AP Top 25 reveals Texas back at No. 1 after a week of intense competition. The Longhorns, who had an open date, garnered 52 out of 61 first-place votes, marking a significant achievement as they became the first team in two years to shift in and out of the top position across three polls. This remarkable feat also makes them only the third team since 2008 to be ranked No. 1 without playing the previous week.
Ohio State, having triumphed over Iowa for their fourth consecutive win, secured nine first-place votes, elevating them to the No. 2 spot.
Oregon and Penn State both climbed three spots, landing at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, while Georgia held steady at No. 5.
Miami (Fla.) made headlines by overcoming a 25-point deficit in the second half to defeat Cal, 39-38, propelling them up two spots to No. 6.
The chaos of this week extended beyond Alabama’s struggles.
Six out of the 18 AP Top 25 teams that competed lost to unranked rivals, a 33% loss rate that hasn’t been seen since six of 16 teams fell in early October 2020.
Alabama was one of four teams in the top 11 to fall to unranked opponents, a situation that hasn’t occurred since October 2017.
Tennessee’s defeat to Arkansas dropped them from No. 4 to No. 8, while Michigan’s loss to Washington saw them tumble from No. 10 to No. 24. USC faced a setback against Minnesota, falling from No. 11 out of the Top 25 altogether, although they remained first among teams receiving votes.
Texas A&M decisively defeated Missouri in the only Top 25 clash, resulting in the Aggies jumping from a tie for No. 25 to No. 15, while Missouri fell from No. 9 to No. 21.
The Big Ten continues to dominate the top five, but the SEC maintains a strong presence in the top 10. Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State are flanked by Texas and Georgia, while Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss also feature in the upper echelon.
The most significant upward movements included Texas A&M (from 25 to 15), Clemson (from 15 to 10), and Iowa State (from 16 to 11).
SMU (5-1) earned a spot in the rankings at No. 25 after defeating Louisville on the road. The Mustangs have consistently appeared in the Top 25, missing only one season (2022) since 2019. Meanwhile, Louisville (3-2) has struggled, losing two of their last three games and dropping out of the rankings.
Pittsburgh’s victory over North Carolina marked their first 5-0 start since 1991, allowing them to enter the rankings at No. 22 for the first time in two years.
USC (3-2) has faced challenges, losing two of their first three Big Ten games and falling out of the rankings. UNLV, in a similar vein, saw their inaugural Top 25 appearance end with an overtime loss to Syracuse.
SEC: 9 (Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, T-18, 21).
Big Ten: 6 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, T-18, 23, 24).
Big 12: 4 (Nos. T-11, 14, 16, T-18).
ACC: 4 (Nos. 6, 10, 22, 25).
Mountain West: 1 (No. 17).
Independent: 1 (No. 11).
Here’s the full top 25:
1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Miami (Fla.)
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Clemson
T-11. Iowa State
T-11. Notre Dame
13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah
17. Boise State
T-18. Kansas State
T-18. Indiana
T-18. Oklahoma
21. Missouri
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois
24. Michigan
25. SMU
