Ohio State Tops AP Poll, Alabama Falls to 17-Year Low
Ohio State has climbed to the top of college football, snagging the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 rankings for the first time during the regular season since 2015.
This jump followed a big win over Texas that rattled the early-season college football landscape.
The Buckeyes ended last season as the top team after winning the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
Now, they’ve kicked off their title defense in style.
Meanwhile, Alabama has tumbled out of the top 20 for the first time in 17 years.
There’s a lot to unpack in these AP Top 25 shifts and what they might mean for the rest of the season.
Ohio State’s Rise to No. 1
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Ohio State’s leap to the top spot really comes down to their strong showing against Texas.
The Buckeyes beat the Longhorns 14-7 at home, which bumped them up from No. 3 to No. 1.
This is their 107th time sitting at the top of the rankings, a place they last held during the regular season in 2015.
They’re also the defending national champs, riding momentum from last year’s playoff win.
Key Factors in Ohio State’s Success
Several things have fueled Ohio State’s rise:
- Strong Defense: They held Texas to only seven points, which says a lot about their defense.
- Consistent Performance: The team’s kept up a high level of play, building on last season’s success.
- Coaching Excellence: The coaching staff’s preparation for big games has clearly paid off.
Alabama’s Unprecedented Drop
Alabama dropped out of the top 20 for the first time in 17 years, and that’s pretty wild.
Their opening-game loss to Florida State—first in 24 seasons—hit their ranking hard.
Still, Alabama holds on at No. 21, stretching their poll appearance streak to 280, second only to Nebraska’s 348 from 1981 to 2002.
Challenges Facing Alabama
What’s behind Alabama’s slide?
- Opening-Game Loss: Losing to unranked Florida State stung.
- Coaching Transition: The team’s still settling in with second-year coach Kalen DeBoer.
- Performance Inconsistencies: They’ve looked shaky, and that’s taken a toll on their ranking.
Florida State’s Resurgence
Florida State’s back in the mix, jumping to No. 14 after upsetting Alabama.
This is a huge turnaround for the Seminoles, who went from an unbeaten regular season and Playoff snub in 2023 to a rough 2-10 record in 2024.
Now, they’re looking like real ACC contenders again.
Factors Behind Florida State’s Comeback
What’s sparked Florida State’s resurgence?
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- Portal-Heavy Rebuild: Coach Mike Norvell’s smart use of the transfer portal has brought new life to the team.
- Strong Team Performance: Their dominance over Alabama shows serious potential.
- ACC Contenders: Suddenly, the Seminoles might shake up the ACC race.
Other Notable Movements in the Rankings
A bunch of other teams have seen big shifts in the AP Top 25:
Texas and LSU
Texas started the season at No. 1 for the first time ever but dropped six spots to No. 7 after losing to Ohio State.
LSU, meanwhile, jumped six spots to No. 3 after beating Clemson, who slid from No. 4 to No. 8.
Miami’s Ascendancy
Miami’s home win over Notre Dame pushed them up five spots to No. 5.
The Fighting Irish fell from sixth to No. 9, which just shows how wild these early-season games can get.
Georgia and Oregon
Georgia moved up to No. 4, while Oregon climbed one spot to No. 6.
Both teams looked sharp in the season’s first week.
South Carolina’s Best Ranking Since 2014
South Carolina rose to No. 10, their best ranking in a decade.
This could be a big season for them.
Teams Receiving Votes
Plenty of teams got votes but didn’t crack the Top 25. Here’s the list:
- BYU: 102 votes
- Auburn: 94 votes
- Georgia Tech: 67 votes
- USC: 64 votes
- Louisville: 59 votes
- TCU: 49 votes
- Missouri: 42 votes
- South Florida: 25 votes
- Tulane: 18 votes
- Nebraska: 13 votes
- Kansas State: 7 votes
- James Madison: 4 votes
- Liberty: 4 votes
- UNLV: 4 votes
- Duke: 4 votes
- Navy: 2 votes
- Pittsburgh: 2 votes
- Baylor: 2 votes
- Virginia: 2 votes
- Memphis: 2 votes
Upcoming Key Matchups
Week two of the college football season looks just as wild, with some big games on deck:
Ranked Teams Clashing
The only ranked-versus-ranked game is No. 15 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma.
Both teams have something to prove, so this one could get interesting fast.
Potential Upsets
There are a few more games that could shake up the rankings:
- Duke hosts No. 11 Illinois
- Iowa at No. 16 Iowa State
- USF at No. 13 Florida
- No. 12 Arizona State travels to Mississippi State
- Kansas at Missouri
Any of these could throw a wrench into the rankings, and honestly, that’s what keeps college football so fun.
Conclusion
The first week of college football already delivered plenty of drama. We saw big shifts in the AP Top 25 rankings.
Ohio State jumped to No. 1. Alabama tumbled in a way nobody really expected.
Florida State made a strong comeback. It’s shaping up to be a wild season, honestly.
If you want a closer look at all the latest rankings, check out the AP Top 25 rankings.