College Football Live - CFB LIVE - 8/11 - AP Poll is here

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

Our crew Zubin Mehenti, Sam Acho, Harry Lyles Jr are joined by Holly Rowe who breaks down the 2025 preseason AP Poll rankings. The Texas Longhorns sit at #1 for the first time, while teams like Indiana, Texas A&M and Tennessee should be on your watch list. Will the SEC regain control of college football? Or will the Big Ten or ACC take over the show? Tune in to College Football Live for more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're flying Emirates business class, sipping your favorite cocktail at our onboard lounge, you'll see that your vacation isn't really over until your flight is over. Fly Emirates, fly better. Football is right around the corner, everybody's undefeated, and there's a lot of potential to talk about. Unbelievable catch. Arch Manning! Touchdown! This is a new year. New faces, new team. The traditions, the games, the spirit, the intensity. the competition that makes college football in the SEC so special.

We're not perfect. We're incredibly consistent. Week in and week out, Big Ten is arguably the best conference in all of college football. And that's the opinion of James Franklin. As another coach once said, talking season is over. Welcome to College Football Live with Sam Hacho, Harry Lyles Jr. And Holly Roe. I'm Zubin Mahent.

It's a pleasure of Holly here. She's kicking off a week of our top reporters. adding some perspective. So Holly, thanks for being here. The top 25 is out. We'll have that in its entirety. But first, let's just start at the top with our top five. And a couple of interesting nuggets about all the teams there. Texas is the preseason number one for the first time in program history with with their lineage. That sounds a little strange. But it's true. Keep in mind that with the number one team in the coaches poll last week. Penn State's number one across the board in these preseason big 10 polls, but they'll have to settle for number two in the preseason poll, their highest rank. since Joe Paterno in 1997.

The defending champions with arguably the most talented, offensive and defensive player in the entire sport, finish at three, but we know how hard it is to repeat in this sport. Clemson is sitting there at fourth. A little bit after many people thought Davosweeney and Company were done at the elite level of college football. Something we'll dig into on college football live in just a bit. Georgia is at five.

It's their lowest preseason ranking since 2021. That could be a good omen because in 2021, they started what would be a run of back-to-back national championships in 21 in 22. Take a look at the top 10. Alabama in a critical year for Kalin DeBowler will begin at number eight. Miami with Carson Beck rounds out the top 10. As we take a look at 11 through 20. Look at the bookends. Arizona State made the playoff. Nobody saw it coming.

Indiana made the playoff. Nobody saw it coming. They have both been rewarded by. ending up in the top 20. Ole Miss will replace Jackson Dart. Iowa State's going to start the season in Ireland against Kansas State and Boisey State, fresh off one of their greatest seasons ever, and a Heisman Trophy runner-up sits there at number 25. One thing I should note is we begin our discussion.

The last team to start number one in the preseason poll and finish number one, Alabama in 2017. So it's been a while. So initial impressions, Harry, let's begin with you. Yeah, Zubin, when I look at the. top four at least. You could have convinced me basically any of these teams to be number one in the country. Obviously, Texas got that nod this year. I personally would have put Penn State there, given everything that they've got coming back both offensively and defensively. Ohio State, I'm not as confident in this group just because of the uncertainty at the quarterback position,

but I think when you look at them having the best player on offense in the country in Jeremiah Smith and arguably on defense as well in Caleb Downs, you can obviously always expect the Buckeyes to reload and not have to rebuild. And then, of course, Clemson, when you look at this team and what they've got returning with Cade Clubnik, that offensive line, the weapons that they are going to have, to me, this Clemson team is going to look a lot like it did when it was at its peak as opposed to what we've seen the last few years because of the culture and Davosweeney hitting the transfer portal as well, hitting some of their weak spots. But again, I think when you look at this group minus Ohio State, you could convince me strongly of any of them having the number one

spot. Yeah, I was shocked at how high Ohio State was ranked. I understand that there's confidence in Julian saying coming into quarterback. And Caleb Downs, the best defender, one of the best offenders in college football, Jeremiah Smith. But this team lost 15 starters from last year's team, eight on defense, seven on offense. So all those players who you saw make all those plays for the most part outside of those two we named, they're either in the NFL or making plays now for NFL teams. So there's so much talent to replace. And it's not as if Ohio State, doesn't recruit well and they're not talented, but you have to actually step up and be the

player to make the play. It can't just be one guy. Can't just be Caleb Downs, can't just be Jeremiah Smith. If you're replacing aid on defense, and oh, by the way, a defensive coordinator is going to be new as well. I think there's just too much to replace for them to be a top 14. Well, I think if that one guy is Jeremiah Smith, that helps you a lot because he's built like nobody else in America,

and he's going to consistently be a coverage problem, but who's going to be their quarterback? That's a real question mark for Ohio State just a few weeks before the season. For me, as I look at this poll, I think Texas and Penn State are a fascinating conversation. This is the closest vote for one and two

since 1998 in the AP poll. This poll's been around since 1936, that should give you a clue. Just how close people think these two teams are. And as you look at this start for the season, Ohio State, Texas is having to go in there to the horse to play. That is a really tough way

to put yourself on the block in the beginning of the season. So Penn State, who starts with San Jose State, that, excuse me, Nevada, Florida International, and Villanova, their schedule lends to a little bit better start to the season, but I do like Texas is challenging themselves. Interesting. And you mentioned how interesting of the story Texas is,

so that's where we'll go next. Sam, we'll start with you. I'm still bowled over by the fact that if everything they've done on the 40 acres, this is their first ever preseason number one ranking. How do you see your horns? I like the ranking, but obviously you have to go and play the games. Texas defensively is, I think, what we need to talk about more. We talk about the offense, sure.

Talk about Archmanning all you want, the running game. But their defense is returning for a fourth straight year. Their coordinator, Pete Kukowski. Then you've got some dobs on the defensive side of the ball. Michael Taff, who was a former walk-on who stepped on as a preseason All-American. Guys like Anthony Hill, who some might argue, is the best player in college football. He's a linebacker. There's so much talent on that Texas team overall.

just that quarterback, running back, and receiver, but also the defense. They were top defense last year. I think that will help carry them towards that high ranking again this season. Holly, do you on Texas here? And the key is there is so much talk about Arch Manning, and we're all guilty as charge here talking about Arch. But you think there is so much more, particularly on offense. That's the real story here that's really not getting talked about.

I think we all have Arch Madness, right? I think somebody should hashtag that. And rightfully so. People have been waiting a long time to see this young man play. but how will he be successful? It's the players around him. And I think one thing that no one is talking about is how much they lost on the offensive line in front of him.

Jake Majors was a center that started almost every single game for four years at Texas, and he's gone. The football coaches described him to me as a cyborg for football. He was so smart. So they're going to have a brand new center this season, a young man who started at Wright Bard, 13 games over the course of his four-year or three-year career. And so Cole Hudson's got a big, big assignment.

You're going to step in, play center for the first time in your college career, and you're doing it for Arch Manning. That is a huge challenge. They only have one starter back on the offensive line. But to me, the thing that can help ease his transition this year is the comfort at running back. But Trayvion Wisner had a thousand yards rushing in the SEC. He's someone you can rely on. And the return of CJ Baxter, a young man who averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 20,

23 before he got injured. I got to be around him at the women's college World Series because his girlfriend, won the National Championship for Texas, Mia Scott, and so CJ Baxter, I'm looking for you. You're going to be a huge powerful comfort blanket,

safety blanket for our training this year. Yeah, and just one thing I want to add, and it's exciting as a Texas graduate to be number one, but the fact of the matter is Texas has to win when it matters the most. You can't just make it to the college football playoff or be the number one ranked team. You have to win a national championship. You have so much talent. You have all the NIL that anyone talks about. So I think as a guy who play there when Texas

was one of the top ranked teams, it's great to be number one preseason, number two, number three. But if you keep on losing when you get to the playoffs, that's when it starts to be a little bit less exciting. Indeed. Now we mentioned winning national championship, Sam, at Texas. Clemson is won three, two in the Davos Sweeney era. And Holly, I want to start with you. You're going to see them week one against LSU. Very atypical program. Davo has done it his way, but slowly but surely, he's sort of evolved to the new way of the sport.

And you say there are some key things he has done to get Clemson right back in contention when many people thought it could be the beginning of a slight drop-off. Well, number one, Davos Sweeney has dipped his little baby pinky toe into the transfer quarter. But it's with great intention. And he's brought in three really impactful players. at defensive end, linebacker and wide receiver. And I do think that he is being very intentional

about the kinds of guys he's bringing into the locker room. The defensive end will help from Purdue. He can make an impact right away. And then 6-5 wide-out. Kristen Smith, I think he can be an impact receiver. We need to see them have this big possession receiver in the insom on those national championship teams like T. Higgins, Mike Williams,

look for Kristen Smith to be that guy. But the other thing that Gabbo's done, and I think people are forgetting this, He's got a pretty famous quote out there that said, our locker room is our transfer portal. This is the first time in 25 years that Clemson has eight returning starters on offense and defense. I think they're loaded. They've developed from within and they've got the culture they need to succeed. Yeah, Holly, you hit on a couple of things that I think are key with Clemson.

As somebody that has criticized Davosweeney for not participating in the transfer portal sooner, I see where he's coming from now. And I have to say that I feel like I was wrong. And obviously we still have football to play here. But I think when you look at what he's built and Sam, you've talked about this before on this show before, the culture that he's got. You talk about all the guys that are returning.

He really sells guys on that program and actually buying in. And it is truly like a family atmosphere there. And Holly, you mentioned the type of guys that he was actually going to bring in from the transfer portal. It's a very specific type of player that he is looking for. We've heard a lot about how Texas Tech and all these other teams have thrown money around trying to just bring the best guys in. But when it comes

to culture and somebody that's going to fit within your program and that the guys that have committed to your program are going to accept that really matter. So I think we're going to see this year the culmination of that paying off for Davosweeney and Clemson. Yeah, Clemson should have been ranked higher. I think one, two, or three. Anywhere in that number they should have been ranked. The reason why is that their defense struggled last year. Well, they have a new defensive coordinator. What are I mean by struggle? Let me be specific. They gave up 292 rushing yards, rushing yards versus Texas in the playoffs. Offense is fine, but you're returning guys like Peter Woods, guys like T.J. Parker,

Avion Terrell, and Sammy Brown, who was an outstanding freshman last year. Oh, by the way, Tom Allen, who was at Penn State last season, to let them to a top three defense is now your new defensive coordinator. And so all the offensive firepower is still there, and now they have the defense to match. Clemson should have been ranked higher. All right, we'll see. Clemson is opening against LSU. That's one of the games Holly's going to be covering.

She's got a world win first couple of weeks. We'll talk about that a little bit later in the show. But the big story about LSU, Holly, is the condition here of Garrett Nussmeyer. But tell her tendonitis is what we hear. They're monitoring it minute by minute. What are we hearing? So I talked to some people today that have been at practice and told me that he's doing fine. He really just had one day that he had an awkward step and that that aggravated

his injury. Keep in mind in 2023, he had a surgery on what's called Oswald Schlatter. You know that funky bump you did? in the front of your shin. A lot of young men get that as they're growing. He had that repaired. He just got a little bit of tendonitis, where that patella tendon rubs on his shin.

But I'm told he looked good and is doing well. So no discomfort. No discomfort. Me discomfort was the quote I got from practice. That is great news. You'll be there on the call Saturday night at Death Valley, August 30th. That would be Clemson's Death Valley, just to make sure we can put that correct.

Both, of course, Death Valley. On the way here on college football live. Sam clearly has some thoughts on Clemson being underrated. Who's overrated in the mind of all three of our guests? Wait till you hear some of these eyebrow-raising opinions. That is next as the pre-season poll is out, and we're off and running. At Desjardin, we speak business. We speak startup funding and comprehensive game plans.

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For its final time in his final show, either Bevo or Brutus. We'll find out about 11. 59 a.m. Eastern time. August 30th. Conference breakdown of the teams in the top 25, not much of a surprise. The two leagues that control the future and present of the sport with the lion's share, the Big Ten in the SEC,

bringing home 16 of the 25. But one thing I wanted to mention here, if you take a look at last year's playoff, a full quarter of last year's playoff, Boise, Indiana, SMU, Arizona State, all were unranked, And all made the playoff. That being said, there's some underrated teams out there waiting for an opportunity to pounce.

Sam, let's begin with you. Underrated in your estimation. Indiana Hoosiers are underrated at number 20. Why do I say that? Kurt Signetti is one of the best college football coaches that I've seen. You saw what he did with a less talented team last season. And a lot of his coaching staff is still intact. Brian Haynes, who's their defensive coordinator, is leading again a top 10 defense.

defense returning guys like Aiden Fisher. Oh, by the way, offensively, they have transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was at Cal last season. Fernando Mendoza is an elite level processor. We saw what Kurt Signetti was able to do last season with Curtis Rourke. I think Fernando Mendoza will have similar success. Sam, I really like that pick. Kurtzegne is a guy that knows how to hit the portal.

I am going to go with Texas A&M. Obviously, they're ranked here as well, but I think that they're a team that can really creep up and make some noise this season. Look, I like a good football team with a big offensive line. They average 6-6, 333 pounds on that line. They're healthy in the running back room again. Labion Moss is going to be back. Amari, Daniels, Rubin-Owens.

I think Marcel Reed can take a leap. I know they lost some weapons on the outside there, but they added Casey Conception, who is really, really talented at NC State. They were upset about losing him. And I think that we'll be able to see why this year with what he's going to be able to do. Hopefully you see Marcel Reed take that step in that passing game. I realized defensively they were a little hit or miss. I think they're going to be more hit this year.

All right. Speaking of teams that were hit and miss, you can start well, but it's all about how you finish 18 times in the last 20 years. A preseason top 10 team has been unranked, has ended up in the top 10. So that's interesting to kind of see how that works. A lot of times it's a team that we think is going to be great and isn't. All right, Sam, let's begin with you. Give me a team that kind of falls into the category of what we're seeing on the screen. The Florida Gators, and people are going to be mad to be about this, but let me tell you why.

Florida plays 12 teams this season. Seven of them are in the top 25. Four of those are in the top 10. They have a brutal schedule. They play number one, number five, number nine, number 10, 21, 24. It just doesn't get easier. Oh, by the way, A&M. I understand that DJ Lagway is extremely talented.

If he has a season, people expect, he could be in the Hizman Trophy conversation. But there's just too much to overcome when you look at their schedule. So Florida is a team that right now is in the top 25 when the season starts. I do not think they will be there when the season ends. Yeah, all you can do is shake your head at that schedule. I don't know how anybody is supposed to go through something like that. I'm going to say in the SEC, Sam, I'm going to go with Tennessee. Look, I think that we're going to see perhaps the best defense of the Josh Heipel era.

But I think given what we saw this offseason with the quarterback trade, essentially, right, between Nico I and Maliava and Joey Aguilar is going to be a little challenging for Tennessee. I think Joey is a very talented quarterback. I actually have gotten to cover one of his games last year at App State. I think his mobility is going to help him within this offense, but he is also learning his third offense in three years. He also had a little bit of turnover issues last year, and that was playing Sunbelt football. Coming into the SEC is going to be very challenging, so I'm a little concerned about that,

including some of the losses they also had at their skill positions, at least at wide receiver. I think they'll still be able to make up some of what Dylan Samson brought for them at running back last year. But given what we saw with that switch in the spring, I'm concerned about Tennessee. Holly, I want to discuss this with you as the fellows have kind of weighed in on those teams. I want you to weigh in from a global perspective. This is your 30th year on the sidelines of the biggest sporting events that we all watch. You've seen many iterations of college football. I wonder where you think the sport has been in the travels that you've seen and where it's heading with the perspective you can add.

I think a lot of us that are OGs, and by that, I mean, we're old in college football. We sometimes sit around and lament the changes, but Nick Saban has a wonderful quote that we've got to learn from the dinosaurs, adapt or die. And so I actually think it's really important for us to change. I have been a huge proponent of an expanded playoff for my entire career. I thought that the 12-team playoff has made some excitement, brought in fan bases and players. Think about the excitement we saw with Arizona State last year. We wouldn't have gotten to know and fall in love with Cam Scadabo like he deserved if he hadn't had this expanded playoff. So I think there is a lot in college football that's got to improve just from an administrative standpoint.

You know, we don't want to see pay for play and the roster changes and shifting changes of rosters that we're seeing. But I do think college football is healthy in this regard. People still love it. The traditions are still intact. And while the conferences may shift, the passion and excitement is always there. So I'm adapting. I'm going to be like the dinosaurs and adapt as we go. I think I'm leaning into what's great about college football, which is talent, tradition, and the excitement.

And we have all three of those things this season. No doubt. Well said, Holly hang tight. We're going to have you, Harry, and Sam back in a bit to discuss the team to watch. Holly's going to see six of the best in the country in the first week. week and a half. We'll see what the fellas and the lady have to say on the teams to keep your eye and out of the gate next. Snap up ancestry DNA's lowest price ever in our incredible cyber sale with 50% off ancestry DNA kits. It's the perfect time to help a loved one unwrap the past.

And with their latest update, they'll discover their family origins like never before with even more precise regions and new and exclusive features. Their best gift, our lowest price. sent off Ancestry DNA only until December 2nd. Visit Ancestry.ca for more details. Terms apply. Remember, why bother with week one? We got week zero. Iowa State and Kansas State in Dublin, Saturday, August 23rd on ESPN. As promised the teams to watch with Holly, Sam, and Harry. Holly, let's start with you. You've got quite the list of teams you're going to see here in the first week and a half.

Pick a game, pick a team, give us some intel. I think the most exciting team right out of the bat is going to be LSU at Clemson. This is a monster game, 9 versus 4. And here's what I'm watching. This is from my good buddy, the researcher Tim Beret, who works for Clemson. You know, Kate Klobnik is a young man who's sophomore year really struggled with turnover. He improved that last year, 36 touchdowns to just six turnovers. He was going to be going against a really revamped that improved LSU defense.

everybody's raving about the two deep on this LSU defense. And so I think that is really the matchup. It can Clubnet be smart, play clean against the good defense. And also, Karen Perkins Jr. is back. I've been told for people who like to practice that it doesn't look like he had ACL surgery at all. He'll be playing the star position. So watch out.

If he can roam free in that defense, that'll be interesting. Sharon Moore, Michigan's coach went to Oklahoma. Kind of fun to keep track on that. All right, guys, give me one team. We're quick on the way out the door that you're watching. Harry, let's start with you. Zubin, Georgia Tech, their schedule's not as daunting as it's been in years past, and a lot of people have made a lot about the transfers that they've added,

but it's about the law firm, baby. Jamal Haynes and Haynes King, Haynes and Haynes, Georgia Tech is going to have an opportunity as long as those two guys are healthy to beat anybody in the country. Yeah, and as long as Lenora Sellers is back at quarterback for South Carolina, they can beat nearly anybody in the country. They won their last six games last season, and this year, they're starting off with an easier schedule. They don't play a ranked team until game six. So that gives Lenore Sellers and this offense time not only to gel, but to build confidence, the confidence that they had to end last

season. So South Carolina, Lenora Sellers, number 16 with the Rex Spex. That's the guy you need to watch if you're watching college football. Pretty amazing. Lenora Sellers is a three-star kid out of the state of South Carolina. Didn't even get offered until late. He'll be a story to watch and it'll be on the Heisman list. Just a reminder, our reporter week continues on Tuesday with our Molly McGrath. Wednesday, Chris Buck. buttons Thursday.