For the first time, Texas will open a college football season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25. The Longhorns hardly have a mandate in the poll released Monday: They edged out Penn State by just five points in the closest preseason vote since 1998.

TEXAS LONGHORNS AND THE REST OF THE PRESEASON AP TOP 25. The eyes of Texas -- and the AP poll voters -- are upon them: The Texas Longhorns are No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for

The Longhorns received 25 first-place votes and 1,552 points in the rankings released Monday to edge past No. 2 Penn State in the closest preseason vote since 1998. The Nittany Lions have their best preseason ranking since they started No. 1 in 1997. Penn State received 23 first-place votes and 1,547 points.