Shocking Upsets Shake Up College Football: Penn State and Texas Crash Out of the AP Top 25, While Miami Soars to No. 2!
Hey there, football fans! Imagine this: the mighty Penn State Nittany Lions and Texas Longhorns, who started the season as the top two teams in the preseason rankings, have just been booted out of the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll for the first time since 2022. And get this—they both lost to teams that weren't even ranked. Meanwhile, the Miami Hurricanes are back at No. 2, proving that college football can turn on a dime. If you're new to this, the AP poll is like a weekly popularity contest voted on by sports writers and broadcasters, ranking the top college football teams based on their performances. It's a big deal because it influences everything from bragging rights to playoff hopes. But here's where it gets controversial: are these rankings a true measure of a team's strength, or do they just amplify the drama of unexpected losses? Stick around as we dive into the details and see what this means for the season.
Leading the pack is Ohio State, still holding onto the No. 1 spot after a commanding victory over Minnesota, racking up 40 first-place votes—the lowest number for a top-ranked team since they climbed to the top five weeks ago. For beginners, first-place votes are like the ultimate endorsement; each voter picks their top team, and the more you get, the stronger your claim to No. 1. The Buckeyes' total is the fewest for a leader since Alabama also got 40 back on September 29, 2024. And this is the part most people miss: even dominant wins can lead to split opinions among voters, sparking debates about whether a team's consistency truly outweighs flashy upsets.
Miami, who leapfrogged over the idle Oregon Ducks, jumped from just four first-place votes last week to a whopping 21 this time around. Their win on the road against Florida State propelled them back to No. 2, a position they held two weeks ago after a bye week. It's their highest ranking in an October poll since 2003, showing how quickly momentum can shift in college football. Oregon, grabbing the remaining five first-place votes, sits at No. 3, followed by idle Ole Miss at No. 4 and Texas A&M at No. 5. The Aggies crushed Mississippi State and achieved their best ranking since Jimbo Fisher's team hit No. 5 in early September 2021— a testament to how a strong performance can revive a program's prestige.
Oklahoma dropped from No. 5 to No. 6 despite a shutout win over Kent State, while Indiana, who had a bye, holds No. 7. Alabama climbed two spots to No. 8 after a convincing victory against Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech burst into the top 10 at No. 9 for the first time since 2008, thanks to their win over previously unbeaten Houston. Georgia rounded out the top 10, moving up two spots after defeating Kentucky. These shifts highlight how one game can redefine a team's season, and it's fascinating to see underdogs like Texas Tech making waves— but does this mean the poll is too reactive to recent results, potentially overlooking long-term trends?
Now, let's talk about the big falls. Penn State, unranked for the first time since September 2022, suffered one of the most dramatic drops in the poll's 99-year history after a narrow loss to winless UCLA just a week after the Bruins fired their coach. The Nittany Lions had already slipped from No. 2 to No. 7 following a defeat to Oregon, and this plunge matches the second-largest ever, right behind 1959 Oklahoma's tumble from No. 2 to out of the Top 20 after losing to Northwestern. Texas, the preseason No. 1, fell at Ohio State and was No. 9 before losing to Florida, dropping them out of the rankings for the first time since November 2022. It's rare for two top-10 teams to exit the poll in the same week; the last time was September 16, 1986, with Tennessee and Ohio State.
On the rise, teams from No. 14 to No. 19—Missouri, Michigan, Notre Dame, Illinois, BYU, and Virginia—each jumped five spots, the biggest promotions of the week. Iowa State took the hardest hit among remaining ranked teams, falling eight spots to No. 22 after losing to Cincinnati. Memphis, just four spots out last week, re-enters at No. 23 for the first time since last season's final poll, boasting their best start since 2015 and becoming bowl-eligible for the 12th straight year. South Florida, at No. 24 with a 4-1 record, has won two in a row since a tough loss to Miami and is back after a month away.
Breaking it down by conference: The SEC dominates with nine teams in the top 25 (Nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 20), the Big Ten has five (Nos. 1, 3, 7, 15, 17), the Big 12 four (Nos. 9, 18, 21, 22), the ACC four (Nos. 2, 13, 19, 25), the American two (Nos. 23, 24), and one independent (No. 16).
Looking ahead to ranked matchups: No. 1 Ohio State (5-0) faces No. 17 Illinois (5-1) in their first meeting since 2017 and first top-25 clash since 2001. The Buckeyes have won nine straight in the series and haven't lost in Champaign since 1991, though Illinois's only loss was a rout at Indiana. No. 7 Indiana (5-0) takes on No. 3 Oregon (5-0); the Hoosiers skipped Oregon last year when the Ducks joined the Big Ten, and Indiana is 0-2 against top-five foes under coach Curt Cignetti. Finally, No. 8 Alabama (4-1) visits No. 14 Missouri (5-0); the Crimson Tide won 34-0 in Tuscaloosa last year and is on a four-game streak, aiming for a third straight ranked win, while Missouri sees this as a chance for a big SEC title and playoff boost.
Whew, what a week! These rankings remind us that college football is unpredictable, with upsets flipping the script and forcing us to question what really defines a champion. Is it preseason hype, or does one bad game erase all progress? Do you think Penn State and Texas will bounce back, or is this the end of their title hopes? And should the poll weigh recent performances more heavily, or focus on overall body of work? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you agree with these rankings, or do you see a controversial counterpoint here? Let's discuss!
