Alabama has returned to the top spot in The Associated Press college football poll following their victory over Georgia, marking the 16th time in 17 seasons that the Crimson Tide has held the No. 1 ranking. This shift comes two years after their last stint at the top.
UNLV made their first appearance in the AP rankings in history, joining the top 25 alongside Texas A&M after maintaining an unbeaten record through four games. The Rebels faced a setback when their starting quarterback faced issues over an NIL dispute.
Alabama received 40 first-place votes out of 63, surpassing Texas to secure the No. 1 ranking. Texas dropped to No. 2, and Ohio State remained at No. 3. Tennessee moved up to No. 4, and Georgia fell to No. 5.
Other teams in the top 10 include Oregon, Penn State, Miami, Missouri, and Michigan. Mississippi and Utah experienced significant drops in the rankings after recent losses.
Under coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama claimed the top spot for the first time, led by standout players like Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams. Their recent wins against Wisconsin and Georgia have solidified their position at No. 1.
The SEC boasts four of the top five spots in the poll for the fourth consecutive week, a historical first. Moreover, the conference has a total of nine teams in the Top 25 rankings, near its own record for the most ranked teams from one conference.
Additionally, UNLV’s rise in the rankings comes amid their quarterback change and impressive win against Fresno State. With a 4-0 record for the first time since 1976, the Rebels will face Syracuse next.
Indiana also entered the rankings at No. 23 with a 5-0 record, their first time in the top 25 since 2021. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State dropped out after consecutive losses to ranked opponents.
In terms of conference representation, the SEC leads with nine teams in the Top 25, followed by the Big Ten with seven teams. The Big 12 has four teams, while the ACC and Mountain West each have three and two teams, respectively.
Looking ahead, notable matchups include No. 9 Missouri facing No. 25 Texas A&M, with Missouri having a week off to prepare for the game at College Station.