11-08-2025
Texas Longhorns, Penn State Nittany Lions only separated by 5 pts in preseason AP Top 25
In the closest race since 1998, Texas is the No. 1 team in the nation in the AP Preseason Top 25 poll. The Longhorns beat out the Penn State Nittany Lions for the top spot by a mere five points, the closest the voting between the top two teams has been in 27 years.
Penn State and Texas both lost in the college football payoff semifinal. The Horns lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl and the Nittany Lions lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. Both teams return a lot of veterans. Penn State's QB Drew Allar returns to Happy Valley for his senior year, while Texas is breaking in new QB Arch Manning.
Both Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and Penn State's James Franklin are considered two of the best coaches in college football that have never won the national title.
Penn State opens against Nevada on Aug. 30, while Texas travels to No. 3 Ohio State on the same day.
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