Oregon moves to No. 2 behind
Buckeyes in AP poll; Rebels, Sooners join top 5; Alabama back in top 10
[September 29, 2025]
By ERIC OLSON
Oregon moved up to No. 2 in The Associated Press college football
poll on Sunday, Mississippi earned its highest ranking since 2015,
Alabama jumped back into the top 10 and Virginia was in the Top 25
for the first time in six years in the wake of a volatile weekend in
which four top-10 teams lost.
Ohio State won at Washington and remains No. 1 for the fifth
straight week. The Buckeyes received 46 first-place votes, six fewer
than a week ago, and their 37-point lead over Oregon is the closest
margin between the top two teams since the preseason poll in
mid-August.
Oregon's two-overtime win at Penn State earned the Ducks 16
first-place votes, 15 more than last week, and gave them their
highest ranking since they were No. 1 for two months last year.
Miami, which had an open date, slipped one spot to No. 3 and was
followed by Mississippi and idle Oklahoma. The No. 4 Rebels got a
nine-rung promotion for beating LSU and have their highest ranking
since they were No. 3 in late September 2015. LSU fell to No. 13,
swapping places with Mississippi.
Texas A&M, Penn State, Indiana, Texas and Alabama round out the top
10.
Alabama, which had been out of the top 10 since losing its opener
against Florida State by two touchdowns, has won three straight
after beating Georgia for the 10th time in 11 meetings and ending
the Bulldogs' 33-game home win streak. No. 12 Georgia has its lowest
ranking since it was No. 12 on Dec. 6, 2020. It's just the second
poll the Bulldogs have been out of the top 10 since 2021.
The losses by Penn State, LSU and Georgia marked the first time
since 2016 that three top-five teams lost the same week in the
regular season.
Florida State's loss at Virginia was the latest development in an
up-and-down season for the Seminoles. They went from unranked to No.
14 for beating 'Bama, were in the top 10 for three weeks and plunged
10 spots to No. 18 this week.
In and out
No. 24 Virginia, not listed on any ballots in the previous poll, was
rewarded for beating its highest-ranked opponent since then-No. 4
Florida State in 2005. The Cavaliers are 4-1 for a second straight
season for the first time since 2003-04.
No. 25 Arizona State's come-from-behind victory over TCU returned
the Sun Devils to the Top 25 after a three-week absence.
Southern California (21) and TCU (24) dropped out.
[to top of second column] |
Oregon running back Jordon Davison (0) celebrates a touchdown with
tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) against Penn State during the fourth
quarter of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27,
2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Poll points
— Week 5 marked the second time this season that four top-10 teams
lost. It also happened in Week 1, but three of the four top-10 teams
had to lose that week because there were three top-10 matchups.
— Mississippi's nine-spot rise into the top five was the biggest by
any team since the Rebels jumped 12 spots to No. 3 for beating
Alabama in 2015.
— Indiana has been the fastest riser over the past month, moving up
15 rungs since Week 1. Over that span, Oklahoma and Texas A&M have
each risen 13 spots.
Conference call
SEC (10) — Nos. 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19.
Big Ten (6) — Nos. 1, 2, 7, 8, 20, 22.
Big 12 (4) — Nos. 11, 14, 23, 25.
ACC (4) — Nos. 3, 17, 18, 24.
Independent (1) — No. 21.
Ranked vs. ranked
Miami at Florida State: It will be the 27th time the Hurricanes and
Seminoles face off as ranked teams. Miami is 15-11 in those games
but Florida State has won the last five such contests, the last of
which came in 2016.
Vanderbilt at Alabama: Crimson Tide will be looking for payback.
Vanderbilt's 40-35 win as a 23-point underdog last season marked the
Commodores' first over a No. 1 team and was widely regarded as the
2024 upset of the year.
___
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
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