Oregon secured the top position in the college football rankings, earning unanimous recognition in the latest AP Top 25. This marks the Ducks’ third consecutive week ranking first, and they achieved unanimous acclaim for the first time after achieving a significant 21-point victory against Michigan on the road.

Georgia retained its second place, despite only receiving one first-place vote last week. The Bulldogs managed to pull ahead late in their recent game against Florida, overcoming an ongoing challenge as Carson Beck threw three interceptions.

Meanwhile, Ohio State climbed to the third spot following their victory at Penn State, marking their eighth consecutive win in that rivalry. Miami moved to fourth after defeating Duke, while Texas, which did not play, also advanced to the fifth position. As a consequence, Penn State fell from the top five into the sixth position after their recent loss.

With the College Football Playoff (CFP) expanding this year to accommodate 12 teams, the pressure intensifies as losses among top teams may not necessarily eliminate them from championship contention. The first CFP rankings of the season are scheduled to be released on Tuesday and will be updated weekly until the bracket is finalized on December 8.

Tennessee maintained its position at seventh despite facing a tough challenge against Kentucky, winning the game 28-18. Indiana made a remarkable jump, rising five spots to number eight—its highest ranking since reaching seventh place in 2020, showing their strong performance against Michigan State with a 47-10 victory. This marks the first time Indiana has reached a 9-0 record in program history, with every win this season coming by a margin of at least ten points.

Both BYU and Notre Dame remained stationary at ninth and tenth respectively, as neither team participated in games this week.

SMU garnered attention with a 48-25 win over Pittsburgh, moving up from 20th to 13th place. This notable ascent marks their best ranking since October 1985, prior to the NCAA’s severe penalties imposed on the program in 1987.

On the other end of the spectrum, Clemson and Iowa State faced notable declines following losses in their latest games. Clemson fell eight spots to 19th after a 33-21 loss against Louisville, while Iowa State dropped six spots to 17th due to a narrow 23-22 defeat against Texas Tech. Texas A&M, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh all fell five spots in the rankings.

Army has reached its highest ranking since midseason in 1960, now sitting at No. 18, while Boise State achieved its best position since 2011, landing at No. 12. Notably, Indiana surpassed Notre Dame in rankings for the first time since 1979, a significant rivalry given their proximity of just 200 miles apart.

Following a 17-7 triumph over Auburn, Vanderbilt has re-entered the rankings at No. 24 after a brief one-week absence. Louisville also made its return to the chart, securing the 25th spot after upsetting Clemson. Meanwhile, Illinois exited the rankings following a 25-17 loss to Minnesota, concluding their seven-week streak in the Top 25.

Missouri, which previously enjoyed consistent weekly rankings and peaked at sixth this season, dropped out entirely after not competing in its last match. The Tigers had barely held on at number 25 following a heavy 34-0 defeat to Alabama.

In terms of conference representation, the SEC leads with eight teams ranked (Nos. 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 24), followed by the ACC with five teams (Nos. 4, 13, 19, 23, and 25). The Big Ten boasts four teams (Nos. 1, 3, 6, and 8), as does the Big 12 (Nos. 9, 17, 21, and 22). The ACC, Mountain West, and the Pac-12 also each have one team represented in the rankings.

Looking ahead to key matchups, No. 2 Georgia is set to face No. 16 Mississippi. The Bulldogs have not visited Oxford since their loss there in 2016 but dominated Ole Miss at home last year. Another important game is between No. 11 Alabama and No. 14 LSU, with Alabama looking to avenge their recent overtime defeat following an exciting matchup two years ago. The stage is set for an action-packed continuation of the college football season.