The OU football team is No. 9 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the AP Poll ahead of the first week of the 2026 college football season.

Despite the preseason hype around Oklahoma State, the Pokes did not make either list, though they did receive votes. OSU will try to climb up after a disastrous 2025 season that ended on only one win.

The Sooners will start their season at home against UTEP, while the Cowboys will travel to Tulsa.

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Preseason college football rankings

US LBM Coaches Poll

  • 1. Ohio State
  • 2. Oregon
  • 3. Georgia
  • 4. Texas
  • 5. Notre Dame
  • 6. Indiana
  • 7. Miami (FL)
  • 8. Texas A&M
  • 9. Oklahoma
  • 10. Ole Miss
  • 11. Alabama
  • 12. Texas Tech
  • 13. LSU
  • 14. USC
  • 15. BYU
  • 16. Michigan
  • 17. Penn State
  • 18. Tennessee
  • 19. Washington
  • 20. SMU
  • 21. Utah
  • 22. Iowa
  • 23. Clemson
  • 24. Houston
  • 25. Missouri

Others receiving votes: Louisville 153; Florida 147; TCU 63; Illinois 62; South Carolina 50; Arizona 50; Virginia 40; Vanderbilt 37; Auburn 29; Georgia Tech 26; Boise State 24; Oklahoma State 22; UNLV 17; North Carolina State 13; Florida State 13; Virginia Tech 12; Nebraska 12; Memphis 9; Arizona State 8; James Madison 6; Duke 6; Pittsburgh 4; New Mexico 4; Western Michigan 3; Navy 3; San Diego State 2; Kansas State 1; Jacksonville State 1; Hawaii 1; California 1.

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AP Poll

  • 1. Ohio State
  • 2. Oregon
  • 3. Georgia
  • 4. Notre Dame
  • 5. Texas
  • 6. Indiana
  • 7. Miami (FL)
  • 8. Texas A&M
  • 9. Ole Miss
  • 10. Oklahoma
  • 11. LSU
  • 12. Texas Tech
  • 13. Alabama
  • 14. BYU
  • 15. USC
  • 16. Michigan
  • 17. Washington
  • 18. Penn State
  • 19. SMU
  • 20. Tennessee
  • 21. Utah
  • 22. Iowa
  • 23. Houston
  • 24. Louisville
  • 25. Missouri

Others receiving votes: Clemson 112; Florida 51; Boise State 43; Arizona 32; TCU 11; Navy 10; South Carolina 10; Illinois 9; Oklahoma State 8; Vanderbilt 8; Pittsburgh 7; Virginia Tech 6; Minnesota 5; UNLV 4; New Mexico 4; Georgia Tech 4; James Madison 3; Auburn 3; Memphis 2; California; Liberty 1; Western Michigan 1; Tulane 1; Virginia 1.

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Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Where OU football is ranked in college football polls before Week 1 game vs UTEP

Source: Yahoo Sports