College Football Preseason Coaches and Preseason CFB AP polls keep Penn State in the top three

The College Football Preseason Coaches Poll and Preseason College Football AP Poll were released on Monday. Penn State made the top three on both lists, surrounded by unsurprising teams.

The Coaches Poll order is determined by a random panel of coaches throughout each of the conferences and independents who submit a Top 25. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points and it goes down by one per spot. On Aug. 4, the preseason results were in and the Nittany Lions earned the No. 3 spot to kickoff the 2025 season.

Penn State ranks third on College Football Preseason Coaches Poll

Penn State fell behind Texas (No. 1) and Ohio State (No. 2), sitting below the Buckeyes by just 40 points and the Longhorns by 81 on the Coaches Poll. All three teams received over 10 first-place votes with the Nittany Lions earning 14, Ohio State getting 20, and Texas taking the top with 28.

Both Penn State and Texas have national championship expectations while Ohio State is defending its title. The Longhorns and Nittany Lions, specifically have the championship-winning rosters in their hands. Texas lost to Ohio State in the semifinals in 2024, and Penn State was also one game away to the championship game after losing to Notre Dame.

"Penn State is running it back, similar to what Big Ten foe Ohio State did last season," On3's Nick Kosko wrote. "Drew Allar leads the charge . . . aided by RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen . . . Dani Dennis-Sutton headlines an elite defensive unit, as they’ll collectively replace Abdul Carter. The Nittany Lions are on the short list of national title contenders."

Georgia (three first-place votes), Notre Dame, Clemson (two first-place votes), Oregon, Alabama, LSU, and Miami rounded out the top 10.

Brett McMurphy's Preseason College Football AP Poll ranks Penn State at No. 2

On3's Brett McMurphy also released his Top 25, placing Penn State second and putting Georgia in that top spot. Whether the Bulldogs and Nittany Lions should be ranked above the Longhorns is up for debate, but looking at the Big Ten, specifically, Penn State should have an edge on (or at least a minimal margin between) Ohio State.

The Nittany Lions, on cleveland.com's preseason poll, is ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in front of the No. 2 Buckeyes. While the two are neck and neck on the poll as Penn State received just one extra first-place vote over Ohio State, the Top 25 ranking should be similar. Even though the Coaches Poll has them places No. 2 and No. 3, the Buckeyes receiving six more first-place votes seems like a bigger gap than expected.

In McMurphy's ranking, though he has the Nittany Lions leading their conference, Ohio State was pushed all the way to No. 6. It is the next Big Ten school listed, but sneaking Clemson above the Buckeyes is a bit far-reaching.

Behind the Nittany Lions on McMurphy's ranking follows Texas, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Miami, and LSU.