The latest college football rankings have sparked a mix of excitement and disappointment all over the country. The Big 12 now has five teams in the Top 25 for the first time this season.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is celebrating its highest ranking in 88 years. LSU, on the other hand, has tumbled out of the poll after a string of losses, leading to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly.
The shake-up has fans and analysts buzzing, wondering what it all means for the rest of the season. Who knows—maybe this is just the beginning of the chaos.
The Big 12’s Resurgence
For the first time this season, the Big 12 has five teams in the Top 25. The last time the conference managed that was back on September 22, 2024.
The teams making the cut are:
- No. 13 Texas Tech
- No. 17 Cincinnati
- No. 22 Houston
- No. 24 Utah
- BYU, tied at No. 10 with Miami
Houston’s jump into the Top 25 stands out. The Cougars earned their spot after a gritty 24-16 win over then-No. 24 Arizona State.
That was their first road win against a ranked team since 2017. It’s also Houston’s first time in the Top 25 since the opening polls of 2022.
Vanderbilt’s Historic Climb
Vanderbilt is now sitting at No. 9, their highest ranking in nearly nine decades. Their 17-10 win over then-No. 15 Missouri pushed the Commodores to a 7-1 start.
The last time they started this well was back in 1941. That No. 9 spot is their best since 1937, when they briefly hit No. 7.
Vanderbilt’s season has been wild, with a program-record three regular-season wins over Top 25 teams. Fans and analysts can’t seem to stop talking about their unexpected run.
LSU’s Dramatic Fall
LSU’s season has gone off the rails. They were as high as No. 3 in September, but three losses in four games knocked them out of the Top 25.
Those defeats came from Mississippi, Vanderbilt, and a rough 24-point loss at home to Texas A&M. It’s the second year in a row LSU has dropped out of the rankings after a promising start.
Last season, they were at No. 8 before a three-game skid took them out. This year’s collapse led to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly, who’s reportedly owed $54 million in buyout money.
Negotiations over his exit are still ongoing, and it’s safe to say the situation’s a mess.
Top Six Teams Hold Steady
The top six teams didn’t budge this week. Ohio State is still at No. 1 for the ninth week straight.
The Buckeyes grabbed 53 first-place votes, putting them comfortably ahead. Here’s how the top six look right now:
- No. 1 Ohio State
- No. 2 Indiana
- No. 3 Texas A&M
- No. 4 Alabama
- No. 5 Georgia
- No. 6 Oregon
Indiana picked up 11 first-place votes, which is six more than last week. Texas A&M got one first-place vote, too.
Looks like these teams are in a solid position for the College Football Playoff—unless something wild happens soon.
Other Notable Movements
There were some other interesting shifts in the rankings. No. 7 Mississippi and No. 8 Georgia Tech swapped spots after some recent results.
No. 23 Southern California was idle after losing to Notre Dame, but they’ve got a tough one coming up at Nebraska.
No. 24 Utah made a statement by crushing Colorado 53-7. With Byrd Ficklin filling in for injured quarterback Devon Dampier, Utah ran for a whopping 422 of their 587 total yards.
That win helped Utah hang onto their Top 25 spot.
Memphis and Virginia Make Strides
Memphis bounced back from a loss to UAB with a tight 34-31 win over South Florida. That puts them in a four-way tie for third in the American Athletic Conference.
No. 15 Virginia’s also making noise, reaching their highest ranking since November 7, 2004, when they were No. 10. Both teams are moving up as the season heats up.
Looking Ahead
The college football season keeps rolling, and honestly, who knows what’s next? Fans are in for more wild games and, probably, some upsets nobody saw coming.
Vanderbilt and Houston are hoping to keep their momentum alive. Meanwhile, LSU is dealing with a bit of a shake-up and trying to find their footing with new leadership.
Want a deeper dive or just curious about the latest rankings? Check out the full article on the Daily Mail.
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