AP Top 25 rankings revealed a historic moment as the SEC claimed six of the top seven positions after the first major shake-up of the college football season. This unprecedented achievement marks a milestone in the 88-year history of these rankings, while Notre Dame faced disappointment, plummeting to No. 18 following a surprising home defeat.
Georgia solidified its status as the top team, securing 54 out of 63 first-place votes. Meanwhile, Texas ascended to No. 2 after a commanding victory against defending national champion Michigan, earning four first-place votes in the process. This ranking represents Texas’s highest position since they finished second in 2009, while Michigan slid down to No. 17.
Missouri climbed to No. 6, while Tennessee made a significant leap from No. 14 to No. 7 after a decisive win over North Carolina State in Charlotte. With the SEC expanding to 16 teams, including the recent additions of Texas and Oklahoma, the stage was set for an early-season dominance that has never been witnessed before.
This remarkable achievement not only highlights the SEC’s strength but also serves as a reminder of how competitive college football has become in the superconference era. The upcoming weeks will see these top teams face off against each other, making it uncertain whether they can maintain this dominance.
The season’s first major upset occurred when Notre Dame fell 16-14 to Northern Illinois, marking a rare instance where a top-five team lost to an unranked opponent. This defeat echoed the 2022 season when Purdue triumphed over then-No. 2 Iowa.
Northern Illinois’s victory, a historic first for a Mid-American Conference team against a top-five opponent, propelled them to No. 25 in the rankings. This marks NIU’s first ranking since 2013 and their status as the first non-Power 4 conference team to be listed this season.
Completing the top 10 are No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Oregon from the Big Ten, and No. 10 Miami (Fla.), with the Ducks slipping two spots after a thrilling comeback win against Boise State.
Poll points
Northern Illinois is one of four teams making their debut in the rankings this week, with Nebraska notably returning at No. 23.
The Cornhuskers are ranked for the first time since 2019 after a strong performance against Colorado at home. Their previous ranking was short-lived; they started the 2019 season at No. 24 but quickly fell out after a Week 2 loss.
Nebraska last maintained a ranking for an entire season in 2016, but they have not finished a season ranked since 2012. This is the goal for second-year head coach Matt Rhule and freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.
It’s worth noting that Nebraska still holds the record for the longest streak of poll appearances, with 348 consecutive weeks under coach Tom Osborne from 1981 to 2002, while Alabama currently boasts an active streak of 264 weeks ranked.
In and out
The rankings saw some turnover at the bottom, with Kansas, Iowa, Georgia Tech, and NC State falling out after losses.
No. 21 Iowa State switched places with Iowa by defeating their rivals in the Cy-Hawk game.
Last week, Georgia Tech made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 since 2015, ending one of the longest droughts among power conference teams. Unfortunately, their stay was brief after a loss to Syracuse. However, another ACC team, Boston College, ended its own lengthy absence by returning to the rankings at No. 24 for the first time since 2018.
Conference call
The SEC previously had four of the top five teams on October 19, 2014, when Mississippi State was ranked No. 1, followed by Ole Miss, Alabama, and Auburn.
SEC: 8 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16).
Big Ten: 6 (Nos. 3, 8, 9, 11, 17, 23).
Big 12: 5 (Nos. 12, 13, 14, 20, 21).
ACC: 4 (Nos. 10, 19, 22, 24).
MAC: 1 (No. 25).
Independent: 1 (No. 18).
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 20 Arizona will face No. 14 Kansas State on Thursday in a unique Big 12 matchup that is technically a nonconference game due to previous scheduling.
No. 24 Boston College will challenge No. 6 Missouri on Saturday in an unexpected ACC-SEC clash that promises to be exciting.
