Georgia Rises to No. 1 After 20-17 Road Win at Alabama
Georgia moved to the top of the AP Top 25 after beating Alabama 20-17, while Texas fell to No. 7 after losing to Oklahoma. Notre Dame climbed to No. 2, and…
Georgia’s rise to No. 1 in the college football football rankings followed a 20-17 road win at Alabama, while Texas fell six places to No. 7 after losing to Oklahoma. The Associated Press Top 25 released Sunday also dropped Oregon from the poll after its second loss in the past month.
The changes reshape the top of the rankings and put immediate attention on a slate of major matchups ahead. Notre Dame moved to No. 2 and will visit No. 8 BYU, while No. 4 Ohio State travels to No. 5 Indiana.
Georgia takes the top spot
The Bulldogs had spent five straight polls at No. 2 before beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Georgia received 66 first-place votes from the 70-member media panel and reached No. 1 for the first time since Sept. 8, 2024.
The finish came amid controversy: a pass interference call in the end zone appeared to be missed late in the game, according to ESPN’s account. Georgia’s win was its first in Tuscaloosa since 2014.
Alabama stayed at No. 6. Texas, meanwhile, dropped after its loss to rival Oklahoma, leaving the Longhorns at No. 7. BYU, Mississippi and Texas Tech completed the top 10.
The rankings carry practical weight for teams pursuing a place in the College Football Playoff, where schedule quality is one factor the selection committee considers, according to Yahoo Sports. For the teams near the top, upcoming games against ranked opponents offer chances to strengthen their cases; a loss can also change the picture quickly.
Notre Dame rises as Oregon exits
Notre Dame climbed one place to No. 2 after routing Stanford 58-7. The Fighting Irish received one first-place vote and will face BYU in a top-10 matchup this week.
Miami remained No. 3 with two first-place votes. Ohio State held No. 4, while Indiana moved up two spots to No. 5 after a narrow win at Nebraska; the Hoosiers received the remaining first-place vote.
Oregon’s 17-15 home loss to UCLA left the Ducks at 3-2 and outside the poll for the first time in four years. The defeat also lifted UCLA nine places to No. 12. Kentucky made a larger leap into the rankings, going from unranked to No. 15 after beating LSU 35-34 in overtime. LSU fell from No. 10 to No. 22.
That shift gives the UCLA win added significance: it removed a highly ranked Oregon team from the poll and lifted the Bruins into the top 15. Kentucky’s overtime result, meanwhile, moved the Wildcats directly into the rankings while pushing LSU down.
Rankings set up consequential matchups
The week’s schedule includes several games between ranked teams. Ohio State and Indiana meet after Indiana beat the Buckeyes 13-10 in the 2025 Big Ten championship game. Notre Dame’s visit to BYU will be the first top-10 matchup at LaVell Edwards Stadium, and the Cougars won the last time Notre Dame visited, in 2004.
Mississippi State and LSU will meet as ranked opponents for the first time since 2018. Alabama visits Tennessee, which has won its last two home meetings with the Crimson Tide. Tennessee’s starting quarterback remains a key question, according to ESPN.
Missouri travels to Mississippi in another ranked matchup. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons began last season as Ole Miss’ starter, was injured, then remained on the bench after recovering behind Trinidad Chambliss.
The remaining schedule adds another test for teams with playoff ambitions. Yahoo Sports, citing College Football Power Index simulations, ranked Ohio State’s remaining schedule as the nation’s most difficult. The Buckeyes are 5-1 and face undefeated Indiana this week, followed by road games at USC and Nebraska and home games against Oregon and Michigan.
Missouri was ranked No. 2 for remaining schedule difficulty and LSU No. 3, with eight of the 10 hardest remaining schedules belonging to SEC teams, according to Yahoo Sports. Those projections add context to the latest poll: upcoming results will shape both the rankings and the arguments teams make for playoff consideration.
Georgia now leads the AP Top 25 with 66 first-place votes.
Source: espn.com
