Texas, Penn State, Ohio State and Clemson would be the top four seeds in the College Football Playoff based on The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll.

Texas gets an early chance to prove it belongs. A showdown with the No. 2 Buckeyes in the season opener on Aug. 30 in Columbus looms large as a potential defining moment in the Longhorns' pursuit of their first national title in two decades.

The SEC has long been known as the premier conference in college football. With four out of the past six national champions coming from SEC teams and a storied history of winning, the conference slogan "It Just Means More" has stood the test of time.