Texas' Steve Sarkisian Reacts to 'Irrelevant' AP Poll as Longhorns Rank Top-5

The Texas Longhorns landed No. 5 in the first edition of the top-25 poll by the Associated Press.

The ranking is one spot lower than Texas' place in the U.S. LBM coaches poll.

In his reaction to national rankings in general, Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian had noteworthy remarks.

"I love the polls for college football fans, for the excitement, for the marquee matchups, for all those things," Sarkisian said, via AP. "But the polls internally, they just don’t matter. They’re really irrelevant. I think we’ve gotten to a point now as a team to understand that what matters is how we play each and every Saturday."

So despite their lack of impact on how Sark conducts his business, he acknowledged the rankings' place in the greater national conversation, largely done among fans.

That factor means a lot for a die-hard fan base like the one following Texas, which is hoping for this 2026 team can compete for what would be the program's first national title in over two decades.

READ MORE: SEC Rival Admits He's Rooting for Arch Manning - Just Not Against Him

Atop the preseason rankings is the Longhorns' Week 2 opponent, the Ohio State Buckeyes. This time last year, the Buckeyes and Horns were co-No. 1 teams in the country entering their Week 1 contest in Columbus. Ohio State claimed the top spot, and held it for much of the season, after beating Texas 14-7.

Like many of the nation's best rosters, the Longhorns return heaps of talent and past experience.

That starts at the top with Arch Manning entering his fourth season in Austin, but second as the full-time starting quarterback. AP voter Scott Hamilton said Manning's presence and the many returning "weapons" is why he thinks Texas is deserving of their No. 5 placing.

"Here’s another key," Hamilton says, "Cole Hutson getting another season despite having gone to Dallas Cowboys minicamp. The Longhorns got a gift in the form of an offensive lineman with 23 starts across an array of positions. Plus, Texas crushed the transfer portal with WR Cam Coleman and RB Hollywood Smothers."

READ MORE: Steve Sarkisian Raves About 'Natural' Longhorns Freshman RB

Manning, Coleman, transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles and defensive end Colin Simmons make up the quartet of Longhorns who were named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award watch-list this week, displaying the sheer star power Texas possesses.

The four individuals named on the watch-list for Texas is more than any other team in the nation.

There's less than a handful who can say they stack up better than the Longhorns at this point in the calendar, but Sarkisian and his squad is gearing up to show the country what really matters.

That journey begins with the season-opener on Sep. 5 before the top-5 meeting with Ohio State in Austin on Sep. 12.