The 2026 college football season might not have kicked off yet, but the first AP Top 25 poll just hit, and the Washington Huskies are already making noise, landing at a solid No. 17. You know the vibe in the Emerald City when the Dawgs get ranked in the preseason, right? It’s electric! This isn’t just a number; it’s a statement that the purple and gold are ready to battle it out this fall.
The Top Dogs and the Champs
Ohio State and Oregon are leading the pack, just like they did in the coaches poll, proving they’re the teams to beat right out of the gate. The Buckeyes snagged a massive 40 first-place votes, with the Ducks pulling in 14. Georgia slid in at number three, but surprisingly, didn’t grab any first-place votes. Then you got Notre Dame at fourth with six first-place votes and Texas rounding out the top five. But here’s the kicker: defending national champion Indiana, yeah, Indiana, is only at No. 6, even with eight first-place votes! Miami, who lost that title game to Indiana, is right behind them at No. 7 with a single first-place vote. Preseason polls are always full of twists.
Conference Bragging Rights and Our Dawgs
The Big Ten is looking strong with three teams in that top six, but the SEC is flexing serious muscle, man. They claim half of the top 10 with Texas A&M, Ole Miss, and Oklahoma, all of whom were in the College Football Playoff last season. Overall, the SEC boasts seven of the top 13 teams, including LSU at No. 11 and Alabama at No. 13. While the Big 12’s highest-ranked team is Texas Tech at No. 12, just two spots ahead of BYU, who tied with USC at No. 14 with exactly 839 points. Totaling it up, the SEC has nine teams in the Top 25, the Big Ten has eight, the Big 12 has four, and the ACC has three. Our Huskies at No. 17 are flying that Big Ten flag high for us, ready to show everyone what they are made of in their new conference home. This ranking means they’re officially on everyone’s radar, and they’ve got to prove they belong there every single Saturday.
So, what does this all mean for the Emerald City? The calendar says August, but the hype machine is already full throttle! For our Dawgs, being ranked No. 17 means the target is officially on their back from day one. It’s time to get ready for some intense college football action, a real test of grit in the new Big Ten landscape. Can the Huskies build on this preseason buzz and deliver a season worthy of that ranking? We’ll be watching every snap, screaming our heads off from Seattle! Let’s go, Dawgs!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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