The Associated Press college football poll saw Oregon and Penn State each move up a spot following exciting wins, with Texas maintaining its hold on No. 1 after a dominant victory over Oklahoma. This weekend’s rankings were more stable compared to the previous week, which was marked by upsets and significant movements in the rankings. Oregon’s close win over Ohio State propelled them to No. 2 with six first-place votes, their highest ranking since 2014. Penn State’s overtime victory against USC lifted them to No. 3, their highest ranking in seven years.
The top 10 in the AP poll includes Ohio State at No. 4, Georgia at No. 5, Miami, Alabama, LSU, Iowa State, and Clemson. Army and Navy both entered the rankings for the first time together since 1960, with Army at 6-0 and Navy at 5-0, showcasing their strong start to the season. LSU and Mississippi saw significant movement in the rankings following their overtime match-up, with LSU moving up to No. 8 and Mississippi dropping to No. 18. Iowa State also reached its highest ranking since 1938 at No. 9.
Tennessee’s overtime win over Florida caused them to slip to No. 11 in the rankings after being in the top 10 for four straight polls. The SEC dominates with eight teams in the top 25, followed by the Big Ten with six teams, the ACC with four teams, and the Big 12 with three teams. The American and Mountain West conferences each have two teams in the rankings, while Independent has one team. Notable upcoming matchups include No. 5 Georgia facing off against No. 1 Texas, No. 7 Alabama taking on No. 11 Tennessee, and No. 24 Michigan playing against No. 22 Illinois.
Army and Navy are the only teams making their season debuts in the AP poll, with Utah dropping out following two consecutive losses. Oklahoma, who previously held the No. 18 spot, fell out of the top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2022 season. The rankings reflect the competitiveness of the college football landscape, with teams jockeying for position as the season progresses. Fans can expect more exciting matchups and potential shifts in the rankings as the season unfolds.
