AP Top 25 sees Oregon jump to No. 2, Ole Miss and Oklahoma crack the top 5

Week 6 is a big one in the Sunshine State, as No. 18 Florida State hosts No. 3 Miami.

The 4-0 Hurricanes will be well rested coming off a bye week. Meanwhile, the Seminoles will be hungry for redemption after losing to Virginia and dropping 10 spots in the poll. The matchup could carry heavy playoff implications as both ACC teams are on the hunt.

The Crimson Tide will host No. 16 Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Commodores are 5-0 for the first time since 2008 and shocked Alabama a year ago with a 40-35 victory.

With a 5-0 record, Vanderbilt is off to its best start since 2008.

The Commodores cruised past Utah State and Georgia State in back-to-back weeks, outscoring the two teams by a combined 125-56.

Quarterback Diego Pavia threw five touchdowns and ran one in for a score in Vanderbilt’s 55-45 win over Utah State, contributing to season totals of 1,211 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions.

No. 16 is Vanderbilt’s highest ranking since the 2008 season.

Miami, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech and Michigan each had the week off, but that didn’t mean they were safe in the rankings.

Oregon leapfrogged over Miami, pushing the Hurricanes from No. 2 to No. 3.

Oklahoma’s win against Auburn made a lasting impression as the Sooners rose two spots to No. 5 despite having the week off.

No. 9 Texas and No. 11 Texas Tech each moved up a spot, while Michigan fell from No. 19 to No. 20.

The Aggies moved up to No. 6 in this week’s poll after beating Auburn 16-10 on Saturday. It’s Texas A&M’s highest ranking since 2022.

Key stat: The Aggies had the edge in total yards, outgaining Auburn 414-177. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed completed 15 of 22 passes for 207 yards. Running back Le’Veon Moss had a standout performance, carrying the ball 21 times for 139 yards and a touchdown.

Up next: Texas A&M hosts Mississippi State up next on Oct. 4.

Arkansas fired head coach Sam Pittman on Saturday, less than 24 hours after a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame.

Pittman went 32-34 overall and 14-29 in SEC play leading the Razorbacks. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino takes over as interim coach.

The Razorbacks are 2-3 for the season and have the week off to regroup before traveling to No. 15 Tennessee for an Oct. 11 matchup.

AP college football reporter Maura Carey will answer a few questions now that the latest rankings are out.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they keep just as close of an eye on the season.

Ole Miss and Oklahoma reaching the top five means there have been 10 schools ranked No. 5 or higher for at least one week already this season. The others are Ohio State, Oregon, Miami, Penn State, Georgia, Texas, Clemson and LSU.

The last time there were more top-five schools this early in a season was 2009, when there were 11 at this point on the schedule. The last instance of there being 10 different schools in those spots for at least one week was 2021.

▶ Happy with this week’s poll? Submit your own rankings in the AP Top 25 Fan Poll.

The SEC leads the pack with 10 teams in the Top 25: Ole Miss (4), Oklahoma (5), Texas A&M (6), Texas (9), Alabama (10), Georgia (12), LSU (13), Tennessee (15), Vanderbilt (16) and Missouri (19).

The Big Ten has six teams in the rankings: Ohio State (1), Oregon (2), Penn State (7), Indiana (8), Michigan (20) and Illinois (22).

The ACC and Big 12 each have four ranked teams. From the ACC: Miami (3), Georgia Tech (17), Florida State (18) and Virginia (24). The Big 12 teams are: Texas Tech (11), Iowa State (14), BYU (23) and Arizona State (25).

Independent (1): Notre Dame (21).

Ole Miss’s upset win over LSU propelled the Rebels up the rankings to No. 4 this week. It was a quality win.

Texas A&M struggled against Auburn in its last time out. The voters think Ole Miss’ recent win was more impressive than Texas A&M’s win over Notre Dame.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

In: No. 24 Virginia and No. 25 Arizona State are new to the poll this week. It’s Arizona State’s second time cracking the rankings after entering the season at No. 11. Virginia earned its first Top 25 ranking since 2019 after defeating Florida State 46-38 in overtime.

Out: TCU and USC’s stints in the Top 25 were short-lived. TCU, which entered the poll at No. 24 last week, has fallen out of the rankings after a 27-24 loss to Arizona State. USC had ranked No. 21 after beating Michigan State in Week 4, but this week’s loss to Illinois dropped the Trojans out of the Top 25.

It depends on the voter.

Close losses are valued in some cases. Penn State took Oregon to overtime, who is now No. 2 in the country. Voters may look at Penn State as being on a similar level to the Ducks since it was close.

Wins are always valued the highest. The voters valued Penn State’s quality loss more than what Indiana’s shown this year.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

Result: The Crimson Tide moved up seven spots after a 24-21 road win against Georgia, improving from No. 17 to No. 10.

Analysis: Alabama dominated from start to finish, maintaining the lead throughout the game. Quarterback Ty Simpson shined, completing 24 of 38 passes for 276 yards, two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown.

Alabama consistently extended drives with third down conversions, whereas Georgia’s two third down conversions didn’t come until the second half.

Up next: Alabama continues SEC play, hosting No. 18 Vanderbilt on Oct. 4. Vanderbilt stunned the Crimson Tide with a 40-35 win in 2024 when the two teams last met.

Florida State took the hardest hit this week, falling from No. 8 to No. 18 after an upset loss against Virginia.

Ole Miss made the biggest climb, leaping nine spots to No. 4 after beating LSU 24-19 on Saturday. The Rebels earned their highest ranking since 2015, while LSU slid to No. 13 in a direct swap.

Ohio State won the season opener against then-No. 1 Texas and has been ranked No. 1 each week.

Young quarterback Julian Sayin has been unfazed by pressure, and the Buckeyes still arguably have the best player on offense and defense in Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs.

Since the Texas win, Ohio State’s taken care of business, and there hasn’t been a team to make a big enough statement to take the No. 1 spot. It could change this week after Oregon’s win over Penn State.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

A gritty 30-24 win over Penn State in double overtime convinced voters that Oregon deserved a spot in the top three. The Ducks jumped to No. 2 in the poll, knocking Penn State out of the top three for the first time this season.

Key stat: Oregon beat Penn State in all major offensive categories, holding the edge in first downs (20), yards per play (5.4), rushing yards (176), passing yards (248) and time of possession (33:52).

Next test: Oregon has the week off before hosting Indiana on Oct. 11.

▶ So, what do you think? Tell us where the voters went wrong by submitting your top 25 in the AP Top 25 Fan Poll

Heating up: Oregon (2), Ole Miss (4), Oklahoma (5), Texas A&M (6), Alabama (10).

Cooling off: Penn State (7), Georgia (12), LSU (13).

Steady: Ohio State (1), Iowa State (14), Tennessee (15).

1. Ohio State
2. Oregon
3. Miami (Fla.)
4. Ole Miss
5. Oklahoma
6. Texas A&M
7. Penn State
8. Indiana
9. Texas
10. Alabama
11. Texas Tech
12. Georgia
13. LSU
14. Iowa State
15. Tennessee
16. Vanderbilt
17. Georgia Tech
18. Florida State
19. Missouri
20. Michigan
21. Notre Dame
22. Illinois
23. BYU
24. Virginia
25. Arizona State

With all the losses to top 10 teams, there is a real shot that a Big 12 team is in the top 10.

Texas Tech has the best shot, and Iowa State can sneak in there, too.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

BYU is a good football team and was ranked last week. Some voters aren’t impressed with the Cougars’ wins so far this season. The close win over Colorado in Week 5 won’t help its case.

You can have all the talent, but you still need to produce on the field. Voters haven’t felt like they’ve produced.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

Penn State had some flashes, especially in the fourth quarter against Oregon. The Nittany Lions had a chance to win, but came up short. Quarterback Drew Allar continues to make mistakes in big moments.

Penn State is still a good football team and still has a shot at the Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff berth. It might be frustrating, but there’s still a lot of season to play.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

By far the most disappointing team is Kansas State. Some had the Wildcats picked to win the Big 12, and they are now 2-3 this year, including a loss to Army.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

Everything in a game has to be considered. Not just wins and losses.

An overtime win means the game was really close and could’ve gone either way. An overtime win isn’t as impressive as a team winning by one or two scores in regulation.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

As the season gets deeper, there’ll be more of a sample size to evaluate where each team is ranked.

After five weeks, the top teams are emerging, and it’ll only get easier as the season goes on.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

I wouldn’t say Utah’s playcalling is why the Utes aren’t highly ranked. Utah’s 34-10 loss at home is the biggest reason. You could say the offensive playcalling was bad that game, so it did play a little role in it.

The lopsided loss is the biggest reason, though. Utah’s offense bounced back this weekend against West Virginia, where it was nearly perfect, so it could be back in the Top 25.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

There’s a chance Miami is still at No. 2, but most voters will have Oregon jump the Hurricanes after the Ducks’ big road win over No. 3 Penn State.

It’s not Miami’s fault; Oregon’s win was just that impressive.

Spencer Ripchik is a college football reporter for The Dominion Post and is among the youngest and newest Top 25 voters. You can follow him on X: @ripchikspencer.

▶ Ask him a question about the Top 25 poll

An unranked Virginia team turned heads with a 46-38 win over No. 8 Florida State in overtime. With a 4-1 record and coming off a win against a top-10 opponent, the Cavaliers could work their way into the Top 25 for the first time since 2019.

Arizona State could return to the rankings after a 27-24 win against No. 24 TCU on Friday. The Sun Devils fell out of the Top 25 after losing to Mississippi State in Week 2.

It was an overtime-heavy week for college football, starting with No. 8 Florida State against Virginia on Friday night in a matchup pulled out by Virginia.

On Saturday, No. 16 Georgia Tech climbed back from a 20-3 deficit, then sent the clock into to overtime and solidify a 30-29 win.

Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop helped the Vols win in overtime with a 25-yard rushing score, beating Mississippi State 41-34.

No. 6 Oregon beat No. 3 Penn State in double overtime with a 25-yard touchdown by receiver Gary Bryant Jr.

The top 10 is almost certain to shift after No. 2 Penn State, No. 4 LSU, No. 5 Georgia and No. 8 Florida State each lost in Week 5.

It’s the second time this season that more than four top 10 teams have lost in a single week. In Week 1, preseason No. 1 Texas dropped to Ohio State, preseason No. 4 Clemson lost to LSU, preseason No. 6 Notre Dame fell to Miami and preseason No. 8 Alabama lost to Florida State.

Four top ten teams have lost in the same week at least two times (sometimes more) in three of the past four years (2022, 2024, 2025).

Submit your own ballot with the AP Top 25 fan poll.

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Alabama place kicker Conor Talty (31) reacts after missing a field goal during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (5) looks to elude Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley (6) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

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LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas (0) is tackled by Mississippi linebacker Tahj Chambers (26) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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Stock up:

• No. 17 Alabama will likely skyrocket in the rankings after a 24-21 win at No. 5 Georgia on Saturday night.
• No. 13 Ole Miss is set to crack the top 10 after a 24-19 win against No. 4 LSU.
• No. 6 Oregon could see its highest ranking this season after knocking off No. 3 Penn State in double overtime.

Stock down:

• Georgia and LSU, fresh off conference losses, are likely to tumble out of the top five. Georgia’s lowest regular-season ranking was No. 6, while LSU has been a top-five team since winning its season opener against Clemson.
• Penn State is at risk of dropping out of the top five for the first time this season after a loss to Oregon in double overtime.

College football writer Spencer Ripchik — the youngest and newest Top 25 poll voter — will answer a few questions before and after the rankings drop.

No organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than The Associated Press, since 1936.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they do choose the voters. AP Top 25 voters comprise around 60 writers and broadcasters who cover college football for AP members and other select outlets. The goal is to have every state with a Football Bowl Subdivision school represented by at least one voter.

There is a 1-25 point system, with a team voted No. 1 receiving 25 points down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. After that, it’s simple: The poll lists the teams with the most points from 1 to 25, and others receiving votes are also noted.

Voting is done online, and the tabulation is automated.

▶ Read more about the history of the AP Top 25 poll and how it works