Rece Davis charts a different path for his top 25 rankings.
Rece Davis Reveals His AP Preseason Top 25 Ballot For 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season is nearly here, and conversations about who belongs at the top of polls are already heating up. Fans are dissecting preseason projections, speculating on early playoff contenders and debating whether certain powerhouse programs are overrated before a single snap is played.
This year’s official AP Preseason Poll handed Texas a first-ever no. 1 ranking, narrowly edging Penn State in a vote that showcased the razor-thin margins between the sport’s elite.
Both teams enter the season with strong rosters and legitimate championship hopes, while the SEC and Big Ten again command a massive share of the rankings.
But not every voter followed the same script. One ballot, submitted by one of the most recognizable voices in the sport, presents a different view on which program should open the year at the top.
Rece Davis Picks Clemson Over Official No. 1
ESPN’s Rece Davis put Clemson in the top spot on his AP ballot. Revealed in a compilation of the ballots of all the AP Poll voters shared on Reddit, Davis opted for the Tigers over Texas and Penn State. It is a choice that immediately stands apart from the consensus and signals a belief in Clemson’s ability to outperform the other preseason favorites.
Davis’s history of measured yet assertive predictions gives his ballot added weight. Since taking over as host of ESPN’s "College GameDay" in 2015, he has routinely identified teams poised to exceed expectations.
All #APTop25 preseason ballots: pic.twitter.com/VXMYaSVJcy
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 13, 2025
His 2025 ballot reflects faith in coach Dabo Swinney’s veteran roster, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik and a defensive unit that returns most of its starters.
The Tigers open the season against LSU in Death Valley, a matchup where Davis has already made his prediction in favor of Clemson.
2025 College Football Season Headlines Through Davis' Lens
Nationally, the 2025 landscape is loaded with intrigue. Texas, behind quarterback Arch Manning, aims to justify its official No. 1 ranking. Penn State brings back Drew Allar and a defense capable of stifling any opponent. LSU, Alabama and Georgia continue to be fixtures in playoff conversations.
The official AP poll leans heavily toward the SEC in the top 10, while Rece Davis’s ballot shifts the balance by making several notable changes.
He places LSU in the top four, ahead of its No. 9 ranking in the consensus, and moves Arizona State into the top 10.
Davis' ballot adds Baylor, TCU and Toledo—none of which appear in the official rankings. At the same time, he leaves out South Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee. The result is a ballot that trims certain SEC contenders in favor of programs he sees as more likely to break through in 2025.
Those moves suggest he sees more competitive balance across the country and anticipates potential breakthroughs from outside the usual playoff conversation.
College football's Week 1 will deliver immediate clarity, with several Top 10 matchups on the schedule. If Clemson emerges unscathed from its battle with LSU, Davis’ top choice will look prescient.
Rece Davis’s Full 2025 AP Preseason Top 25 Ballot
- Clemson Tigers
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Texas Longhorns
- LSU Tigers
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Oregon Ducks
- Arizona State Sun Devils
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Miami Hurricanes
- Baylor Bears
- SMU Mustangs
- Florida Gators
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Kansas State Wildcats
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Michigan Wolverines
- Boise State Broncos
- Texas A&M Aggies
- TCU Horned Frogs
- Toledo Rockets
Related: Rick Neuheisel Reveals His Top Newcomer In College Football For 2025 Season
Related: Major Big 12 Program Receives Record-Setting $300 Million Gift From Donor
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
