AP Top 25: Texas retains No. 1 ranking ahead of visit to Georgia; Oregon moves up to number 2
Oregon moved to No. 2 behind top-ranked Texas in the AP Top 25 college football poll Sunday after their dramatic win against Ohio State.
The Ducks moved up one spot after beating Ohio State 32-31 in a thriller at Autzen Stadium on Saturday night, for their highest ranking since finishing the 2014 season at No. 2. The fourth-ranked Buckeyes’ first loss of the season cost them just two spots as they also fell behind Penn State, which moved up to No. 3 after beating USC in overtime.
Texas received 56 first-place votes after sweeping Oklahoma, while Oregon had six. The Longhorns’ No. 1 ranking will be on the line next Saturday night when No. 5 Georgia visits Austin in another top-five matchup in the SEC. It is the third AP top-five match in four weeks.
The biggest riser is LSU, which rose five spots to No. 8 after beating Ole Miss, which fell nine spots to No. 18. The Tigers have won five straight games since their opening loss to USC. Undefeated Iowa State also moved into the top 10 at No. 9 after a win at West Virginia.
Tennessee fell three spots despite the win, falling to No. 11 after needing overtime to beat Florida.
AP Top 25 after week 7
|
Rank |
Team |
File |
Previous |
Matt’s voice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
6-0 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
6-0 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
6-0 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
5-1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
5-1 |
5 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
6-0 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
7 |
5-1 |
7 |
6 |
|
|
8 |
5-1 |
13 |
15 |
|
|
9 |
6-0 |
11 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
5-1 |
10 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
5-1 |
8 |
16 |
|
|
12 |
5-1 |
11 |
13 |
|
|
13 |
6-0 |
14 |
10 |
|
|
14 |
5-1 |
15 |
14 |
|
|
15 |
5-1 |
17 |
11 |
|
|
16 |
6-0 |
18 |
12 |
|
|
17 |
5-1 |
18 |
17 |
|
|
18 |
5-2 |
9 |
24 |
|
|
19 |
5-1 |
21 |
22 |
|
|
20 |
6-0 |
22 |
18 |
|
|
21 |
5-1 |
25 |
19 |
|
|
22 |
5-1 |
23 |
25 |
|
|
23 |
6-0 |
NO |
21 |
|
|
24 |
4-2 |
24 |
NO |
|
|
25 |
5-0 |
NO |
20 |
|
|
NO |
4-2 |
NO |
23 |
Others receiving votes: Vanderbilt 68, Nebraska 62, Arizona State 39, Oklahoma 36, Washington State 32, Iowa 29, Texas Tech 18, Syracuse 13, Arkansas 13, Utah 7, Louisville 6, Southern Cal 5, Liberty 2, UNLV 1
In and out
Oklahoma fell out of the rankings for the first time since 2022 after the Sooners were defeated by Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Utah also falls out of the rankings for the first time this season after the Utes lost their second straight game to Arizona State on Friday evening.
In their spot are undefeated Army (No. 23) and Navy (No. 25). It’s the first poll the Black Knights and Midshipmen have participated in together since 1960. Vanderbilt narrowly missed after wins against Alabama and Kentucky, being the first team to drop out.
Why I voted Oregon #1
Most of my adjustments this week were relatively subtle, with moves of one or two spots for much of the top 20. However, I decided to vote for yet another new No. 1: Welcome to the top of my ballot, Oregon.
Yes, it feels strange to take down a team like Texas after the Longhorns defeated their rival by 31 points, but the decision was much more about giving Oregon the respect it deserves for achieving what the best win of the season so far could be against Ohio. State, which I have dropped just one spot to No. 3. Additionally, the Ducks are also coming off a win against a Boise State team that I have ranked 11th behind Heisman Trophy candidate Ashton Jeanty. The Ducks have the best combination of talent And cv.
Of course, if Texas beats Georgia next week, I’ll probably be at the top of my rankings once again. – Matt Brown, college sports editor-in-chief
Does Penn State deserve to be No. 3?
The Nittany Lions have their best ranking since reaching No. 2 in 2017, but it feels like they are benefiting more from the results of other big games than are truly worthy of that lofty ranking.
Penn State is only 23 points ahead of No. 4 Ohio State, so it’s not like voters have flocked to the Nittany Lions.
To be clear, Penn State has done a good job against respectable opposition. Especially when you factor in road games at West Virginia and USC and a thorough handling of Illinois.
Voters reward the undefeated record, but it feels like a stretch to argue that the Nittany Lions are actually better than Ohio State and Georgia, with their close and dramatic losses to Oregon and Alabama, respectively.
And if voters defer to zero in the loss column, a similar case could be made for Miami, ahead of the Buckeyes and Bulldogs.
Of course, Penn State will get a chance to prove it on the field at home in a few weeks against the Buckeyes, who they haven’t beaten since 2016. – Ralph Russo, senior college sports writer
What’s next in week 8?
No. No. 5 Georgia visiting No. 1 Texas is the headliner, and it’s the first time the Longhorns have hosted a meeting between two AP top-five teams since losing to Ohio State in September 2006. The SEC has a few high-profile matchups , as No. 7 Alabama will visit No. 11 Tennessee in a matchup between two one-loss teams that have been on shaky ground in recent weeks.
The other ranked matchup is No. 24 Michigan at No. 22 Illinois, but also keep an eye on Nebraska going to undefeated No. 16 Indiana in the Big Ten.
Oregon, meanwhile, will try to avoid a hangover on Friday night at Purdue. Penn State and Ohio State are both inactive.
Required reading
(Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
