Ohio State plummeted from No. 2 to No. 11 in Sunday’s Associated Press Top 25, dropping out of the top 10 for the first time in five years following a 30-18 loss at USC. The defeat marked the fourth week in a row that the No. 1 or 2 team has fallen to an unranked opponent.
Miami Holds the Top Spot Ahead of Notre Dame Showdown
Miami was No. 1 for the third straight week after escaping North Carolina with a 38-35 victory, receiving 62 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel. The Hurricanes head to South Bend on Saturday to face No. 5 Notre Dame in a matchup echoing their historic 1988 meeting. Georgia moved up to No. 2 with seven first-place votes, while Utah claimed the remaining first-place vote to sit at No. 3.
UCLA and New Mexico Reach Historic Milestones
UCLA climbed to No. 5—its highest ranking since it was No. 4 following a 6-0 start in 2001—by shutting out Nevada 27-0 to reach an 8-0 start under first-year coach Bob Chesney. Meanwhile, New Mexico cracked the AP poll for the first time in program history at No. 22 following a 21-16 win at San Jose State under second-year coach Jason Eck, securing the Lobos’ first 7-1 start since 1982.
Conference Shifts Alter College Football
The Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with 10 ranked teams, followed by the Big 12 and Big Ten with five each, the ACC with two, and independents and the Mountain West with one apiece. New Mexico stands as the lone unbeaten Mountain West team in conference play. Sunday’s rankings serve as the final AP poll before the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its first rankings on Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the AP Poll Shakeup
When was the last time Ohio State ranked outside the top 10?
Ohio State had remained inside the top 10 for 86 consecutive polls, not falling out since September 26, 2021, when a brief drop to No. 11 preceded a rebound the following week.
https://t.co/T23NtgfCywOhio State falls out of the top 10, UCLA cracks the top 5 and New Mexico earns its first-ever ranking in the AP Top 25 poll. See where your team landed. pic.twitter.com/8s2vaaEOvj
What historic milestone did New Mexico achieve?
New Mexico entered the AP rankings at No. 22, marking the first time the football program has appeared in the poll since it began playing in 1892, following a 21-16 victory at San Jose State.
How many first-place votes did Miami receive in the latest AP Top 25?
Miami received 62 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel after escaping North Carolina with a narrow 38-35 win, keeping the Hurricanes at No. 1 for the third consecutive week.
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