Alabama and Mississippi have dropped out of the top 10 rankings in the latest AP Top 25 poll, with Miami and SMU entering the list after a turbulent weekend in both the SEC and college football at large.
Oregon remains at the top for the sixth consecutive week, while Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State hold their respective positions following the Ducks, who are currently the only unbeaten team.
Starting at the fifth-ranked spot, Notre Dame has made a comeback to the top 10 for the first time since Week 2, thanks to their recent victory over Army, marking their ninth consecutive win.
Georgia and Tennessee both gained two spots, landing at sixth and seventh, respectively. Miami climbed three spots to secure the eighth position, while SMU made a significant leap of four places, earning their first top-10 ranking since 1985. SMU is set to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game, where they will face either Miami or No. 12 Clemson, depending on the outcomes of their upcoming matches.
Indiana fell from the fifth to the tenth position after suffering a 38-15 defeat against Ohio State. If the Buckeyes succeed against Michigan, they will face Oregon in the Big Ten championship game, breaking a four-year losing streak against the Wolverines.
The Southeastern Conference’s aspirations for four bids in the College Football Playoff took a hit with two of its teams losing as significant favorites. As it stands, only Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee have less than three losses after Alabama lost 24-3 at Oklahoma, and Mississippi succumbed to a 24-17 defeat at Florida.
Alabama and Mississippi each saw a six-spot drop in the poll, placing the Crimson Tide at No. 13 and the Rebels at No. 15.
Texas A&M also faced defeat, losing to Auburn in a thrilling 43-41 game that extended into four overtimes. The Aggies fell five ranks to No. 20 but are still in contention to play Georgia in the SEC championship game if they can defeat Texas this week.
Meanwhile, losses by BYU and Colorado have resulted in a four-way tie for first in the Big 12, with Arizona State, generally predicted to finish last, taking down BYU for their second consecutive defeat. Arizona State is now the highest-ranked team in the Big 12, sitting at No. 14, while Iowa State surged five spots to No. 17 after their win against Utah. BYU now finds itself at No. 19, and Colorado holds No. 23 after losing to Kansas.
If all four teams in the tie wrap up the season with a 7-2 record in conference play, it will set the stage for a championship showdown between Iowa State and Arizona State.
Boise State, ranked No. 11, leads among the four recognized Group of Five teams, moving up one position despite a close victory over a struggling Wyoming team. Tulane is positioned at No. 18, UNLV at No. 21, and Army rounds out the top 25 at No. 25.
In related notes, Oregon has maintained its spot as the consensus number one team for the fourth consecutive week despite being idle. The Ducks could complete an unbeaten regular season for the first time since 2010 if they defeat Washington this Saturday.
Boise State’s current rank is its highest since it was eighth in the final 2011 poll, while Arizona State is achieving its best ranking since it reached No. 12 in the last poll of 2014.
The Indiana versus Ohio State matchup marked the last clash within the top five for the regular season, culminating a five matchup schedule that hasn’t been seen since 1996.
Regarding changes in the rankings, Missouri returned at No. 24 following a 39-20 victory over Mississippi State, after a brief absence of one week. In contrast, Washington State’s four-week streak in the rankings concluded with a second consecutive loss, falling 41-38 to Oregon State.
The distribution of teams in the poll indicates a strong SEC presence with eight schools represented (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 13, 15, 16, 20, 24), followed by the Big Ten with five (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 22), the Big 12 with four (Nos. 14, 17, 19, 23), the ACC with three (Nos. 8, 9, 12), and the AAC and Mountain West with two each (Nos. 18, 25; Nos. 11, 21, respectively). Additionally, there is one Independent team listed at No. 5.
This week features highlighted ranked matchups, including No. 16 South Carolina facing off against No. 12 Clemson, marking the first Top 25 meeting between these teams since 2013. Furthermore, No. 3 Texas will clash with No. 20 Texas A&M in what promises to be a high-stakes rivalry game, with the winner advancing to the SEC title game.
