Description
(AP) -- Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, and Louisiana State University remained the top three teams in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll Sunday; the University of Oregon is back in the top five; and the University of South Florida is ranked for the first time in seven years.
There was some movement inside the top 10, but the biggest changes came from Nos. 11 to 25.
Ohio State, whose 70-0 win over Grambling State University was among a bevy of weekend blowouts, received 57 of the 65 first-place votes from the media panel. Penn State got five first-place votes and LSU two.
No. 4 Oregon, which thrashed Oklahoma State University, received the other first place-vote and flip-flopped with the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs' uninspired win over FCS foe Austin Peay State University caused them to slip to No. 6 behind the University of Miami.
The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Florida State University round out the top 10, with the latter two teams in the top 10 for the first time this season.
The University of Oklahoma earned a five-rung promotion to No. 13, its highest ranking in two years, after its win over the University of Michigan. The Wolverines dropped to No. 23. The University of Tennessee jumped seven spots to No. 15, and No. 16 Texas A&M University and No. 17 University of Mississippi each moved up three.
The biggest upward mover was No. 18 South Florida, which was eight spots out of the Top 25 last week. The Bulls pulled the upset of the day with their 18-16 win over then-No. 13 University of Florida. That followed their 34-7 home win over then-No. 25 Boise State University.
In and out
No. 24 Auburn University and No. 25 University of Missouri cracked the rankings along with USF.
Auburn followed a two-touchdown win at Baylor University with an easy victory over Ball State University and are in the Top 25 for the first time under third-year coach Hugh Freeze.
Missouri, which appeared in all but two polls last season, is back in after a win over Border War rival University of Kansas.
Arizona State University (12), Florida (13), and Southern Methodist University (17) are out.
The Sun Devils erased a 17-point deficit and led in the final minute before losing at Mississippi State University. Florida's loss put heat back on coach Billy Napier. SMU also blew a lead in the last minute and lost to Baylor in two overtimes.
Poll points
— The Bulls’ ascent under third-year coach Alex Golesh is more of a revival than breakthrough. They have their first ranking since 2018 under Charlie Strong. Jim Leavitt had the 2008 team as high as No. 10, and his 2007 team spent three straight weeks in the top 10 and was No. 2 after a 6-0 start.
— No. 10 Florida State, up four spots, has its highest ranking since it was No. 10 in the 2024 preseason poll.
— No. 9 Illinois has its first top-10 ranking since it was No. 7 in December 2001.
— Clemson University, which trailed Troy 16-0 midway through the second quarter before winning 27-16, slipped from No. 8 to No. 12.
— Until Sunday, the University of Alabama and Auburn had not appeared in the Top 25 at the same time since November 2021.
— The 16-team Southeastern Conference is the first league to have 11 teams in the Top 25.
Conference call
SEC — 11 ranked teams (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 24, 25).
Big Ten — 6 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 9, 22, 23).
ACC — 3 (Nos. 5, 10, 12).
Big 12 — 3 (Nos. 14, 20, 21).
American — 1 (No. 18).
Independent — 1 (No. 8).
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 18 South Florida at No. 5 Miami: Bulls will try to become the fifth team, and first since Miami in 1987, to open a season with three wins over ranked opponents.
No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee: First big test for Volunteers QB Joey Aguilar. Bulldogs go for ninth straight win in the series.
No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 8 Notre Dame: Irish out to avoid second 0-2 start in four years. Jeremiyah Love scored late tie-breaking touchdown for Notre Dame in last year's season-opening meeting in College Station.
___
AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
___
This story has been updated to correct the number of SEC teams.
Other Related News
09/07/2025
DENVER AP Bo Nix overcame three turnovers and the Denver Broncos spoiled top overall draf...
09/07/2025
MADISONVILLE Tenn WATEWKRN Four people face charges after a group of dogs attacked a 71-y...
09/07/2025
WILLIAMSON COUNTY Tenn WKRN -- A former nurse is facing charges in Williamson County follo...
09/07/2025
WILSON COUNTY Tenn WKRN Boysvolleyballis serving up history in Tennessee with one team in...
09/07/2025