In the first Associated Press Top 25 poll of the regular season, LSU vaulted from No. 11 to No. 8, marking the Tigers’ first top‑10 appearance since they were No. 4 after a 4‑0 start last year. The move reflects LSU’s dominant 51‑10 opening‑week win over Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s debut at Baton Rouge.
Poll highlights
Ohio State retained the No. 1 spot with a commanding lead, earning 46 of the 69 first‑place votes from the panel of writers and broadcasters. The remaining 23 votes were split among six other teams. Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Indiana each rose one position.
Oregon dropped from No. 2 to No. 6 after a 34‑27 victory over Boise State as a 25.5‑point favorite. Miami, Mississippi and Texas A&M rounded out the top ten alongside LSU.
Defending national champion Indiana received the second‑most first‑place votes (eight). LSU earned five, Notre Dame four, Oregon three, Texas two and Miami one.
Michigan’s surprise exit
Michigan fell out of the Top 25 after a 13‑12 win over Western Michigan that required a second‑chance Hail Mary pass. With one second added to the clock, quarterback Bryce Underwood launched a deep throw that was caught by JJ Buchanan for the decisive score.
The Wolverines’ drop marks the first time a team that had been ranked No. 16 or higher this season has fallen out of the poll after a win, a rarity not seen since at least 2008.
Other notable moves
Virginia earned a No. 25 ranking after a Week 0 triumph over North Carolina State, the program’s first regular‑season poll placement since 2005. Kansas State slipped from No. 17 to unranked after a win over an FCS opponent.
Louisville held onto No. 24 despite a 41‑38 loss to Mississippi, becoming the lowest‑ranked team since 2008 to remain in the Top 25 after a defeat.
Conference representation
The SEC dominates the poll with nine teams: Georgia (No. 2), Texas (No. 4), LSU (No. 8), Mississippi (No. 9), Texas A&M (No. 10), Oklahoma (No. 11), Alabama (No. 12), Tennessee (No. 18) and Missouri (No. 23). The Big Ten contributes seven teams, the ACC four, the Big 12 four, and independent Notre Dame sits at No. 3.
Upcoming marquee matchup
Ohio State, still atop the rankings, will face No. 4 Texas on Saturday in a high‑stakes showdown that could further reshape the early‑season landscape.
For fans and families across the nation, the poll underscores the excitement of a season where traditional powerhouses and emerging programs alike are battling for supremacy on the gridiron.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
