It shouldn't really come as a surprise to any college football fan that Miami came in at No. 7 in the AP Preseason Top 25. In fact, it was expected after Canes fans had to endure lowball rankings from the coaches poll, On3, etc. So, hopefully Miami fans were mentally prepared for the way today turned out. Now it's time to play the games.
https://t.co/T23NtgfCyw
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 17, 2026
Ohio State and Oregon are 1-2 in the preseason poll while the SEC leads conferences with nine ranked teams. pic.twitter.com/KIcOlA5YyB
Miami and Indiana find themselves outside the top 25 in AP Preseason Poll
While Miami sitting at No. 7 feels egregious, fans of the defending champion Indiana Hoosiers might have a bigger gripe. No. 6 for the team that just won it all? And is led by one of the best coaches of this era? Sure, they were the oldest team in FBS football last year and it's an entirely different task to replace talent after a run, compared to making the run itself. But both Miami and Indiana, which together knocked off three of the schools in the top five of the AP poll, find themselves with something to prove going into 2026.
Quick note: Indiana received eight first place votes and Miami received one. So nine voters are weighing those teams higher than the majority is.
Mario Cristobal responds in the only way he knows how
If any coach in America knows how to get his team to focus on what's really important, it's Mario Cristobal. It all is going to come down to what the Canes do on the field and the preseason poll (which does have some impact on perception whether fans want to admit it) will be a forgotten memory by October if they play well.
Canes HC Mario Cristobal, on keeping a team focused amidst preseason hype:
— Christy Chirinos (@ChristyChirinos) August 17, 2026
“The best way to address that is with real-deal work…we get on it and stay on it…Greentree is a real thing…that’s what you pack with you…”
He said lots more on this, but basically: it amounts to work
ACC faces an uphill battle to start the season
The ACC comes into the 2026 football season with a lot to prove as they hold the dubious title of least number of teams in the preseason top 25 among Power Four conferences. After Miami comes in at No. 7, SMU checked in at No. 19 and Louisville snuck in at No. 24. Clemson received the most points of any team outside the top 25 with 112, so they can slot in as a de facto No. 26.
Of course, this is "just" the preseason poll so there is plenty of room for teams to prove themselves. Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, California and Virginia were all in the "others receiving votes" section.
Quick AP poll rundown
Conference breakdown
- SEC: 9 teams
- Big Ten: 8 teams
- Big 12: 4 teams
- ACC: 3 teams
- Independent: 1 team (guess who)
First-place votes (69 voters)
- Ohio State: 40
- Oregon: 14
- Indiana: 8
- Notre Dame: 6
- Miami: 1
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