Oregon maintains its position as the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the fourth consecutive week. This latest ranking sees Penn State and Indiana breaking into the top five, while Georgia and Miami have slipped out of the top 10 due to recent losses. With just a month left in the regular season, several other ranked teams have also seen shifts in their standings.
Oregon’s dominance this season is underscored by the fact that no other team has held the No. 1 spot for more consecutive weeks. This past weekend, Oregon secured a convincing victory over Maryland, improving its record to 10-0 and earning unanimous approval as the top team for the second week in a row.
In this week’s poll, Ohio State ascends to No. 2, while Texas moves up to No. 3. Penn State is ranked No. 4, narrowly edging out No. 5 Indiana, with Tennessee just three points behind at No. 6. Penn State’s return to the top five comes after a solid win against Washington, and Indiana’s recent triumph over Michigan not only secured their school-record 10th win but also marked their highest ranking since finishing at No. 4 in the 1967 season.
To round out the top 10, Tennessee is followed by BYU, Notre Dame, Alabama, and Mississippi. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) leads with four teams in the top 10 and a total of nine teams in the AP Top 25, while the Big Ten boasts an unprecedented four teams in the top five.
On the other hand, Georgia and Miami faced significant drops in the rankings. The Bulldogs fell from No. 2 to No. 11 after a disappointing 28-10 loss to Mississippi, marking their first exit from the top 10 since late in the 2020 season. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes dropped from No. 4 to No. 12 following their 28-23 defeat at Georgia Tech.
The potential implications of these losses on College Football Playoff bids will become clearer on Tuesday night when the selection committee unveils its second set of rankings. At present, Georgia ranks as the fifth-highest Southeastern Conference team in the AP poll, while Miami remains the top-ranked team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Poll Highlights
Mississippi achieved the largest improvement this week, climbing from No. 16 to No. 10 after a strong defensive effort against Georgia. Meanwhile, LSU’s playoff aspirations took a hit after being heavily defeated by Alabama, dropping from No. 14 to No. 21.
Notably, No. 18 Colorado is in control of its playoff destiny, currently holding second place in the Big 12, just behind unbeaten BYU. Both teams could potentially meet in the conference championship game if they maintain their winning streaks.
Boise State dropped one position to No. 13 but remains the top-ranked Group of Five team after their 28-21 victory over Nevada.
In-and-Out Rankings
This week sees No. 23 South Carolina making a return to the Top 25 rankings for the first time since the end of the 2022 season, thanks to consecutive wins against ranked opponents Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. No. 24 Missouri is back in the rankings following a late-game fumble return for a touchdown against Oklahoma, while No. 25 Tulane claimed its spot after winning seven straight games under first-year coach Jon Sumrall.
On the flip side, Iowa State, Pittsburgh, and Vanderbilt have dropped out of the rankings. The Cyclones faced their second consecutive loss against Kansas, while Pittsburgh suffered a loss to Virginia after a prior defeat by SMU. Vanderbilt’s struggles continued with losses in two of their last three games.
Conference Breakdown
SEC: 9 teams (Nos. 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 21, 23, 24)
ACC: 4 teams (Nos. 12, 14, 17, 22)
Big Ten: 4 teams (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5)
Big 12: 3 teams (Nos. 7, 18, 20)
AAC: 2 teams (Nos. 16, 25)
Mountain West: 1 team (No. 13)
Pac-12: 1 team (No. 19)
Independent: 1 team (No. 8)
Ranked Matchups Ahead
– No. 6 Tennessee is set to face No. 11 Georgia, with Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava expected to return after missing part of the game against Mississippi State. Tennessee is looking to break a seven-game losing streak against the Bulldogs, during which they haven’t scored more than 21 points.
– No. 24 Missouri will take on No. 23 South Carolina, seeking to extend their winning streak against the Gamecocks, who could potentially secure a victory over a third consecutive ranked opponent.
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