The AP Top 25 reveals that Oregon claims the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2012, marking a significant milestone for the program. Meanwhile, Michigan, the defending national champion, has fallen from the rankings after suffering its second consecutive defeat, bringing its record to 4-3.
[RJ Young’s Top 25: Oregon, Georgia climb to top]
Oregon’s impressive journey included a narrow victory over Ohio State followed by a dominant 35-0 shutout against Purdue, marking their first road shutout in 32 years. This performance earned them 59 out of 61 first-place votes.
Georgia has also made headlines, advancing three spots to No. 2 after defeating Texas 30-15, a team that had previously held the top position. The Bulldogs secured the remaining two first-place votes.
As for Ohio State and Penn State, they maintained their positions at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, after a week of inactivity. Texas slipped to No. 5, struggling to keep pace after Georgia restricted them to 28 points below their average.
In a thrilling matchup, Miami emerged victorious against Louisville, retaining their No. 6 ranking. Tennessee made a notable leap from No. 11 to No. 7 following their triumph over Alabama. LSU, Clemson, and Iowa State completed the top ten.
Alabama, after a brief stint at No. 1, faced an upset against Vanderbilt, which allowed Texas to reclaim the top spot for two weeks.
Chip Kelly was at the helm of the last Oregon teams that reached No. 1, with the 2012 Ducks, led by Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, holding that position for a week after a strong start that ultimately ended with a loss to Stanford. The 2010 squad spent six weeks at the top before falling to Auburn in the BCS title game.
Tennessee’s recent 24-17 victory over Alabama created significant shifts in the rankings, propelling the Volunteers from No. 11 to No. 7. Conversely, Alabama dropped eight spots to No. 15, marking their lowest ranking since 2010.
Texas’ loss to Georgia was remarkable as it marked the first time a No. 1 team lost at home against a top-five opponent since Miami’s narrow victory over Florida State in 1991.
Vanderbilt’s return to the rankings at No. 25 is noteworthy; their last appearance was in 2013 when they finished at No. 24. The Commodores improved to 5-2 after defeating Ball State, achieving their best start since a 5-0 run in 2008, the last time they were ranked during the regular season.
Michigan’s performance this season has been disappointing, as their 21-7 loss to Illinois resulted in their lowest point total since 2014. The Wolverines had been ranked in 54 consecutive polls since 2021.
The SEC leads with nine teams in the rankings, including Nos. 2, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 18, 21, and 25. The Big Ten follows with five teams, while the ACC has four representatives. The Big 12 contributes three teams, and the American and Mountain West conferences each have two and one, respectively.
Upcoming matchups feature No. 20 Illinois visiting No. 1 Oregon, marking their first encounter with a top-ranked team since 2007. No. 5 Texas will face No. 25 Vanderbilt, a significant clash as these teams have not met since the early 20th century. No. 8 LSU will take on No. 14 Texas A&M in a competitive SEC series, while No. 12 Notre Dame faces No. 24 Navy, both ranked for the first time in their storied rivalry since 2019. Lastly, No. 21 Missouri will challenge No. 15 Alabama, who are struggling this season.
Here’s the full top 25:
1. Oregon
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Texas
6. Miami (Fla.)
7. Tennessee
8. LSU
9. Clemson
10. Iowa State
11. BYU
12. Notre Dame
13. Indiana
14. Texas A&M
15. Alabama
16. Kansas State
17. Boise State
18. Ole Miss
19. Pittsburgh
20. Illinois
21. Missouri
22. SMU
23. Army
24. Navy
25. Vanderbilt
Others receiving votes: Washington St. 46, Syracuse 15, UNLV 5, Duke 2, South Carolina 1, Nebraska 1, Liberty 1.
