Ohio State opens season at No. 2 in preseason coaches poll

COLUMBUS — Ohio State will open the season with one of the biggest nonconference matchups in recent memory. That game took a big step toward being a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown in the Horseshoe on Aug. 30.

The Buckeyes are beginning the 2025 season as the No. 2 team in the country, according to the newly-released coaches poll. They trail only the Texas Longhorns, who open at No. 1 ahead of their trip to Columbus in the season opener.

Texas received 28 first-place votes. Ohio State received 20.

The Longhorns aren’t the only ranked team on the Buckeyes’ 2025 schedule. Ohio State will defend its national championship with a loaded schedule featuring matchups against a total of four ranked opponents.

Ohio State will play the No. 1 team in the country (Texas on Aug. 30), the No. 3 team in the country (Penn State on Nov. 1), the No. 12 team (at Illinois on Oct. 11) and the No. 14 team (at Michigan on Nov. 29) during the regular season.

Other ranked Big Ten teams include Oregon at No. 7 and Indiana at No. 19. Ohio State doesn’t play either of them this season but could see one of them in the Big Ten title game at the end of the season if things break well for the Buckeyes.

The Big Ten has six ranked teams in the preseason Coaches Poll, trailing the SEC, which has nine. The Big 12 is next with five, while the ACC will open the year with three and the Mountain West has one.

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Georgia
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Ole Miss
16. SMU
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
19. Indiana
20. Kansas State
21. Texas A&M
22. Iowa State
23. BYU
24. Texas Tech
25. Boise State