Oregon remains the top-ranked team for the sixth consecutive week, followed closely by Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State. The Ducks stand out as the only unbeaten team in the nation, solidifying their dominant position.
The rankings see a shake-up starting at No. 5, where Notre Dame makes a welcome return after defeating Army, marking their ninth consecutive victory. This resurgence highlights Notre Dame’s resilience and determination.
Meanwhile, No. 6 Georgia and No. 7 Tennessee each climbed two spots, while No. 8 Miami enjoyed a three-position leap. Notably, No. 9 SMU surged four spots, achieving its first top-10 ranking since 1985. SMU has secured a place in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, where they could face Miami if the Hurricanes triumph over Syracuse this week or No. 12 Clemson.
Indiana experienced a setback, dropping from No. 5 to No. 10 after a tough 38-15 defeat against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are on track to meet Oregon in the Big Ten championship game if they can overcome Michigan this Saturday, a team they haven’t beaten in four years.
The Southeastern Conference’s aspirations for four spots in the College Football Playoff took a hit as two of its teams fell as double-digit favorites. Currently, Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee are the only SEC teams with fewer than three losses, following Alabama’s 24-3 defeat against Oklahoma and Mississippi’s 24-17 loss to Florida.
In the latest AP poll, Alabama and Mississippi each dropped six spots, with Alabama now at No. 13 and Mississippi at No. 15.
Texas A&M also faced defeat, losing 43-41 to Auburn in a thrilling four-overtime match. This loss caused the Aggies to tumble five spots to No. 20, but they remain in contention to face Georgia in the SEC championship if they can defeat Texas this week.
The Big 12 landscape changed as losses by BYU and Colorado resulted in a four-way tie for first place. No. 14 Arizona State, initially predicted to finish last in the conference, handed BYU its second consecutive loss and emerged as the highest-ranked Big 12 team. No. 17 Iowa State gained five spots with their victory at Utah, while BYU is now ranked No. 19 and Colorado sits at No. 23 after their defeat to Kansas.
If these four teams end up with a 7-2 record in conference play, the Big 12 championship will feature Iowa State against Arizona State.
No. 11 Boise State leads the four ranked Group of Five teams, gaining a spot despite a challenging win against a struggling Wyoming team. Tulane ranks No. 18, UNLV is at No. 21, and Army rounds out the rankings at No. 25.
Oregon, having a week off, continues to be the consensus No. 1 team for the fourth straight week. If they defeat Washington at home this Saturday, the Ducks will finish the regular season unbeaten for the first time since 2010.
Boise State’s current ranking marks its highest since finishing at No. 8 in the final poll of the 2011 season. Arizona State’s position is its best since it reached No. 12 in the final poll of the 2014 season.
The Indiana-Ohio State matchup was the last top-five clash of the regular season, with five such matchups occurring this year—the most since 1996, matching the records set in 1936 and 1943.
In and out
No. 24 Missouri returned to the Top 25 after a 39-20 victory over Mississippi State, bouncing back after a brief absence.
Washington State’s four-week ranking streak ended with a narrow 41-38 loss at the hands of Oregon State.
Conference call
SEC — 8 (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 13, 15, 16, 20, 24).
Big Ten — 5 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 22).
Big 12 — 4 (Nos. 14, 17, 19, 23).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 8, 9, 12).
AAC — 2 (Nos. 18, 25).
Mountain West — 2 (Nos. 11, 21).
Independent — 1 (No. 5).
Here’s the full top 25:
1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Tennessee
8. Miami (Fla.)
9. SMU
10. Indiana
11. Boise State
12. Clemson
13. Alabama
14. Arizona State
15. Ole Miss
16. South Carolina
17. Iowa State
18. Tulane
19. BYU
20. Texas A&M
21. UNLV
22. Illinois
23. Colorado
24. Missouri
25. Army
