Oregon remains atop the AP Top 25 ahead of the first CFP ranking

Oregon was unanimously picked No. 1 in The Associated Press College Football Poll on Sunday, solidifying its claim to the top spot in the College Football Playoff Selection Committee's first rankings of the season.

The Ducks are ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third straight year and unanimously for the first time after their 21-point road win over Michigan.

Georgia, which received a No. 1 vote last week, remained No. 2 after overcoming Carson Beck's three interceptions and rallying late against Florida.

Ohio State secured an outright promotion to No. 3 with its win at Penn State, the Buckeyes' eighth straight in the series. No. 4 Miami, which beat Duke, and No. 5 Texas, which was idle, each moved up a place in front. Penn State, which had been in the top five in previous polls, slipped to No. 6.

The expansion of the CFP to 12 teams this season means that losses by top teams to other top teams will not be a disqualifier in the race for the national championship. The first CFP rankings of the season will be released on Tuesday and will be updated weekly until the rankings are announced on December 8th.

Tennessee maintained its spot at No. 7 despite outscoring Kentucky by three deep into the fourth quarter and winning 28-18.

Indiana jumped five spots to No. 8, its highest ranking since No. 7 in 2020 — and the best in a non-pandemic season since the Hoosiers were No. 4 in their 1967 Rose Bowl season. The Hoosiers defeated Michigan State 47-10 on the road to take a 9-0 lead for the first time in program history; Every win was by double digits.

No. 9 BYU and No. 10 Notre Dame were idle.

SMU's 48-25 victory over Pittsburgh gave the Mustangs a move from No. 20 to No. 13 – the biggest move up this week. They haven't been ranked this high since they were No. 3 on Oct. 1, 1985, two years before the NCAA imposed the “death penalty” that shut down the program in 1987 for serious rules violations. The school also decided not to field a team in 1988.

Survey points

Clemson and Iowa State, tied for No. 11 last week, suffered the biggest declines after a home loss. The 33-21 loss to Louisville saw the Tigers fall eight spots to 19th. The Cyclones fell six spots to No. 17 with their 23-22 loss to Texas Tech. Texas A&M, Kansas State and Pittsburgh each fell five spots.

At No. 18, Army has its highest ranking since mid-season No. 10 in 1960.

At No. 12, Boise State has its best ranking since No. 8 in the final 2011 poll.

Indiana is ahead of Notre Dame for the first time since the last election in 1979, when the Hoosiers were ranked 19th and the Irish were unranked. Indiana schools are 200 miles apart.

Vanderbilt's emphatic 17-7 win at Auburn allowed the Commodores to return to the poll at No. 24 after a week-long absence.

Louisville, which was ranked every week in September, is back at No. 25 after the upset at Clemson.

Illinois, ranked No. 24 last week, ended its seven-week run in the Top 25 with a 25-17 home loss to Minnesota.

Missouri, which had been ranked No. 6 in the poll each week, was eliminated after an open date. The Tigers remained ranked 25th despite a 34-0 loss to Alabama last week.

Conference call

SEC: 8 (Nos. 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 24).

ACC: 5 (No. 4, 13, 19, 23, 25).

Big Ten: 4 (Nos. 1, 3, 6, 8).

Big 12: 4 (Nos. 9, 17, 21, 22).

AAC: 1 (No. 18).

Mountain West: 1 (No. 12).

Pac-12: 1 (No. 20).

Independent: 1 (No. 10).

Rank vs. rank

• No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 16 Ole Miss: The Bulldogs have not traveled to Oxford since their 45-14 loss there in 2016. Georgia beat Ole Miss at home last year, 52-17.

• No. 11 Alabama at No. 14 LSU: LSU's 32-31 overtime win over Bama sparked a rush two years ago, the last time the Crimson Tide visited Death Valley. Both teams still have open dates.