Poll Highlights
Oregon has ascended to the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press college football poll, marking an impressive milestone as it is their first time leading the rankings in 12 years. This change came after Texas suffered a home defeat against Georgia. Oregon is now the fourth team this season to hold the coveted top spot.
Georgia has benefited from its recent success, winning three consecutive games following a previous loss to Alabama. Their latest victory, a commanding 30-15 win at former No. 1 Texas, propelled them up three spots to No. 2, earning them two first-place votes.
Oregon’s remarkable performance continues, having recently triumphed over Ohio State by just one point at home before securing a 35-0 shutout victory against Purdue on the road, marking their first road shutout in 32 years. They garnered an impressive 59 out of 61 first-place votes in the poll.
Vanderbilt made a return to the rankings for the first time since 2013, coming in at No. 25 after defeating Ball State, which places them with their best start (5-2) since the 2008 season. Meanwhile, defending national champion Michigan has fallen out of the rankings for the first time this season following its second consecutive loss, leaving them with a 4-3 record.
In the top 10, Miami maintained its position at No. 6 after a thrilling victory against Louisville, while Tennessee climbed four places to No. 7 after a significant win against Alabama. The top 10 also features LSU, Clemson, and Iowa State rounding out the group.
This season has seen a remarkable turnover at the top, with no team holding the No. 1 ranking for more than three consecutive weeks. Georgia initially topped the poll at the season’s start but was dethroned after a narrow Week 3 victory over unranked Kentucky. Texas then claimed the top spot for two weeks before Alabama seized it following its victory over Georgia. However, Alabama’s reign was short-lived as they suffered an upset against Vanderbilt, allowing Texas to reclaim the lead briefly.
Oregon’s achievement in reaching No. 1 pays homage to its historical success. The last time the Ducks were in this position was in November 2012 with coach Chip Kelly, who previously led them to a top-ranking during a 10-0 season that ultimately ended with a loss to Stanford. The 2010 squad also experienced a lengthy stay at the top before finishing the season in the BCS Championship game.
Recent Rankings and Changes
The margin of change in the latest poll was significantly influenced by Tennessee’s 24-17 victory over Alabama, which saw the Volunteers leap from No. 11 to No. 7, while Alabama plummeted eight spots to No. 15, marking their worst ranking since 2010. Additionally, Texas’s loss marked the first time a No. 1 ranked team lost at home to a top-five opponent since Miami defeated Florida State in 1991.
In and Out of the Rankings
Michigan’s exit from the rankings follows a disappointing performance where they scored the fewest points in a game since 2014, losing 21-7 to Illinois. This loss ended a streak of 54 consecutive polls with Michigan in the rankings since 2021.
Conference Representation
The current distribution of ranked teams is as follows: SEC boasts 9 teams (Nos. 2, 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 18, 21, 25), Big Ten has 5 teams (Nos. 1, 3, 4, 13, 20), ACC includes 4 teams (Nos. 6, 9, 19, 22), Big 12 has 3 teams (Nos. 10, 11, 16), American features 2 teams (Nos. 23, 24), Mountain West has 1 (No. 17), and Independents include 1 (No. 12).
Ranked Matches Ahead
Several intriguing matchups are slated, including No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon, the first meeting for the Illini against a top-ranked team since 2007. Additionally, No. 5 Texas is set to face No. 25 Vanderbilt, marking their first encounter in over 90 years. No. 8 LSU will challenge No. 14 Texas A&M in what has become a competitive SEC series. No. 12 Notre Dame faces No. 24 Navy in a rivalry that has both teams ranked, and No. 21 Missouri takes on No. 15 Alabama, where the struggling Crimson Tide will aim to avoid further losses.
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