll and received 11 first-place votes to rate ahead of No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Georgia.

National runner-up Notre Dame received zero first-place votes. The Fighting Irish ranked sixth and Oregon, Alabama, LSU and Miami round out the top 10.

Defending Big 1

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