The 2020 football season is going to be a different one, with the Big Ten, Pac-12, Mountain West, and MAC canceling their fall seasons. Because of that, the AP Poll is going to look different, only composing of teams from six conferences.
College Football News attempted to predict what the initial AP Poll will look like, only having ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, American, Conference USA, and Sun Belt available for selection.
Texas made it into the top 10, coming in at No. 9. This would be the second year in a row the Longhorns will be a preseason AP top 25 team, also coming in at No. 9 last season.
Here are CFN’s full top 25 predictions:
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Georgia
- LSU
- Florida
- Oklahoma
- Notre Dame
- Auburn
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- North Carolina
- Virginia Tech
- UCF
- Tennessee
- Miami (FL)
- Cincinnati
- Iowa State
- Kentucky
- Memphis
- Louisville
- Virginia
- Appalachian State
- Mississippi State
- Baylor
- Navy
Three other Big 12 teams make the top 25, with Oklahoma being the highest at No. 6. Iowa State sits comfortably at No. 17 while Baylor sneaks in at No. 24.
A surprise in the poll is no Oklahoma State, who is expected to contend for a spot in the Big 12 championship game. The Cowboys are set to be one of the most explosive offenses in the conference, with Spencer Sanders, Chuba Hubbard, and Tylan Wallace leading the way.
Outside of the Big 12, legendary Texas head coach Mack Brown and North Carolina nearly crack the top 10 at No. 11. The Tar Heels are coming off a 6-6 season but sophomore quarterback Sam Howell could be one of the best in the ACC.
The official AP poll will come out on Aug. 24.
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