This past week brought significant changes to the Associated Press college football poll, as Texas reclaimed the top spot on Sunday after a brief one-week hiatus, following Vanderbilt’s stunning upset over Alabama.
The Commodores’ unexpected victory over Alabama, as more than three-touchdown underdogs, resulted in the Crimson Tide tumbling from the No. 1 position down to No. 7. This marks the steepest drop for a top-ranked team since Ohio State fell to No. 11 in 2010 after losing to Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, Texas, which did not play this week, garnered 52 out of 61 first-place votes. This made them the first team in two years to jump back and forth between the top ranking across three separate polls. Additionally, the Longhorns are just the third team since 2008 to be voted No. 1 after a week off.
In other notable moves, Ohio State defeated Iowa for its fourth consecutive win and received nine first-place votes, which moved them up to No. 2.
Oregon and Penn State both made impressive gains, each moving up three spots to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, while Georgia maintained its position at No. 5.
Miami, after rallying from a 25-point second-half deficit to edge past California 39-38, climbed two spots to No. 6, showcasing their resilience.
The tumult seen this week extended beyond Alabama, with six of the 18 teams in the AP Top 25 losing to unranked opponents—a striking 33% and the highest rate since 2020.
In fact, Alabama was one of four teams within the top 11 to suffer defeats at the hands of unranked opponents, a rare occurrence that hasn’t been seen since November 12, 2016, when five teams experienced the same fate, according to Sportradar.
Tennessee stumbled against Arkansas, dropping from No. 4 to No. 8, while Michigan lost to Washington, plunging from No. 10 to No. 24. Also, Southern California fell at Minnesota, dropping out of the Top 25 after starting the season at No. 11; they now sit just outside the rankings.
In contrast, Texas A&M decisively defeated Missouri in the only Top 25 matchup this week, propelling the Aggies from a tie for No. 25 to the No. 15 slot, while Missouri fell from No. 9 to No. 21.
Poll Highlights
The Big Ten remains strong with three teams in the top five, but the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is well represented in the top 10, featuring No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, and No. 4 Penn State, positioned alongside Texas and Georgia. The SEC also boasts Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi within the top 10.
Three teams, Missouri, Michigan, and USC, each experienced double-digit drops this week, marking the first time since November 13, 2016, that three teams fell by 10 or more spots in the same poll.
Conversely, teams making the most significant upward moves include Texas A&M (from No. 25 to 15), Clemson (from No. 15 to 10), and Iowa State (from No. 16 to 11).
New Faces
SMU (5-1) earned a spot in the rankings at No. 25 after defeating Louisville on the road. This appearance marks a successful return for the Mustangs, who have only missed the Top 25 once since 2019. Louisville (3-2), on the other hand, has now lost two of their last three games and has fallen out of the rankings.
Pittsburgh’s victory at North Carolina marked their first 5-0 start since 1991, earning them a spot at No. 22 for their first ranking in two years.
USC (3-2), having lost two of their initial three Big Ten games, has fallen out of the rankings, as has UNLV, whose first entry into the Top 25 was ended by an overtime loss to Syracuse.
Conference Breakdown
SEC — 9 teams (Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, T-18, 21).
Big Ten — 6 teams (Nos. 2, 3, 4, T-18, 23, 24).
Big 12 — 4 teams (Nos. T-11, 14, 16, T-18).
ACC — 4 teams (Nos. 6, 10, 22, 25).
Mountain West — 1 team (No. 17).
Independent — 1 team (No. 11).
Upcoming Matches
This week features a highly anticipated matchup: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma in Dallas, showcasing their first head-to-head SEC encounter and marking the sixth Top 25 clash in their last eight meetings. The Sooners secured a narrow victory over Texas last year, handing them their only regular-season loss.
Meanwhile, No. 2 Ohio State will take on No. 3 Oregon, a game initially anticipated as a preview of the Big Ten championship. Historically, the Buckeyes have won nine of their last ten matchups against Oregon, with their only loss occurring in the most recent meeting in 2021.
Also on the docket is No. 9 Mississippi facing No. 13 LSU, which carries significant implications for the College Football Playoff, following last season’s thrilling contest that the Rebels won 55-49 against Heisman winner Jayden Daniels.
___
This report corrects the noted record for when four top-11 teams lost to unranked opponents, confirming it took place on November 12, 2016, rather than October 2017.
___
Stay updated with the latest polls and news on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. For more on AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
