Despite consecutive 10-plus win seasons, the Missouri Tigers found themselves outside the US LBM preseason College Football Coaches Poll released on Monday.

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.

Ohio State is the defending national champion, though not No. 1 in the newly released preseason US LBM coaches poll.