The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll was released Monday and Pitt garnered three votes to begin the 2025 campaign unofficially as the No. 46 team in the nation.
Texas (25 votes) slightly edged Penn State (23) for the No. 1 ranking, with Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia rounding out the Top 5.
Behind the Tigers, the ACC was represented in the AP Top 25 by No. 10 Miami and No. 16 Southern Methodist.
Louisville (90) and Duke (6) also received votes ahead of Pitt.
The Panthers are coming off a 7-6 season in 2024 that saw them begin 7-0 and finish 0-6.
Undefeated and heading into a road showdown Nov. 2 at SMU, Pitt had climbed to No. 18 in the country, only to lose its final six games, including the GameAbove Sports Bowl Dec. 26 to Toledo.
Quarterback Eli Holstein, tailback Desmond Reid and linebacker Kyle Louis are among the main playmakers to return for Pitt in 2025.
Texas is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 for the first time, just ahead of No. 2 Penn State.
See where other top teams rank. https://t.co/qXJ5AkXKho
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 11, 2025
