1. Texas (10–0)

The No. 1 Longhorns survive an instant classic, outlasting Alabama 53–51 in a shootout that showcased their explosive offense and clutch resilience. Texas remains undefeated and now gets a lighter assignment against Kent State.

2. Michigan (9–0)

Michigan stays perfect after a hard-fought 21–14 win over No. 17 UCLA. Their elite defense once again sealed the deal late. They take on Michigan State next in a rivalry matchup that could get tense early.

3. Florida (8–2)

The Gators keep their spot with a dominant 35–7 win over Georgia. Their defense suffocated the Bulldogs, and Florida appears fully recovered from earlier season stumbles. They now face No. 19 Auburn.

4. Notre Dame (10–0)

The Irish remain unbeaten after dropping 59 points on No. 10 SMU in a statement win. The offense is rolling at full capacity entering a matchup vs. Syracuse.

5. Clemson (8–1)

Clemson took care of Miami 42–35, winning a shootout that required several late stops. A major test awaits this week at No. 9 Duke, who is surging.

6. Nebraska (8–1)

Nebraska jumps from No. 8 to No. 6 after a gritty 21–18 road win over Michigan State. Their physical style continues to travel well. They next host No. 21 Washington.

7. Louisville (7–2)

The Cardinals climb five spots after a convincing 45–21 victory over Stanford. Their offense is hitting its stride at the perfect time as they head to North Carolina.

8. Wake Forest (8–1)

A steady riser, Wake improves from No. 9 to No. 8 following a 31–23 win over Virginia. Their balanced attack faces Army next.

9. Duke (7–2)

Duke leaps from No. 15 into the Top 10 after hammering Georgia Tech 38–14. The Blue Devils now get a marquee matchup hosting No. 5 Clemson in a game with playoff implications.

10. SMU (8–1)

SMU drops three spots after being overwhelmed by Notre Dame, 59–24. Their offense wasn’t able to keep pace with the Irish machine. They look to rebound against Virginia.

11. Penn State (8–3)

Penn State moves up six slots after a dominant 38–3 dismantling of Wisconsin. They draw Purdue next and could push back toward the Top 10 with another strong showing.

12. Tennessee (7–2)

A tough home loss to Texas A&M (37–22) knocks Tennessee down six spots. Their defense struggled to contain A&M and now must rebound against LSU in a crucial matchup that could determine their postseason positioning.

13. Indiana (6–3)

The Hoosiers continue their climb, moving up nine spots after an impressive 34–16 win over Northwestern. They face Minnesota next and look to further solidify themselves as a top-15 caliber squad.

14. Texas Tech (8–2)

A dominant 48–7 victory over West Virginia pushes the Red Raiders up nine spots. Their offense is clicking at the right time as they prepare for Arizona.

15. Florida State (6–3)

The Seminoles rise six positions after a strong 42–13 win over NC State. They head to Boston College looking to keep the momentum going.

16. Tulane (7–2)

A steady climber, Tulane improves eight spots following a 31–17 win over Navy. They travel to East Carolina this week with an opportunity to crack the top 15.

17. UCLA (8–2)

The Bruins slide down after a close 21–14 loss to No. 2 Michigan. Still firmly inside the Top 20, they head to Maryland.

18. Northwestern (8–2)

Their surprising season took a hit with a 34–16 loss to Indiana. The Wildcats now face a massive challenge at Ohio State.

19. Auburn (7–3)

Auburn tumbles nine spots after being dominated 42–13 by South Carolina. They now travel to No. 3 Florida in a must-win to stay relevant.

20. LSU (6–3)

The Tigers debut in the rankings following their recent success. Their first test as a ranked team? A showdown with Tennessee.

21. Washington (8–2)

The Huskies fall 10 spots after a stunning 24–21 upset loss to Vanderbilt. They attempt to rebound at No. 6 Nebraska.

22. USC (6–3)

USC’s defense was exposed in a 53–49 shootout loss to Maryland. They drop nine places and now face Oregon in another difficult matchup.

23. South Carolina (7–3)

A huge jump into the Top 25 after beating then-No. 19 Auburn 42–13. They host Mississippi State this week.

24. Texas A&M (6–3)

A&M enters the rankings after a statement 37–22 win at No. 12 Tennessee. Now they get Vanderbilt as they try to build on the momentum.

25. Bowling Green (8–1)

The Falcons make their first appearance following an 8–1 start. They travel to Miami University this week in hopes of climbing even further.

Top 11 Takeaways

• Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame remain unbeaten, separating themselves as the clear playoff front-runners.
• Duke and Louisville made major jumps after statement wins.
• SMU and Georgia Tech saw big setbacks, with SMU falling out of the playoff race.
• Nebraska and Wake Forest continue to climb steadily, proving to be dark-horse contenders.

Overall Takeaways

• Biggest Climbers: Indiana (+9), Texas Tech (+9), Tulane (+8), South Carolina (NR → 23), Texas A&M (NR → 24)
• Biggest Drops: USC (–9), Auburn (–9), Washington (–10), Tennessee (–6)
• New Ranked Teams: LSU, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Bowling Green
• Hottest Teams: Texas Tech, Tulane, South Carolina, Bowling Green
• Most Volatile Programs: Auburn, USC, Washington

The rankings showcase a league where late-season surges and surprise upsets are dramatically reshaping the playoff race week-to-week.