The New AP Top 25: Miami Leaps, Indiana and Texas Tech Soar

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The new AP Top 25 poll was released Sunday, shaking up the college football landscape with some dramatic shifts following a week filled with key matchups and a stunning upset. While the top spot remained untouched, a new team now sits at No. 2, and several teams made massive leaps to enter the conversation.

The Top Tier Tightens

Ohio State held on to the No. 1 spot, but the battle for the top five became a lot more interesting. Miami jumped two spots to No. 2 after a convincing 19-point win over rival Florida. The Hurricanes, with their highest ranking since 2017, received seven first-place votes, signaling their legitimacy as a national title contender. Penn State, which was idle, slipped to No. 3, while LSU fell one spot to No. 4 despite a blowout win. No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Oregon held their ground, rounding out the top half-dozen.

Big Movers Make Their Case

The most significant movement in the poll came from teams that delivered statement wins over ranked opponents.

Indiana (Up 8 Spots to No. 11): The Hoosiers made the biggest jump in the poll after a shocking 63-7 dismantling of then-No. 9 Illinois. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was a star, throwing for five touchdowns in a performance that has garnered him early Heisman buzz.
Texas Tech (Up 5 Spots to No. 12): The Red Raiders made a strong case for Big 12 supremacy with a dominant 34-10 road win over No. 16 Utah. Their defense was stifling, and even with their starting quarterback injured, the offense delivered, earning them their highest ranking in over a decade.
Oklahoma (Up 4 Spots to No. 7): The Sooners returned to the top 10 for the first time in two years after a hard-fought 24-17 victory over a previously ranked Auburn team.

New Teams Emerge, Others Tumble

Two new teams entered the AP Top 25 for the first time this season. TCU, now 3-0, made its first appearance since its national title run in 2022, coming in at No. 24. BYU, also undefeated, cracked the poll at No. 25.

Meanwhile, a few teams tumbled out of the rankings after tough losses. Utah, which lost to Texas Tech, fell from No. 16, while Auburn and Illinois both dropped out after their significant losses. Illinois’ 14-spot fall was the largest in the poll.

Conference Call

The SEC continued to showcase its strength, leading all conferences with 10 teams in the Top 25. The Big Ten has seven teams ranked, while the Big 12 has four and the ACC has three.

Next week’s schedule features several key matchups that could once again alter the rankings, including a highly anticipated SEC showdown between Alabama and Georgia.