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College football AP preseason poll released: Where are the USC Trojans?

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney08/11/25ErikTMcKinney
USC head coach Lincoln Riley on the sideline during the Trojans' game against Notre Dame at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
(acscottphotography/WeAreSC)

The USC Trojans might be running out of space on the bulletin board inside the John McKay Center ahead of the start of the 2025 college football season. The latest addition might just be the preseason AP Poll, released Monday morning and with the Trojans not listed among the Top 25 teams.

Just like the Coaches Poll, USC finds itself among the first group of “Others Receiving Votes” teams. The Trojans were the fourth team in that group in the Coaches Poll. They’re No. 5 in the AP poll, effectively starting them at the No. 30 team in the country.

This is the first time since the 2019 season that USC will begin the season unranked in the AP poll. And that was the first time it happened since the 2001 season, when the Trojans never appeared in the AP Poll. USC has finished ranked in the final AP Poll just twice since the 2017 season.

USC’s 2025 schedule features four teams ranked among the top 14 teams in the preseason poll. They are No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois and No. 14 Michigan. The Trojans will take on the Fighting Irish, Ducks and Illini all on the road.

Nebraska and Iowa also appear on USC’s upcoming schedule and both are listed behind the Trojans among the other programs receiving votes.

Complete Preseason AP Top 25 poll

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

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz