The college football landscape experienced a significant shakeup in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released on Sunday. The undefeated Indiana Hoosiers made a statement by climbing into the top five for the first time in over five decades. Meanwhile, traditional powers Georgia and Miami suffered precipitous drops after surprising losses.
Oregon held onto the No. 1 spot for the fourth consecutive week after pulling away from Maryland to remain unbeaten at 10-0. The Ducks were a unanimous selection atop the rankings. Ohio State inched up one position to No. 2, while Texas moved up two spots to No. 3.
Hoosiers Make Historic Rise
The big story of the week was the ascent of the Indiana Hoosiers. Fresh off a gritty 20-15 victory over Michigan, Indiana improved to 10-0 for the first time in school history. The Hoosiers jumped from No. 8 to No. 5, marking their highest ranking since finishing No. 4 in the final 1967 poll.
Indiana’s rise is all the more remarkable considering the program’s recent struggles. The Hoosiers had not won more than eight games in a season since 1993 and had only one winning Big Ten record in the past 25 years. Under head coach Tom Allen, who took over in 2017, Indiana has steadily built itself into a contender.
“This is a special group of young men that have been a joy to coach,” Allen said after the Michigan win. “They’ve bought into our culture and our belief that we can compete with anyone in the country. We’re not done yet.”
SEC Powers Stumble
On the other end of the spectrum, a pair of Southeastern Conference heavyweights tumbled down the rankings. Georgia, which began the year at No. 1, fell nine spots to No. 11 after a 28-10 loss at Ole Miss. It marked the first time the Bulldogs had been outside the top 10 since late in the 2020 season.
Miami also plummeted eight spots from No. 4 to No. 12 following a stunning 28-23 upset loss at Georgia Tech. The defeat likely ended any glimmer of College Football Playoff hope for the Hurricanes. According to a source close to the program, the loss left the team “absolutely gutted.”
Big Ten Dominates Top Five
The Big Ten flexed its muscle in the latest poll, claiming four of the top five spots. In addition to Indiana at No. 5, Penn State moved up to No. 4 following an impressive win over Washington. Ohio State remained at No. 2 to give the conference a formidable trio.
The Big Ten’s rise coincides with some struggles by its Power Five counterparts. In addition to the SEC having Georgia and Miami fall, the Big 12’s highest ranked team is undefeated BYU at No. 7. The ACC does not have a team in the top 10, while the Pac-12’s only ranked squad is No. 19 Washington State.
Key Risers and Fallers
A look at some of the other notable movements in this week’s Top 25:
- Ole Miss made the biggest jump, vaulting six spots to No. 10 after its dominant defensive performance against Georgia.
- LSU tumbled seven spots to No. 21 after getting blown out at home by Alabama. The loss extinguished the Tigers’ playoff aspirations.
- At No. 18, Colorado is the second-highest ranked Big 12 team and controls its own destiny. The Buffaloes could earn a playoff berth by winning out.
- Boise State remains the top-ranked Group of 5 program at No. 13 following a hard-fought win over a pesky Nevada squad.
Fresh Faces Join the Fray
Three new teams entered the rankings this week as South Carolina, Missouri, and Tulane made their season debuts. The No. 23 Gamecocks are riding high after notching wins over ranked Texas A&M and Vanderbilt in consecutive weeks. No. 24 Missouri stunned Oklahoma with a late defensive touchdown. No. 25 Tulane cracked the poll on the strength of a seven-game winning streak.
Dropping out of the Top 25 were Iowa State, Pittsburgh, and Vanderbilt. The Cyclones lost their second straight against a struggling Kansas squad. Pitt fell at home to Virginia a week after getting routed by SMU. Vandy has lost two of three after a promising start.
Looking Ahead
The upcoming week features a pair of matchups between ranked opponents that could further shake up the landscape. No. 6 Tennessee visits No. 11 Georgia in a critical SEC East showdown. The Volunteers expect to have dynamic quarterback Nico Iamaleava back after he was held out of the second half against Mississippi State for precautionary reasons.
In the SEC West, No. 24 Missouri heads to No. 23 South Carolina seeking a sixth straight win in the series. The Gamecocks have a chance to topple a third consecutive ranked foe, which would mark the first time in program history they have achieved that feat.
As the regular season enters its final month, the jockeying for conference titles and playoff positioning kicks into high gear. With several undefeated teams at the top and one-loss squads ready to pounce, the next few weeks promise to deliver high drama and intense competition. In this wacky college football season, it seems no one is safe as underdogs like Indiana rise up to make some noise on the national stage.
