Oregon jumps to No. 4 in AP Top 25
behind Ohio St, Penn St, LSU; Illinois, Florida State into top 10
[September 08, 2025]
By ERIC OLSON
Ohio State, Penn State and LSU remained the top three teams in The
Associated Press Top 25 college football poll Sunday, Oregon is back
in the top five and South Florida is ranked for the first time in
seven years.
There was some movement inside the top 10, but the biggest changes
came from Nos. 11 to 25.
Ohio State, whose 70-0 win over Grambling was among a bevy of
weekend blowouts, received 57 of the 65 first-place votes from the
media panel. Penn State got five first-place votes and LSU two.
No. 4 Oregon, which thrashed Oklahoma State, received the other
first place-vote and flip-flopped with Georgia. The Bulldogs'
uninspired win over FCS foe Austin Peay caused them to slip to No. 6
behind Miami.
Texas, Notre Dame, Illinois and Florida State round out the top 10,
with the latter two teams in the top 10 for the first time this
season.
Oklahoma earned a five-rung promotion to No. 13, its highest ranking
in two years, after its win over Michigan. The Wolverines dropped to
No. 23. Tennessee jumped seven spots to No. 15, and No. 16 Texas A&M
and No. 17 each moved up three.
The biggest upward mover was No. 18 South Florida, which was eight
spots out of the Top 25 last week. The Bulls pulled the upset of the
day with their 18-16 win over then-No. 13 Florida. That followed
their 34-7 home win over then-No. 25 Boise State.
In and out
No. 24 Auburn and No. 25 Missouri cracked the rankings along with
USF.
Auburn followed a two-touchdown win at Baylor with an easy victory
over Ball State and are in the Top 25 for the first time under
third-year coach Hugh Freeze.
Missouri, which appeared in all but two polls last season, is back
in after a win over Border War rival Kansas.
Arizona State (12), Florida (13) and SMU (17) are out.
The Sun Devils erased a 17-point deficit and led in the final minute
before losing at Mississippi State. Florida's loss put heat back on
coach Billy Napier. SMU also blew a lead in the last minute and lost
to Baylor in two overtimes.
Poll points
— The Bulls’ ascent under third-year coach Alex Golesh is more of a
revival than breakthrough. They have their first ranking since 2018
under Charlie Strong. Jim Leavitt had the 2008 team as high as No.
10, and his 2007 team spent three straight weeks in the top 10 and
was No. 2 after a 6-0 start.
— No. 10 Florida State, up four spots, has its highest ranking since
it was No. 10 in the 2024 preseason poll.
[to top of second column] |
Oregon running back Jayden Limar (27) celebrates after his touchdown
with offensive lineman Isaiah World, center right, during the first
half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State,
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Lydia Ely)
— No. 9 Illinois has its first top-10 ranking since
it was No. 7 in December 2001.
— Clemson, which trailed Troy 16-0 midway through the second quarter
before winning 27-16, slipped from No. 8 to No. 12.
— Until Sunday, Alabama and Auburn had not appeared in the Top 25 at
the same time since November 2021.
— The 16-team Southeastern Conference is the first league to have 11
teams in the Top 25.
Conference call
SEC — 11 ranked teams (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 24,
25).
Big Ten — 6 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 9, 22, 23).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 5, 10, 12).
Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 14, 20, 21).
American — 1 (No. 18).
Independent — 1 (No. 8).
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 18 South Florida at No. 5 Miami: Bulls will try to become the
fifth team, and first since Miami in 1987, to open a season with
three wins over ranked opponents.
No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee: First big test for Volunteers QB
Joey Aguilar. Bulldogs go for ninth straight win in the series.
No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 8 Notre Dame: Irish out to avoid second 0-2
start in four years. Jeremiyah Love scored late tie-breaking
touchdown for Notre Dame in last year's season-opening meeting in
College Station.
___
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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