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Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon lead preseason AP Top 25 college football rankings
For the second consecutive season, Georgia is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top Poll. Several familiar faces join the Bulldogs in the top 25, including three of the four College Football Playoff teams from last season in the top 10.
The Bulldogs are joined in the top five by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Texas and No. 5 Alabama. Rounding out the top 10 are No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Michigan and No. 10 Florida State.
Here’s the complete preseason AP Top 25 poll.
Preseason AP Top 25 Poll rankings
| Rank | School | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (46) | 1,532 |
| 2 | Ohio State (15) | 1,490 |
| 3 | Oregon (1) | 1,403 |
| 4 | Texas | 1,386 |
| 5 | Alabama | 1,260 |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 1,189 |
| 7 | Notre Dame | 1,122 |
| 8 | Penn State | 1,060 |
| 9 | Michigan | 995 |
| 10 | Florida State | 971 |
| 11 | Missouri | 927 |
| 12 | Utah | 887 |
| 13 | LSU | 804 |
| 14 | Clemson | 689 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 629 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | 566 |
| 17 | Oklahoma State | 538 |
| 18 | Kansas State | 526 |
| 19 | Miami (FL) | 492 |
| 20 | Texas A&M | 292 |
| 21 | Arizona | 237 |
| 22 | Kansas | 231 |
| 23 | Southern Cal | 172 |
| 24 | North Carolina State | 171 |
| 25 | Iowa | 140 |
Others receiving votes: Louisville 111, Virginia Tech 77, Boise St. 47, SMU 33, Iowa St. 33, Liberty 32, Washington 23, West Virginia 17, Memphis 16, Nebraska 16, Wisconsin 15, UTSA 6, Tulane 5, Appalachian St. 4, Kentucky 3, Auburn 2, Colorado 1.
SCHEDULE: Click or tap here for game times, TV channels and scores from every game
Most Weeks Ranked No. 1
Here are the 10 FBS programs that have spent the most weeks ranked No. 1 in the AP poll since 1936, according to www.collegepollarchive.com.
| SCHOOL | WEEKS RANKED NO. 1 | Last Time Ranked No. 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 140 | 2022 |
| Ohio State | 105 | 2015 |
| Oklahoma | 101 | 2011 |
| Notre Dame | 98 | 2012 |
| Southern Cal | 91 | 2012 |
| Florida State | 72 | 2014 |
| Nebraska | 70 | 2000 |
| Miami (FL) | 68 | 2002 |
| Georgia | 52 | 2024 |
| Texas | 45 | 2008 |
Florida (41), Michigan (38) and LSU (36) sit just outside the top 10.
SCOREBOARD: See scores and stats from every college football game
AP Poll ranking by conference
The SEC and Big Ten lead all conferences with four top-10 teams each. Here’s a breakdown of the entire top 25 by conference:
| NO. OF PRESEASON TOP 25 TEAMS | CONFERENCE |
|---|---|
| 9 | SEC |
| 6 | Big Ten |
| 5 | Big 12 |
| 4 | ACC |
| 1 | Independent |
Breaking down the preseason poll
Georgia returns to the number one spot after Heisman candidate quarterback Carson Beck opted to stay for his final season. Reigning national champion Michigan dropped to the No. 9 spot after losing 13 players to the NFL draft. Three of the four CFP teams remained in the top 10, with Texas (No. 4) and Alabama (No. 5) returning their own Heisman candidate quarterbacks in Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe.
No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon are starting fresh under center, with Kansas State transfer Will Howard taking over for the Buckeyes and Oklahoma transfer Dillon Gabriel for the Ducks. Under the new conference realignments, the top 10 consists of four SEC and four Big Ten representatives, with independent Notre Dame and ACC’s Florida State filling the final two spots.
HEISMAN: Every Heisman winner and runner-up since 1935 | Colleges with the most Heisman winners
Washington, the CFP runner-up, dropped outside of the top 25 to start the season following the loss of Heisman finalist Michael Penix Jr. to the NFL draft and the departure of head coach Kalen DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. The top-ranked ACC team, Florida State, found its replacement for Jordan Travis in former Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei.
Nonconference and early-ranked matchups to watch
In a stacked Week 1 slate, No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 14 Clemson will be the game to watch as the top-ranked SEC and second-ranked ACC team face off at noon in a neutral site game that will almost certainly have College Football Playoff implications down the road.
Here are some other games to watch featuring top 25 teams:
As for other key matchups, College GameDay goes international for the first time as No. 10 Florida State will take on Georgia Tech at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. This is the third consecutive season a Week 0 game will be played in Ireland. The next Saturday, the eighth-ranked Nittany Lions will travel to Morgantown to take on West Virginia in a tough first matchup for Penn State.
The College GameDay bus will make its way back across the pond for the anticipated Week 1 matchup between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 20 Texas A&M. Big Ten newcomer Southern Cal will face off against LSU in another neutral-site affair, kicking off the season in Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.
BIG GAMES: 20 non-conference games to have on your radar heading into the 2024 season
Here’s how the 2023 preseason poll turned out
Here’s how the teams ranked in the 2023 preseason AP Top 25 finished last season. Click or tap here for more on how the preseason AP poll predicts the College Football Playoff teams.
| Rank | School (First-place votes) | 2023 Final Ap Top 25 ranking |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia (60) | 4 |
| 2 | Michigan (2) | 1 |
| 3 | Ohio State (1) | 10 |
| 4 | Alabama | 5 |
| 5 | LSU | 12 |
| 6 | Southern California | NR |
| 7 | Penn State | 13 |
| 8 | Florida State | T6 |
| 9 | Clemson | 20 |
| 10 | Washington | 2 |
| 11 | Texas | 3 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 17 |
| 13 | Notre Dame | 14 |
| 14 | Utah | NR |
| 15 | Oregon | T6 |
| 16 | Kansas State | 18 |
| 17 | TCU | NR |
| 18 | Oregon State | NR |
| 19 | Wisconsin | NR |
| 20 | Oklahoma | 15 |
| 21 | North Carolina | NR |
| 22 | Ole Miss | 9 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | NR |
| 24 | Tulane | NR |
| 25 | Iowa | 24 |
Indiana and Ohio State’s showdown Saturday has the makings of a seismic NCAA men’s tournament bubble clash, but there will also be a slice of individual history on the line.
Buckeyes guard Bruce Thornton is 11 points away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in the history of his program. That may not mean much outside of Columbus, but it is peculiar for three reasons—a) the fact that Thornton played all four years of his career at Ohio State, b) the fact that Thornton played only four years, and c) the fact that the record—held by guard Dennis Hopson, an All-American in 1987—has stood for around four decades.
All this is to say that Thornton may be one of the last of a dying breed: a four-year player at a big-name program who, through a combination of luck and skill, passes up NBA and transfer-portal riches to earn the title of a program’s all-time leading scorer.
How rare is Thornton’s achievement in modern times? Let’s unpack the question.
Here, in tabular form, we’ll list the 25 winningest programs in history (via College Basketball Reference), their all-time leading scorers, the most recent player to crack the top 10 on each school’s all-time list, and whether they were helped by extenuating circumstances (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) that provided an extra year of eligibility to boost their stats.
|
TEAM |
ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER |
MOST RECENT PLAYER TO REACH TOP 10 |
NOTES (IF APPLICABLE) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kansas |
Danny Manning (1985 to `88) |
Frank Mason (2014 to `17) |
|
|
Kentucky |
Dan Issel (1968 to `70) |
Keith Bogans (2000 to `03) |
|
|
North Carolina |
Tyler Hansbrough (2006 to `09) |
RJ Davis (2021 to `25) |
Played five full seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic |
|
Duke |
J.J. Redick (2003 to `06) |
Kyle Singler (2008 to `11) |
|
|
Syracuse |
Lawrence Moten (1992 to `95) |
Gerry McNamara (2003 to `06) |
|
|
UCLA |
Don MacLean (1989 to `92) |
Jaime Jaquez (2020 to `23) |
|
|
St. John’s |
Chris Mullin (1982 to `85) |
Shamorie Ponds (2017 to `19) |
|
|
Temple |
Mark Macon (1988 to `91) |
Quinton Rose (2017 to `20) |
|
|
Purdue |
Zach Edey (2021 to `24) |
Braden Smith (2023 to `26) |
|
|
Notre Dame |
Austin Carr (1969 to `71) |
Luke Harangody (2007 to `10) |
|
|
BYU |
Tyler Haws (2010 to `15) |
Yoeli Childs (2017 to `20) and TJ Haws (2017 to `20) |
|
|
Arizona |
Sean Elliott (1986 to `89) |
Hassan Adams (2003 to `06) |
|
|
Indiana |
Calbert Cheaney (1990 to `93) |
Trayce Jackson-Davis (2020 to `23) |
|
|
Louisville |
Darrell Griffith (1977 to `80) |
Russ Smith (2011 to `14) |
|
|
Illinois |
Deon Thomas (1991 to `94) |
Trent Frazier (2018 to `22) |
Played five full seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic |
|
Cincinnati |
Oscar Robertson (1958 to `60) |
Jarron Cumberland (2017 to `20) |
|
|
Texas |
Terrence Rencher (1992 to `95) |
Andrew Jones (2017 to `22) |
Played in parts of six seasons due to leukemia |
|
Villanova |
Eric Dixon (2021 to `25) |
Eric Dixon (2021 to `25) |
Played five full seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic |
|
Western Kentucky |
Courtney Lee (2005 to `08) and Jim McDaniels (1969 to `71) |
Taveion Hollingsworth (2018 to `21) |
|
|
Utah |
Keith Van Horn (1994 to `97) |
Branden Carlson (2020 to `24) |
Played five full seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic |
|
Ohio State |
Dennis Hopson (1984 to `87) |
Bruce Thornton (2023 to `26) |
|
|
Washington |
Chris Welp (1984 to `87) |
Noah Dickerson (2016 to `19) |
|
|
West Virginia |
Jerry West (1958 to `60) |
Jevon Carter (2015 to `18) |
|
|
Michigan State |
Shawn Respert (1991 to `95) |
Cassius Winston (2017 to `20) |
|
|
Penn |
AJ Brodeur (2017 to `20) |
Jordan Dingle (2020 to `23) |
2021 season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic; played 2024 season at St. John’s |
This table is a revealing one, and not just for its nostalgic value. A close reading reveals that there are only five players who have met the following four criteria: a) a career that took place entirely within the 2020s, b) a career that lasted only four seasons, c) a career spent entirely with one school, and d) a career that ended with the player in the top 10 of his school’s scoring list.
These players are: Edey, Jackson-Davis, Jaquez, Braden Smith and Thornton. Of that group, the only players to play their entire careers after the 2021 legalization of NIL earnings are Braden Smith and Thornton. Braden, far better known for his passing, is currently No. 10 on the Boilermakers’ scoring list. Thornton is about to become No. 1 on the Buckeyes’.
Thornton scored just three points in 24 minutes in his Ohio State debut—a 91–53 victory over Robert Morris back in Nov. 2022. However, his scoring gradually ticked upward, and he finished his freshman year a 10.6-point-per-game scorer. He averaged 15.7 in 2024, 17.7 in 2025, and 19.9 in 2026. His advanced metrics have similarly improved—he’s doubled his win shares per 40 minutes since his freshman season, and his 6.3 win shares lead the Big Ten.
Contrast this approach with Hopson’s—the Buckeye great Thornton is about to pass averaged five points per game his freshman year, only to level up and lead the Big Ten with 29 per game in `87. There’s more than one way to become a scoring champ.
“The biggest thing for me is a guy that was committed and dedicated to the Ohio State University for four years,” Hopson told Jack Berney of Spectrum News Tuesday. “With the way basketball and sports are now, kids don’t stay for four years. For a guy that’s never been to an NCAA tournament to stick it out and show his loyalty, I give him all the praise in the world.”
It’s tempting to view a statement like that cynically—the Buckeyes changed coaches smack in the middle of Thornton’s tenure, making a player exodus understandable.
That, however, makes Thornton a bit of a survivor. Everything Ohio State and the college basketball world have thrown at him have, for whatever reason, bounced off him. He’ll likely be rewarded with a trip to NCAA tournament, a hallowed Buckeye record, and membership in the last generation of college hoopers to aim directly at the “career” section of the school record book. He hasn’t missed.
More College Basketball on Sports Illustrated
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio (WSYX) — Family and friends will gather to remember a 17-year-old Olentangy Orange High School student who was killed while riding a scooter in Orange Township.
Anastasia Jehorek died Feb. 27 along state Route 750, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Troopers said she was riding in the side safety lane when she was hit by a car.
Jehorek’s family is remembering her as someone who always had a smile.
“I think she brought a lot of light to people’s lives, and that’s just a light that’s no longer with us,” said Anthony Bowling, Jehorek’s uncle.
The driver, Aviv Bukobza, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s 94-62 win against Penn State at the Bryce Jordan Center.
Ohio State continues to show late-season growth
The first five minutes of this game felt eerily similar to Ohio State’s prior road game. On Feb. 25, the Buckeyes jumped out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes at Iowa but fell apart when the Hawkeyes punched back and steadily buried Ohio State with a massive run to close the half. At Penn State, the Buckeyes scored the first seven points of the game but then went empty on six straight possessions while turning it over three times.
Penn State scored on four straight possessions to take an 8-7 lead with 15:32 left in the half, but that was the high-water mark for the home team. When John Mobley Jr. hit a 3-pointer with 14:15 left to break the drought and give Ohio State a 10-8 lead, it started a 26-3 run in the next 10:32.
Mobley capped that one, too, with a 3-pointer that made it 33-11 with 3:43. Penn State’s Mike Rhoades called two timeouts in a little more than a minute to try and slow down the Buckeyes, but the rout was on. Ohio State led 45-21 at the half and it would’ve been more if not for a few mental mistakes in the final minute that allowed the Nittany Lions to put together a 7-0 run.
Bruce Thornton is set up for a special senior day
Ohio State’s senior captain entered the game 29 points shy of tying Dennis Hopson for the program’s all-time scoring record of 2,096 points. Against the Big Ten’s worst-rated defense, he walked into the Bryce Jordan Center with a legitimate opportunity to set the new record.
He scored 18 against the Nittany Lions in only 32 minutes and was removed for good with 5:13 left and Ohio State ahead 84-48.
Maybe if he was wired a little differently, Thornton could have easily gotten to that mark by looking for his own shot and forcing the issue. Instead, he has the chance to surpass Hopson at the Schottenstein Center against Indiana on March 7. Not only is it senior day, but the first 2,000 fans will get Thornton bobbleheads, and Hopson is expected to be in attendance.
He needs 12 points to set the new record.
John Mobley Jr. continues to shine despite hand injury
Ohio State’s sophomore guard has played three games since missing three with an injury to the pinky finger on his right (shooting) hand. At Iowa, he was 3 for 4 from 3. Against Purdue, he was 5 for 11. Against Penn State, he set a career high for makes and finished 7 for 8 from deep.
His previous career high was six made 3-pointers against UCLA on Jan. 17. He’s done it in the past three games while playing with his right pinky and ring fingers taped together.
Against the Nittany Lions, Mobley had 28 points and was 8 for 9 from 3-point range.
Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.
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