The latest Top 25 college football rankings have Georgia at No. 1, followed by Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State, and Indiana.
The October 11 AP Poll saw major movement after several ranked teams lost, including Texas, LSU, and Oregon.
What Are the Top 25 College Football Rankings?
The Top 25 college football rankings are weekly rankings that measure the nation’s leading teams based on performance, strength of schedule, quality wins, losses, and overall perception.
The most widely followed weekly ranking is the AP Top 25 Poll, which has been a major part of college football since 1936.
The AP Poll is not the same thing as the College Football Playoff rankings. The AP rankings are voted on by media members, while the CFP selection committee produces its own rankings later in the season.
For fans searching for the current national picture, the AP Top 25 is one of the quickest ways to see which teams are leading the sport.
Latest Top 25 College Football Rankings
The latest available AP Top 25 was released October 11, 2026, following Week 6. Georgia took over the No. 1 position after defeating Alabama, while Texas fell from No. 1 to No. 7 after losing to Oklahoma.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 6-0 | 2 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | 6-0 | 3 |
| 3 | Miami | 5-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Ohio State | 5-1 | 5 |
| 5 | Indiana | 6-0 | 7 |
| 6 | Alabama | 5-1 | 6 |
| 7 | Texas | 4-1 | 1 |
| 8 | BYU | 5-0 | 8 |
| 9 | Ole Miss | 4-1 | 9 |
| 10 | Texas Tech | 5-0 | 11 |
| 11 | Utah | 5-0 | 12 |
| 12 | UCLA | 5-0 | 21 |
| 13 | Missouri | 5-1 | 14 |
| 14 | Tennessee | 5-1 | 15 |
| 15 | Kentucky | 5-1 | NR |
| 16 | Mississippi State | 4-1 | 17 |
| 17 | Iowa | 5-1 | 20 |
| 18 | Oklahoma State | 4-1 | 18 |
| 19 | USC | 6-1 | 19 |
| 20 | Houston | 5-1 | 22 |
| 21 | Wake Forest | 5-1 | NR |
| 22 | LSU | 4-2 | 10 |
| 23 | Boise State | 5-1 | 23 |
| 24 | SMU | 4-1 | 24 |
| 25 | Northwestern | 4-1 | NR |
The AP Poll gave Georgia 66 of 70 first-place votes. Notre Dame received one and Miami received two, while Indiana also received one first-place vote.
Who Is No. 1 in College Football?
Georgia is currently No. 1 in the AP Top 25.
The Bulldogs moved from No. 2 to No. 1 after beating Alabama 20-17 in Tuscaloosa. The victory improved Georgia to 6-0 and gave the Bulldogs their first No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll since 2024.
Georgia’s rise is particularly significant because the Bulldogs didn’t simply benefit from another team’s loss. They directly defeated a highly ranked Alabama team in one of the weekend’s biggest games.
That combination of an undefeated record and a major road victory made Georgia the clear choice for the top spot.
Top 5 College Football Teams
1. Georgia
Georgia leads the nation at 6-0 and owns the most first-place votes in the latest AP Poll.
The Bulldogs’ defining result was their 20-17 victory over Alabama. That win strengthened their case as one of the country’s most complete teams.
2. Notre Dame
Notre Dame moved up to No. 2 after improving to 6-0. The Fighting Irish received one first-place vote and remain one of the country’s unbeaten contenders.
Their next major test comes against No. 8 BYU.
3. Miami
Miami sits at No. 3 with a perfect 5-0 record. The Hurricanes received two first-place votes and remain firmly in the national championship conversation.
Miami’s upcoming matchup with Florida State is another important game for its résumé.
4. Ohio State
Ohio State is No. 4 at 5-1.
The Buckeyes haven’t fallen out of the top five despite having one loss, but their next game is enormous: a road matchup with undefeated No. 5 Indiana.
5. Indiana
Indiana has become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 season.
The Hoosiers are 6-0 and climbed from No. 7 to No. 5. Their undefeated record now gets a major test against No. 4 Ohio State.
Biggest Risers in the Top 25
The latest poll wasn’t simply about Georgia taking No. 1.
Several teams made eye-catching moves.
UCLA: Up 9 Spots
UCLA made the biggest jump inside the latest Top 25, moving from No. 21 to No. 12.
The Bruins remained undefeated at 5-0 after defeating then-No. 13 Oregon 17-15. That ranked victory gave UCLA one of the most impressive résumé-building wins of the week.
Kentucky: Unranked to No. 15
Kentucky made one of the most dramatic entries into the poll.
The Wildcats jumped from outside the rankings all the way to No. 15 after defeating then-No. 10 LSU in overtime. It marked Kentucky’s highest AP ranking since 2022.
Wake Forest: Into the Top 25
Wake Forest entered the rankings at No. 21 after improving to 5-1.
The Demon Deacons replaced one of the teams that dropped out following the week’s upsets.
Northwestern: No. 25
Northwestern returned to the AP Top 25 at No. 25 with a 4-1 record.
It was the Wildcats’ first appearance in the AP Poll since the 2020 season.
Biggest Fallers in the College Football Rankings
Texas: No. 1 to No. 7
Texas suffered perhaps the most notable ranking drop of the week.
The Longhorns entered the weekend ranked No. 1 but lost 27-24 to Oklahoma. Texas consequently fell six spots to No. 7.
Despite the loss, Texas still owns a significant résumé win over Ohio State, which remains ranked No. 4.
LSU: No. 10 to No. 22
LSU dropped 12 spots after losing to Kentucky in overtime.
The Tigers went from No. 10 to No. 22, one of the largest single-week declines in the poll.
Oregon: Out of the Top 25
Oregon suffered the biggest consequence of its loss to UCLA.
The Ducks fell completely out of the AP Top 25 after losing 17-15, ending a four-year streak of appearing in the poll.
Which Conference Has the Most Ranked Teams?
The SEC leads the latest AP Top 25 with nine ranked teams.
The Big Ten follows with six ranked teams, while the Big 12 has five. The ACC has three teams in the rankings.
This gives the SEC the strongest numerical presence in the current Top 25, although having more ranked teams does not automatically mean every SEC team has the strongest résumé.
Ranked Teams That Could Move Soon
College football rankings can change dramatically from one Saturday to the next because ranked teams frequently play one another.
Several games on the Week 7 schedule could have major consequences.
No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Indiana
This is the week’s biggest top-five matchup.
Indiana enters undefeated at 6-0, while Ohio State is 5-1. A win for Indiana could strengthen its position as a legitimate national championship contender. A Buckeyes victory could move Ohio State higher while handing Indiana its first loss.
No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU
This is another huge test.
Notre Dame is 6-0 and BYU is 5-0, meaning the game features two undefeated teams. The winner will gain a major résumé boost.
No. 6 Alabama at No. 14 Tennessee
Alabama is trying to recover from its loss to Georgia, while Tennessee enters at 5-1.
A second Alabama loss would create even more movement near the top of the rankings.
No. 13 Missouri at No. 9 Ole Miss
Both SEC teams are ranked inside the top 15, making this another game with direct ranking implications.
Current Unbeaten Teams in the Top 25
Several undefeated teams remain near the top of the latest rankings.
They include:
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Miami
- Indiana
- BYU
- Texas Tech
- Utah
- UCLA
These teams have a valuable advantage because avoiding losses is critical as the season moves toward conference championship races and the College Football Playoff picture.
However, an undefeated record alone doesn’t guarantee a team will remain highly ranked. Strength of schedule and quality wins become increasingly important.
AP Top 25 vs. College Football Playoff Rankings
One of the most important distinctions for college football fans is that the AP Top 25 is not the official College Football Playoff ranking.
The AP Poll is a weekly media poll used to measure national perception and performance.
The CFP rankings are produced by the playoff selection committee and become particularly important when determining the playoff field.
So if you’re searching for the latest college football rankings, the AP Top 25 is a useful weekly reference. If you’re looking for the teams most likely to make the playoff, you’ll also want to follow the CFP rankings once they are released.
What Makes a Team Rise or Fall in the Top 25?
Rankings are influenced by much more than simply winning or losing.
Voters and analysts typically consider:
- Overall record
- Strength of schedule
- Quality of victories
- Quality of losses
- Performance against ranked opponents
- Margin and quality of play
- Injuries and team circumstances
- Conference competition
- Recent performance
This explains why a team can win and still fall in the rankings, or lose a close game against a strong opponent and remain highly ranked.
College Football Rankings: What to Watch Next
The most interesting part of the current Top 25 is that several teams have an opportunity to prove themselves immediately.
Georgia must continue defending its No. 1 position. Notre Dame faces a major road challenge at BYU. Ohio State and Indiana meet in a top-five showdown. Alabama travels to Tennessee, while Texas tries to rebound against Florida.
Meanwhile, UCLA and Kentucky have an opportunity to show that their recent ranking jumps were more than one-week surprises.
The next AP Top 25 is scheduled to be released October 18 at 2 p.m. ET, so the rankings could look very different after Week 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the current Top 25 college football rankings?
The latest AP Top 25 has Georgia at No. 1, Notre Dame at No. 2, Miami at No. 3, Ohio State at No. 4, and Indiana at No. 5.
Who is No. 1 in college football right now?
Georgia is currently No. 1 in the AP Top 25 after defeating Alabama 20-17. The Bulldogs received 66 first-place votes.
Who is the biggest riser in the latest Top 25?
UCLA was the biggest riser among ranked teams, jumping from No. 21 to No. 12 after defeating Oregon.
Who fell the most in the latest college football rankings?
LSU experienced the largest numerical drop, falling from No. 10 to No. 22 after losing to Kentucky in overtime.
Did Oregon fall out of the Top 25?
Yes. Oregon dropped out after losing 17-15 to UCLA.
How often do the college football rankings change?
The AP Top 25 is updated weekly during the college football season, with new rankings reflecting the latest games and results.
Is the AP Top 25 the same as the CFP rankings?
No. The AP Top 25 is a media poll, while the College Football Playoff rankings are produced by the CFP selection committee.
Final Thoughts
The latest Top 25 college football rankings have completely changed the national picture. Georgia has taken over No. 1 after beating Alabama, Texas has fallen from the top spot to No. 7, UCLA has surged into the top 12, and Kentucky has jumped from unranked to No. 15.
But the biggest story may be what happens next.
With Ohio State vs. Indiana, Notre Dame vs. BYU, Alabama vs. Tennessee, and several other ranked matchups on the schedule, Week 7 has the potential to reshape the Top 25 once again.
For fans following the 2026 season, the rankings aren’t just a list of numbers. They are a weekly snapshot of who is winning, who is rising, who is falling, and which teams are building the strongest case for the College Football Playoff.
Daniel Brooks is a sports writer at SportsOrbitX.com, specializing in football, basketball and global sports news. He focuses on delivering accurate reporting, match analysis and timely updates that keep fans informed.