College football fans, get ready for some serious shake-ups! The latest AP Top 25 poll has dropped, and it's packed with surprises, upsets, and historic moments. Let's dive in!
Indiana has made history, surging to No. 3 in the rankings – their highest-ever position! This comes after a stunning 10-point victory against then-No. 3 Oregon.
Ohio State and Miami continue to hold the top spots. The Buckeyes, with a dominant road win over Illinois, solidified their No. 1 ranking, earning a whopping 50 first-place votes. Miami, despite being idle, still secured 13 first-place votes, while Indiana snagged the remaining 3.
Meanwhile, Texas makes a grand re-entry into the Top 25.
But here's where it gets interesting... Several teams are climbing the ranks, and some are tumbling down. Texas A&M and Mississippi swapped places, with the Aggies' home win over Florida propelling them forward. Alabama is up to No. 6, followed by Texas Tech, Oregon, Georgia, and LSU. Oregon, in a surprising turn, dropped to its lowest ranking in 20 polls.
Indiana's meteoric rise is a testament to their coach, Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers have shattered a long-standing record of 0-46 on the road against top-five teams. Their three first-place votes are the most since 1945.
Oklahoma, after their first loss to Texas, plummeted 8 spots to No. 14. The Longhorns, who were preseason favorites, are back in the Top 25 at No. 21.
Missouri also faced a setback, falling two spots to No. 16 after a close loss to Alabama.
In and Out:
- Southern California is back at No. 20.
- Texas, at No. 21, secured their first win against a ranked opponent.
- Utah returns at No. 23.
- Cincinnati is back at No. 24.
- Nebraska enters the rankings at No. 25.
Significant Drops: Michigan, Illinois, Arizona State, Iowa State, and Florida State have all fallen out of the Top 25.
Key Takeaways:
- Texas A&M has reached its highest ranking since 1995.
- Nebraska is ranked in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013-14.
- This poll saw the most regular-season turnover since October 2, 2022.
Conference Breakdown:
The SEC leads with 10 teams, followed by the Big Ten with 5, the Big 12 with 4, the ACC with 3, the American with 2, and one independent team.
Ranked vs. Ranked Matchups to Watch:
- No. 5 Mississippi at No. 9 Georgia: A crucial game for both teams.
- No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt: A historic matchup.
- No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama: A Top 25 clash.
- No. 20 Southern California at No. 13 Notre Dame: High stakes in this storied series.
- No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU: A Top 25 battle.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do you agree with the changes, or are there teams you think are ranked too high or too low? Share your opinions in the comments below!
