Ole Miss Soars to No. 4, Oregon Rises to No. 2 in AP Rankings
The latest shake-up in the AP Top 25 college football poll has fans and analysts buzzing. After a wild weekend packed with upsets and dramatic finishes, Oregon and Mississippi have shot up in the rankings.
Let’s break down the biggest shifts in the poll and take a look at the games that got everyone talking.
Major Upheaval in the Top 5
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This past weekend, three of the top-five teams lost to lower-ranked opponents. That chaos led to a major reshuffling at the top of the AP Top 25 poll.
Ohio State managed to hang onto its No. 1 spot, grabbing 46 first-place votes. Oregon, after a double-overtime thriller against Penn State, jumped to No. 2 with 16 first-place votes.
Oregon’s Ascent
Oregon’s rise in the rankings comes after their wild win over Penn State in Happy Valley. The Ducks looked spectacular, and that victory definitely turned heads.
They not only moved up to No. 2, but also showed serious grit and composure under pressure. Really, you can’t help but be impressed by that performance.
Mississippi’s Rise
Ole Miss hit its highest ranking since 2015, landing at No. 4 after beating LSU. That win knocked LSU down nine spots to No. 13.
The Rebels looked sharp and have suddenly become a team you just have to keep an eye on this season.
Other Notable Movements
The top five weren’t the only teams making headlines. Oklahoma, despite having the week off, rounded out the top five, moving up to No. 5.
Texas A&M jumped three spots to No. 6 after beating Auburn. Indiana, Texas, and Alabama round out the top 10, with Alabama clawing its way back after starting at No. 8, dropping to No. 21, and now returning to the top 10.
Alabama’s Comeback
The Crimson Tide’s journey back into the top 10 has been a bit of a rollercoaster. After losing their opener to Florida State, they’ve slowly climbed back.
Their recent win over Georgia in Athens made a statement, bumping them up seven spots to No. 10. Georgia, meanwhile, slid seven places to No. 12, which is their lowest since 2020.
Florida State’s Plunge
Florida State took a hard fall, dropping 10 spots to No. 18 after losing to Virginia in overtime. That loss stung, especially since they’d been looking solid until now.
Virginia, for its part, sneaked into the poll at No. 24. It’s their first time back in the rankings since 2019.
Historic Weekend of Upsets
This weekend was wild—four top-10 teams lost, and 11 games featuring 15 ranked teams were decided by just one possession. Four of those went to overtime, which just added to the madness.
The last time three top-five teams lost on the same day? That was way back in 2016. It’s not something you see every season.
Impact on Future Rankings
As the season rolls on, head-to-head matchups are going to shape the rankings in ways that voters can’t ignore. Florida State’s win over Alabama, Alabama’s victory against Georgia, and Georgia’s earlier triumph over Tennessee all create a tangled web for voters to sort out.
It’s honestly hard to predict how this will play out in the coming weeks.
Looking Ahead
The next few weeks look promising—more big games, more chances for chaos. A couple of matchups to keep on your radar: No. 16 Vanderbilt at No. 10 Alabama, and No. 3 Miami at No. 18 Florida State.
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These games could shake up the rankings even further and might just change the whole landscape of college football this year.
Vanderbilt vs. Alabama
This one’s intriguing—it’s only the second time both teams have been ranked when they’ve played each other. The first time was way back in 1937.
Alabama’s looking for payback after Vanderbilt upset them last season. This game will really test whether the Crimson Tide can hang onto their top-10 status.
Miami vs. Florida State
Miami versus Florida State is always a highlight, no matter what the rankings say. This will be the first time since 2016 that both teams are ranked for their matchup.
If Florida State hadn’t lost to Virginia, this could’ve been a top-10 clash. Still, it’s shaping up to be a thrilling game with plenty at stake for both teams.
Conclusion
The latest AP Top 25 college football poll just shook things up. Oregon and Mississippi climbed higher than most folks expected.
Plenty of upsets over the weekend—some of those games felt wild, honestly. Now, with big matchups coming up, it feels like anything could happen in the rankings.
If you want the full breakdown and every ranking detail, check out the article on the New York Times.