“Texas with Zero Respect for Jayden Daniels”: CFB World Reacts As Ohio State, Notre Dame, and More Overshadow Longhorns In Preseason AP Poll

Jul 23, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

College football season is just around the corner, with Bill Belichick’s UNC kicking things off against TCU in an overseas matchup on Aug. 29. But before that showdown, AP has released its preseason Top 25 poll on Monday.

Ryan Day’s Ohio State improved from its No. 2 spot in last year’s preseason poll. Meanwhile, Dan Lanning’s Oregon also jumped spots, taking the second spot after a No. 7 appearance last season. Georgia was named the third-best team in the country, followed by Notre Dame at fourth.

Arch Manning, Steve Sarkisian, and co. suffered a huge drop in the standings as they fell to No. 5 on the list after failing to make the College Football Playoff despite being the preseason favorites to win it all.

As expected, the college football world showed them no mercy, calling out the team for its decline.

One fan said:

“Texas with zero respect for Jayden Daniels.”

The remaining AP Top 25 list includes:

6. Indiana 7. Miami 8. Texas A&M 9. Ole Miss 10. Oklahoma 11. LSU 12. Texas Tech 13. Alabama T-14. BYU T-14. USC 14. Michigan 15. Washington 16. Penn State 17. SMU 18. Tennessee 19. Utah 20. Iowa 21. Houston 22. Louisville 23. Missouri.

Texas Football Transfer Portal Signings

After finishing with a 10-3 record consisting of losses to Georgia, Florida, and Ohio State, Arch Manning made the decision to forgo the 2026 NFL Draft in favor of returning to Texas for another year.

The Longhorns also lost a total of 23 players to the transfer portal, including wideout DeAndre Moore Jr., Parker Washington, who was Arch Manning’s roommate and one of his favorite targets, lineman Daniel Cruz, linebacker Elijah Barnes, and more.

However, coach Steve Sarkisian also made some quality transfer portal acquisitions, bringing in running back Hollywood Smothers, offensive tackle Melvin Siani, and wide receiver Cam Coleman, who was the highest-rated wideout in the transfer portal cycle, per On3.

The team currently faces the hardest schedule in the FBS, according to analyst Phil Steele, with matchups against Tennessee, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, and more.

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