Alabama Falls to No. 10, North Texas Makes Historic AP Top 25 Return
The college football landscape just got a jolt with the latest AP Top 25 rankings. Alabama took a tumble to No. 10, while North Texas made a wild leap to No. 22.
Ohio State is still king at No. 1, holding onto that spot for the 12th week in a row. Indiana is right on their heels at No. 2, which is a pretty big shakeup.
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Ohio State and Indiana: Dominating the Top Spots
Ohio State snagged 57 first-place votes. The Buckeyes are 10-0 and just steamrolling everyone.
They’ve been sitting at No. 1 for 12 straight weeks, which honestly feels deserved at this point. It’s hard not to be impressed by that kind of consistency in the Big Ten.
Indiana, with an 11-0 record, has climbed to No. 2 and picked up eight first-place votes. The Hoosiers have been hanging out in the second spot for five weeks now.
Their wild fourth-quarter comeback against Penn State? That’s the kind of thing that makes you believe in this team. They don’t seem to fold under pressure.
Texas A&M and Georgia: The Battle for the Top 5
Texas A&M sticks at No. 3 after a wild comeback win over South Carolina. The Aggies are 10-0 and even managed to grab a first-place vote.
I’ll admit, I’m starting to lean toward Indiana over Texas A&M, just looking at the resumes. The Hoosiers have made a stronger case lately.
Georgia moved up to No. 4 after taking care of business against Texas. The Bulldogs, now 9-1, look rock solid and honestly, they’re a tough out for anybody.
They’ve shown a lot of grit, and it’s hard not to notice how they keep climbing.
North Texas: A Historic Achievement
North Texas is making headlines after breaking into the AP Top 25 for just the second time ever—and the first time since 1959. The Mean Green are now No. 22, sitting at 9-1.
That’s a massive deal for the program, which hasn’t been ranked since the days of coach Odus Mitchell. Not something you see every year.
North Texas is one of four American Conference teams to crack the rankings this season. That says a lot about how competitive the conference has become.
Other Notable Movements in the Rankings
Plenty of teams made some noise this week. Texas Tech and Oregon are now tied at No. 6, each moving up two spots.
Oklahoma’s upset at Alabama launched the Sooners to No. 8, just ahead of Notre Dame at No. 9. That’s a pretty big jump, honestly.
Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma sent them tumbling six spots to No. 10. That’s a rare sight for the Crimson Tide, who usually own the top of these rankings.
Meanwhile, Texas is on a rollercoaster, dropping seven spots to No. 17 after losing to Georgia. You never really know what you’re going to get with them this year.
Teams Receiving Votes and Falling Out of the Rankings
Some teams got close but didn’t quite make the cut for the top 25. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Navy – 61 votes
- Illinois – 31 votes
- SMU – 28 votes
- Arizona State – 19 votes
- Louisville – 17 votes
- Iowa – 14 votes
- Pittsburgh – 12 votes
- San Diego State – 12 votes
- Arizona – 9 votes
- UNLV – 9 votes
- Washington – 8 votes
- South Florida – 6 votes
- East Carolina – 4 votes
- UConn – 1 vote
Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and South Florida all fell out of the rankings after losses. Pittsburgh’s stay was especially brief—just one week and out.
New Entrants in the Rankings
Taking their place: North Texas, Tulane, Missouri, and Houston. Tulane is making their first appearance this season.
Missouri and Houston have been here before, but it always feels a little fresh when new teams pop up. The rankings never really sit still, do they?
Upcoming Key Matchups
There are some big games coming up that could really shake things up. Here’s what’s on the radar:
- No. 16 USC at No. 6 Oregon – An old Pac-12 rivalry, and the first time these two have met as ranked teams since 2015.
- No. 23 Missouri at No. 8 Oklahoma – A throwback to the Big 8 days, now an SEC showdown. It’s their first ranked matchup since 2010.
Keep an eye on these games—they could send the rankings into another tailspin. That’s just how college football goes.
Conclusion
The latest AP Top 25 rankings have stirred things up in college football. Ohio State and Indiana still sit comfortably at the top.
North Texas, though, just pulled off a historic leap into the rankings. Not something you see every season, right?
Want the full breakdown and some deeper insights? Check out the New York Times article.
