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- calendar_today November 8, 2026
Oregon Ducks Surge Back Into AP Top 25 After Defeating Ohio State
The Oregon Ducks have returned to the Associated Press Top 25, grabbing the No. 18 spot after a major victory against Ohio State. This marks the first time in five weeks the Ducks have appeared in the poll, following back-to-back wins against ranked opponents—including a home victory over Northwestern.
Georgia Rises to No. 1 in Latest AP Top 25
Georgia was voted No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the second time this season, following a dominant 42-7 win at Mississippi. The Bulldogs had previously held the top spot for just one week before being unseated by Auburn but remained ranked in the top five throughout the season. In the most recent voting, Georgia secured 53 of the 70 first-place ballots, well ahead of second-place Utah and third-place Notre Dame.
Major Shifts at the Top After Wild Weekend
The college football landscape experienced significant movement after the weekend. Miami, which was at No. 1, became the fourth top-ranked team this season to lose that spot—matching the highest turnover rate for No. 1 in a season since 2008. Utah moved up to No. 2 after a win over BYU, earning its highest-ever AP regular season ranking. Notre Dame climbed to No. 3 after defeating Miami. UCLA, unbeaten at 9-0 for the first time since 1998, rose to No. 4, marking the program's best ranking since 2001.
Ohio State Falls After Consecutive Losses
Ohio State continued its slide in the rankings, falling to No. 21 after a 41-28 home loss to Oregon. The Buckeyes, who were ranked No. 2 just two weeks ago, find themselves at their lowest position since 2014, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
Conference Representation in the Top 25
The latest poll reflects a strong showing from the SEC, which has eight ranked teams, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Texas, and No. 9 Tennessee. The Big Ten also performed well with six teams, led by No. 4 UCLA and including Oregon and Ohio State. The Big 12 placed five schools in the ranking, while the ACC and other conferences each contributed multiple teams to the Top 25.
Notable Team Movements and Upcoming Ranked Matchups
- No. 25 SMU re-entered the poll after a decisive win over Virginia Tech, while Missouri and Florida both dropped out after recent losses.
- Teams such as Alabama and Texas were rewarded for strong road performances, each moving up two positions in the ranking.
- High-stakes games are set, including No. 2 Utah at No. 22 Arizona, and No. 11 Wake Forest at No. 25 SMU.
Poll Points and Recent Trends
- Utah achieved its highest AP ranking since the final poll of 2008.
- Notre Dame’s climb to No. 3 is notable, as it is the lowest ranking for a top-five team that defeated a No. 1 since Auburn in 2013.
- The Big 12 featured two teams in the top two or higher for the first time since 2015.
The AP Top 25 continues to reflect the volatility of the 2026 college football season, setting the stage for more unpredictable weeks ahead as teams jostle for playoff contention and prestigious bowl berths.
Source: koin.com.
