Georgia moved up one spot to No. 4 in The Associated Press poll Sunday, while Oklahoma returned to the top 10. North Texas, ranked for the first time since 1959, is one of three Group of Five teams featured in the Top 25.
Ohio State, Indiana, and Texas A&M held the top three spots for the fifth straight week. Georgia earned its highest ranking since the first week of September, and Mississippi reentered the top five after spending three weeks there at midseason.
Oregon and Texas Tech were tied for No. 6, and Oklahoma climbed three spots to No. 8 following its impressive win at Alabama. The Sooners were last in the top 10 at No. 6 during the second week of October. Notre Dame remained steady at No. 9 after a 22-point win at Pittsburgh, while Alabama dropped six spots to No. 10 after its eight-game win streak was snapped by Oklahoma.
Ohio State rolled past UCLA to improve to 10-0 for the fourth time in seven seasons, receiving 57 of 66 first-place votes. Indiana, which beat Wisconsin to go 11-0 for the first time, garnered eight first-place votes. Texas A&M, whose comeback from a 27-point deficit to beat South Carolina marked its largest ever, earned one first-place vote—three fewer than last week.
Georgia’s 35-10 win over Texas marked its sixth straight victory and second triumph over a top-10 opponent. Mississippi, which lost to Georgia a month ago, defeated Florida and currently sits more than 100 points behind the Bulldogs at No. 5.
The Group of Five achieved a rare feat, with three teams ranked in the Top 25—the most since four appeared in last season’s final poll. The Sun Belt Conference’s James Madison exploded past Appalachian State and moved up three spots to No. 21. North Texas followed closely at No. 22.
The Mean Green of the American Athletic Conference dominated UAB 53-24 on the road, matching their best start in program history. The last time UNT was 9-1 was in 1959, when the team—then known as the Eagles—was ranked for two straight weeks in November, reaching No. 16. That team concluded the season with a loss to New Mexico State in the Sun Bowl, finishing 9-2.
This year’s UNT squad is already eligible for a second straight bowl game and remains deeply competitive for the Group of Five’s automatic College Football Playoff bid.
**In and Out**
No. 22 North Texas’ first appearance in the poll in 66 years ends the longest drought by a Bowl Subdivision team. No. 23 Missouri returned after a one-week absence following a win over Mississippi State, where Ahmad Hardy became the first player since 2022 to rush for 300 yards.
No. 24 Tulane has won two straight since losing to UTSA and is ranked for the first time this season. No. 25 Houston, previously fifth among teams receiving votes last week and idle, was ranked for one week in October.
Louisville (19), Cincinnati (22), Pittsburgh (23), and South Florida (25) dropped out of the Top 25.
**Poll Points**
Voters mirrored the College Football Playoff selection committee’s recent decision, ranking Miami above Georgia Tech to make the Hurricanes the highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team. Miami easily beat North Carolina State and climbed two spots to No. 14. Georgia Tech, which narrowly defeated one-win Boston College with a last-second field goal, slipped one spot to No. 15.
No. 13 Utah has outscored three opponents by a combined 153-49 since losing at BYU, achieving its highest ranking of the season. No. 17 Texas saw the biggest drop, falling seven spots.
**Conference Breakdown**
– SEC (9 teams): Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 17, 20, 23
– Big Ten (5 teams): Nos. 1, 2, T-6, 16, 18
– Big 12 (4 teams): Nos. T-6, 11, 13, 25
– ACC (3 teams): Nos. 14, 15, 19
– American (2 teams): Nos. 22, 24
– Sun Belt (1 team): No. 21
– Independent (1 team): No. 9
**Ranked vs. Ranked Matchups**
– No. 16 Southern California (8-2, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 17 CFP) at No. 6 Oregon (9-1, 6-1, No. 8 CFP):
The winner strengthens its position for a College Football Playoff at-large bid and keeps slim hopes alive of sneaking into the Big Ten championship game.
– No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 SEC) at No. 8 Oklahoma (8-2, 4-2, No. 11 CFP):
The Sooners boosted their playoff resume by knocking off Alabama on the road and now aim for a fifth win over a Top 25 opponent.