Oregon solidified its standing as the top team in college football, gaining unanimous approval for the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press poll on Sunday. The Ducks have now held the leading position for three consecutive weeks, and their recent 21-point victory against Michigan only bolstered their case for prominence in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s inaugural rankings for the season.
Georgia held onto the No. 2 position, despite quarterback Carson Beck’s three interceptions in their game against Florida. Ultimately, the Bulldogs pulled away late in the game to secure their ranking. Ohio State ascended to No. 3 after defeating Penn State, marking the Buckeyes’ eighth consecutive win in this series. No. 4 Miami climbed higher following a victory over Duke, while No. 5 Texas, which did not play this week, also moved up one spot. Penn State, previously in the top five for four weeks, dropped to No. 6 after their recent defeat.
This season’s expansion of the College Football Playoff to 12 teams alters the landscape, making losses among leading teams less detrimental in the quest for the national championship. The initial CFP rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday and will be updated weekly until the final bracket is announced on December 8.
Tennessee maintained its No. 7 placement, despite a close game against Kentucky, ending in a 28-18 victory. Indiana made a significant leap to No. 8, its highest ranking since being No. 7 in 2020 and its best in a non-pandemic season since 1967. The Hoosiers secured their ninth consecutive win of the season by defeating Michigan State 47-10, marking a historic moment with every win this season by double digits.
Both No. 9 BYU and No. 10 Notre Dame were inactive this week. SMU’s dominant 48-25 victory over Pittsburgh resulted in a jump from No. 20 to No. 13, their highest position since ranking No. 3 in October 1985. This notable rise comes 36 years after the NCAA’s severe penalties impacted the program.
Clemson and Iowa State experienced the steepest declines this week. Clemson dropped eight spots to No. 19 following a 33-21 loss to Louisville, and Iowa State fell six positions to No. 17 after a narrow 23-22 defeat by Texas Tech. Texas A&M, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh also saw a five-spot decline each.
Army achieved its highest ranking since 1960, coming in at No. 18. Boise State climbed to No. 12, marking its best position since being No. 8 in the final 2011 poll. Notably, Indiana surpassed Notre Dame for the first time since 1979 when the Hoosiers ranked No. 19, and the Irish were unranked.
Vanderbilt’s 17-7 win over Auburn enabled the Commodores to re-enter the poll at No. 24. Louisville is back at No. 25 following an upset victory at Clemson. Illinois, previously No. 24, exited the Top 25 after a 25-17 loss to Minnesota, and Missouri, once ranked as high as No. 6, also dropped out after an off week, retaining their No. 25 position last week despite a significant loss to Alabama.
The SEC saw eight teams in the rankings, the ACC had five, the Big Ten four, and the Big 12 also four. The AAC, Mountain West, and Pac-12 had one team each, with one Independent represented.
In anticipated matchups, No. 2 Georgia will travel to No. 16 Mississippi, their first visit since a 45-14 defeat in 2016. Georgia won last year’s home game against Ole Miss 52-17. Additionally, No. 11 Alabama will face No. 14 LSU, with the Tigers having previously secured a dramatic overtime victory prompting a field-storming two years ago. Both teams are coming off open dates, setting the stage for an exciting encounter.
