The 2025 college football season is fast approaching, and with less than three weeks until kickoff, anticipation is rising. Monday's release of the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll provides the first official glimpse at how the projected top programs stack up entering another pivotal campaign.

USA TODAY Sports preseason college football rankings have higher view of the Alabama Crimson Tide in Year 2 under Kalen DeBoer than the top 25 polls.

The Odessa American is the leading source of local news, information, entertainment and sports for the Permian Basin.

The University of Rio Grande sits at the bottom of the 2025 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Football Preseason Coaches' Poll. The poll, which was voted on by each of the seven head coaches in the league, was released last week by league officials.

Expectations are high for Illinois football, which is reflected in its place among the first coaches rankings for 2025.

Despite being ranked in the top 10, Dinich argued that the Clemson Tigers deserve significantly more attention and credit. With head coach Dabo Swinney entering his 17th season and a retooled roster led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, Dinich believes Clemson has the tools to reenter the College Football Playoff discussion in a major way.

Five Big 12 teams were included in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, which released Aug. 4. The preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, Aug. 11. Here's a look at where Big 12 teams fell in both major top-25 polls ahead of the 2025 season.

Many teams, including the LSU Tigers and their coach Brian Kelly, are aiming to qualify for the College Football Playoff this season and secure a national championship. The Tigers have not made it to the playoffs since 2019, when they won the national championship with Joe Burrow as their quarterback.