The Associated Press college football poll experienced a shakeup this week, with Texas reclaiming the top spot after a surprising upset victory by Vanderbilt over Alabama. This victory caused Alabama to fall from No. 1 to No. 7, marking a significant drop for the Crimson Tide.
Texas received 52 out of 61 first-place votes after an open date, making them the first team in two years to move in and out of the top spot in a span of three polls. Ohio State secured nine first-place votes and moved up to No. 2 after a convincing win against Iowa.
Other notable movements in the rankings include Oregon and Penn State rising three spots each to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Miami also climbed two spots to No. 6 after a remarkable comeback win against California.
The chaos wasn’t limited to Alabama, as six of the 18 AP Top 25 teams that played lost to unranked opponents, the highest mark since October 2020. Tennessee, Michigan, and USC were among the top teams that suffered losses to unranked opponents, leading to significant drops in the rankings.
In terms of conference representation in the top 10, the Big Ten dominates with three teams, while the SEC maintains its grip with four teams. Double-digit drops by Missouri, Michigan, and USC marked a rare occurrence where three teams fell significantly in the same poll.
Texas A&M’s victory over Missouri earned them a promotion to No. 15, while Missouri dropped to No. 21. SMU entered the rankings at No. 25 after defeating Louisville on the road, while Pittsburgh’s win at North Carolina propelled them to No. 22 for the first time in two years.
Looking ahead, key matchups include Texas facing off against Oklahoma in Dallas, Ohio State taking on Oregon, and Ole Miss meeting LSU in a game with significant College Football Playoff implications. These games are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats and could further impact the rankings as the season progresses.
