The Texas Longhorns have entered the 2025 college football season with a historic achievement, securing the No. 1 spot in both the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll and the Coaches Poll for the first time in the program’s long and storied history. For a university that has prided itself on tradition, dominance, and national relevance, this milestone marks not only a reflection of its current roster and coaching staff’s strength but also the culmination of years of effort to restore the program to the pinnacle of the sport. While Texas has experienced peaks in its history, including national championships and Heisman winners, never before had the preseason narrative positioned them as the consensus top team in both major polls before the first kickoff. This moment feels different for the burnt orange faithful, as it isn’t just a recognition of history or potential—it’s a statement from the broader college football world that Texas is once again a program to beat.
The Longhorns’ top billing in these preseason polls is even more notable when put in the context of the Southeastern Conference’s recent dominance. Texas is entering its first official season as a member of the SEC, and this year marks the fifth consecutive preseason AP poll in which an SEC team has been ranked No. 1, breaking the previous record for the conference. For over a decade, the SEC has built its reputation as the deepest, most competitive conference in the nation, producing national champions at an unprecedented rate. Alabama, Georgia, and LSU have all had runs at the top, but now, Texas is stepping into that same elite echelon before even playing a single conference game as a full-fledged SEC member. The achievement signals that the media, coaches, and analysts believe the Longhorns not only belong in the SEC conversation but might immediately become its standard-bearer.
The foundation for this kind of national respect has been steadily built under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Since arriving in Austin, Sarkisian has worked tirelessly to reshape the roster, elevate recruiting, and implement an offensive system that maximizes both explosive playmaking and efficiency. The recruiting classes have been stocked with elite-level talent, from five-star quarterbacks to dominant offensive linemen, and that influx of skill has started to translate into wins on the field. Last season’s performance, highlighted by marquee victories and strong showings against top-tier competition, provided the momentum Texas needed to leap into this year’s preseason spotlight. That momentum was not just about wins and losses, but about how the team won—showing poise in tight games, discipline in execution, and flashes of dominance on both sides of the ball that made analysts believe they were just scratching the surface.
Quarterback play has been central to the Longhorns’ ascent. The position, often the difference-maker in college football, is one Texas now boasts as one of its greatest strengths. With a veteran quarterback returning—one who has developed in Sarkisian’s system and proven himself on big stages—the offense projects to be among the nation’s most dangerous. He has a talented receiving corps at his disposal, featuring both returning stars and highly touted newcomers. The offensive line, once a point of weakness for Texas in the post-Mack Brown years, is now a unit loaded with size, depth, and NFL-level potential. Add in a running back rotation capable of wearing down defenses, and the Longhorns’ offense looks not only potent but balanced—capable of adapting to whatever challenges opponents throw at them.
Defensively, Texas has made just as big a leap. Recruiting elite defensive linemen and linebackers has paid dividends, as the front seven is now considered one of the most physical and disciplined in the nation. The secondary, bolstered by experienced starters and versatile younger players, has the potential to shut down even the high-octane passing games they will face in SEC play. Last year, the defense showed it could win games when the offense sputtered—a critical trait for any team hoping to compete for a national championship. That kind of balance, where neither side of the ball has to carry the other for extended stretches, is part of what gives voters the confidence to rank Texas ahead of every other program in the country before the season even begins.
Still, being ranked No. 1 in August is not the same as being No. 1 in January. History has shown that preseason polls can be as much a blessing as they are a curse. The weight of expectation is immense, and for Texas, the “Texas is back” narrative has been teased and dashed too many times in the past decade for fans to take anything for granted. In the years since their 2009 national championship appearance, the Longhorns have endured coaching changes, recruiting misses, and inconsistent play that kept them from sustaining national relevance. That’s why this year’s ranking feels different: it’s not built on hype alone, but on tangible evidence of a program that has finally found stability and direction.
Joining the SEC adds another layer of intrigue and challenge. Texas will now face a weekly gauntlet of competition unlike anything it has experienced in the Big 12. Games against Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and other conference powerhouses will test the Longhorns in ways that will quickly reveal whether the preseason No. 1 status was justified. But that is also the beauty of this moment for Texas—there is no hiding in the SEC. If they truly are the best team in the country, they will have ample opportunity to prove it against the sport’s best competition. The SEC label also brings recruiting advantages, media attention, and financial rewards, all of which Texas is uniquely positioned to capitalize on given its resources and brand power.
The record-breaking nature of their No. 1 ranking as the fifth straight SEC team to hold the top preseason spot is a testament to the changing balance of power in college football. For decades, the sport’s dominant programs were spread across different regions and conferences. But in recent years, the SEC’s combination of coaching talent, recruiting dominance, and institutional investment has created an environment where the best teams often come from one league. For Texas to step into that lineage in its very first season as a conference member is both symbolic and significant—it shows that the SEC standard is not only being maintained but is evolving to include new, high-profile contenders.
Nationally, the reaction to Texas’ ranking has been mixed. Longhorns fans are understandably elated, seeing it as validation of the program’s return to prominence. Rival fan bases, especially those in the SEC, have been quick to question whether Texas has truly earned the right to be called the preseason favorite. Some point to the fact that Texas still has to prove it can win week in and week out in the SEC, while others note that preseason rankings are more about potential than proven results. Regardless, the debate itself is part of what makes college football’s preseason so compelling—everyone has an opinion, and only the games will settle the arguments.
For Sarkisian and his players, the challenge now is managing the noise and expectations. Being the preseason No. 1 team means every opponent will view Texas as the measuring stick. Teams will bring their best effort, fan bases will circle the Texas game on the calendar, and the media will scrutinize every performance for signs of weakness. The Longhorns will have to guard against complacency, stay healthy, and maintain the focus that got them to this point. Depth will be critical, as the grind of an SEC schedule can wear down even the most talented rosters. Leadership, particularly from experienced players, will be the key to navigating adversity when it inevitably comes.
In many ways, this ranking also serves as a litmus test for Texas’ long-term ambitions. The university has invested heavily in its football program, from facilities upgrades to coaching salaries, with the clear goal of competing for national championships on a regular basis. Being ranked No. 1 in both major preseason polls is a milestone, but sustaining that level of respect and success will require consistent top-tier recruiting, smart in-game management, and the ability to win in hostile environments. If Texas can live up to the billing this season, it could mark the beginning of a new era where the Longhorns are perennial contenders, not just preseason darlings.
Ultimately, the 2025 season will be defined not by where Texas starts, but by where it finishes. The preseason No. 1 ranking is a sign of respect, recognition, and expectation, but it comes with no guarantees. The Longhorns will have to earn every bit of that ranking on the field, and the road to the College Football Playoff will be as challenging as it has ever been. But for now, the program, its fans, and the broader college football community can acknowledge the significance of this moment. For the first time in history, Texas is unanimously viewed as the best team in the country before the season begins, and they enter the SEC as the conference’s newest, and perhaps most intriguing, standard-bearer. The horns are up, the stage is set, and the eyes of the college football world are squarely on Austin.
