AP Top 25 has Texas at the top, while Army and Navy are ranked for the first time since 1960, marking a significant moment in college football history. This weekend’s games did not feature the same level of chaos as the previous week, where four of the top 11 teams faced unexpected defeats, resulting in a major reshuffling of the rankings.
However, Week 7 still delivered its share of thrilling moments. Oregon’s nail-biting 32-31 victory over Ohio State showcased seven lead changes, propelling the Ducks to the No. 2 spot with six first-place votes. This achievement marks their highest ranking since the conclusion of the 2014 season, when they finished second after a loss to the Buckeyes in the first-ever College Football Playoff championship.
Meanwhile, Penn State climbed to No. 3 following a dramatic 33-30 overtime win against USC, marking the Nittany Lions’ highest ranking in seven years. The PSU-USC matchup was among four overtime games involving AP Top 25 teams on Saturday, with three of those contests featuring teams in the top 10.
Ohio State fell to No. 4, while Georgia maintained its position at No. 5. The top 10 is rounded out by Miami (Fla.), Alabama, LSU, Iowa State, and Clemson, showcasing a competitive landscape.
In a historic twist, Army, after a convincing 44-10 victory over UAB, and Navy, which had a bye week, achieved their first simultaneous rankings since October 3, 1960. This rare occurrence highlights the resurgence of both programs, reminiscent of their past dominance in college football.
That season, Army was ranked No. 18 with a 3-0 record before stumbling in the following weeks, while Navy, ranked No. 17, concluded the season at No. 4 with a 9-2 record. Now, with Army at 6-0 and Navy at 5-0, both teams find themselves unbeaten at this stage of the season for the first time since 1945, a period when service academies were formidable forces in the sport.
LSU and Ole Miss experienced notable shifts in the rankings following the Tigers’ thrilling 29-26 overtime victory. LSU surged from No. 13 to No. 8, marking their first top-10 appearance since being No. 5 in the preseason poll. Conversely, Ole Miss, after its second loss in three games, plummeted from No. 9 to No. 18.
Iowa State, now ranked No. 9, is enjoying its best start at 6-0 since 1938, achieving its highest ranking since September 2021. Tennessee, previously in the top 10 for four consecutive polls, slipped to No. 11 after a narrow 23-17 overtime win against Florida.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) dominates the AP Top 25 with eight teams represented. The Big Ten maintains a strong presence with three teams in the top five—Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State—and a total of six teams in the rankings.
Army and Navy are the only teams debuting in the rankings this season. In contrast, Utah, after suffering two consecutive losses, fell out of the rankings following a 27-19 defeat against Arizona State.
Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 18 before its loss to Texas, has now dropped out of the AP Top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2022 season.
The SEC boasts eight spots in the rankings (Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 11, 14, 18, 19), while the Big Ten occupies six spots (Nos. 2, 3, 4, 16, 22, 24). The ACC has four teams (Nos. 6, 10, 20, 21), the Big 12 has three (Nos. 9, 13, 17), the American Conference has two (Nos. 23, 25), the Mountain West has one (No. 15), and an Independent team rounds it out at No. 12.
Here’s the full top 25:
1. Texas
2. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Georgia
6. Miami (Fla.)
7. Alabama
8. LSU
9. Iowa State
10. Clemson
11. Tennessee
12. Notre Dame
13. BYU
14. Texas A&M
15. Boise State
16. Indiana
17. Kansas State
18. Ole Miss
19. Missouri
20. Pittsburgh
21. SMU
22. Illinois
23. Army
24. Michigan
25. Navy
