Texas Reclaims No. 1 Spot in AP Top 25 as Major Upsets Shake College Football Rankings

It was a week of major shakeups in the Associated Press (AP) college football rankings, with Texas reclaiming the No. 1 spot on Sunday after Vanderbilt pulled off a stunning upset against Alabama. The Commodores’ unexpected victory, despite being heavy underdogs, caused Alabama to tumble from No. 1 to No. 7 in the rankings. This is the steepest fall for a top-ranked team since Ohio State dropped to No. 11 after a loss to Wisconsin in 2010.

Texas, who didn’t play this week, received 52 out of 61 first-place votes, marking their return to the top after a brief one-week absence. Remarkably, they became the first team in two years to jump in and out of the No. 1 spot within such a short span. They are also just the third team since 2008 to be voted No. 1 after having an idle weekend.

Ohio State, fresh off a dominant victory against Iowa, climbed to No. 2 after receiving nine first-place votes. Oregon and Penn State both made significant strides, rising three spots each, with Oregon now sitting at No. 3 and Penn State at No. 4. Meanwhile, Georgia held steady at No. 5 in the rankings.

Miami also made a big leap, moving up two spots to No. 6 after an incredible comeback against California, erasing a 25-point deficit to win 39-38.

A Weekend Full of Upsets

It wasn’t just Alabama that fell victim to an upset. The weekend saw six AP Top 25 teams losing to unranked opponents, marking the highest number of such losses since October 2020. Among the four top-11 teams that suffered defeats were Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan, and Southern California.

Tennessee, which had been ranked No. 4, dropped to No. 8 after a loss to Arkansas. Michigan also slid down the rankings, falling from No. 10 to No. 24 following their defeat at the hands of Washington. Southern California had the roughest fall, plummeting out of the Top 25 entirely after losing to Minnesota. USC now sits just outside the rankings, first among teams receiving votes.

Texas A&M and Missouri were the only ranked teams to face off this week, and the Aggies came out on top with a decisive victory. This propelled Texas A&M from a tie for No. 25 to No. 15, while Missouri fell from No. 9 to No. 21.

The Big Ten and SEC Dominate the Top Spots

The top five spots in the rankings feature heavy representation from the Big Ten, with Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State occupying positions 2 through 4. However, the SEC still holds a strong presence in the Top 10, with Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi all making the cut.

This weekend’s shakeup also resulted in three teams—Missouri, Michigan, and Southern California—each dropping 10 or more spots in the rankings, the first time that’s happened since November 2016. Meanwhile, Texas A&M, Clemson, and Iowa State were the biggest movers in the upward direction, with Texas A&M rising 10 spots, Clemson jumping five places, and Iowa State gaining five spots as well.

New Faces in the Rankings

Two new teams entered the AP Top 25 this week: SMU and Pittsburgh. SMU’s victory over Louisville earned them a spot at No. 25, while Pittsburgh broke into the rankings at No. 22 after starting their season 5-0 for the first time since 1991.

Louisville, on the other hand, dropped out of the rankings after losing two of their last three games. USC and UNLV also fell out of the Top 25 after disappointing losses. UNLV’s first-ever appearance in the rankings was short-lived, as they were upset by Syracuse in overtime.

Key Upcoming Matchups

Looking ahead, there are some exciting ranked matchups on the horizon. The Red River Rivalry between No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma is a major highlight. This will be the first time the two teams meet as SEC opponents, and it’s the sixth time in the last eight meetings that both teams are ranked in the Top 25.

Another crucial game will see No. 2 Ohio State face off against No. 3 Oregon. This highly anticipated contest was billed as a potential preview of the Big Ten Championship, and it still holds that promise as both teams are looking strong.

Finally, No. 9 Mississippi will take on No. 13 LSU in a game that could have major implications for the College Football Playoff. Last year, Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart outdueled Heisman winner Jayden Daniels in a thrilling 55-49 shootout, and fans are eagerly awaiting this year’s rematch.

Conclusion

This weekend was a rollercoaster ride for college football fans, with several upsets shaking up the AP Top 25 rankings. Texas has reclaimed the top spot, while Alabama and several other high-ranked teams suffered significant drops. With several crucial games on the horizon, including Texas vs. Oklahoma and Ohio State vs. Oregon, the rankings are likely to experience even more changes in the coming weeks. The race to the College Football Playoff is heating up, and every game counts as teams vie for their spot in the postseason.