Where do Texas Longhorns rank in USA TODAY Sports 'too-early' 2025 Top 25?
Where do Texas Longhorns rank in USA TODAY Sports 'too-early' 2025 Top 25?
USA TODAY Sports has released a "way to early" Top 25 ranking for the upcoming 2025 season. While the Texas Longhorns are not No. 1, they are in the top five.
Despite losing 14 players to the NFL Draft, including quarterback Will Howard, the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes are the No. 1 team. Of course, Texas travels to Columbus for the first game of the season to face off in the Horseshoe. We'll find out quickly who is the better team at the start.
Coming in at No. 2 is the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State returns offense linchpins QB Drew Allar and RBs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. With defense that's typically stout, the Nittany Lions should make a deep playoff run.
Texas is No. 3 in the pre-preseason rankings. Like the Buckeyes, the Horns will have a lot of holes to fill, including at QB. But the Longhorns new quarterback is known commodity Arch Manning. Here's what USA TODAY said about Texas' spot in the list:
The Arch Manning era begins in Austin. Expectations will be unrealistic, and the reality is that Manning has limited game experience against SEC competition. Complicating matters are some unsettled situations at receiver and on the offensive and defensive lines. But this is a team full of talent compiled through strong recruiting classes and targeted transfers. Look for Ryan Wingo to emerge as Manning's top target and for the defense to be led by LB Anthony Hill and DL Colin Simmons.
Georgia and Clemson round out the top five. LSU, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama and Miami make up the rest of the top ten. Overall there are nine SEC teams in the ranking and six Big Ten teams. Texas A&M is not included in this poll.
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