Miami and SMU Surge as Alabama and Ole Miss Tumble in Chaotic College Football Weekend

Miami and SMU Surge as Alabama and Ole Miss Tumble in Chaotic College Football Weekend

What a weekend it was in college football! The Associated Press Top 25 poll saw a major shake-up on Sunday, with Alabama and Ole Miss falling out of the top 10, while Miami and SMU made their way in. The SEC chaos and upsets across the board have left fans buzzing and the playoff picture murkier than ever.

Oregon Holds Steady at No. 1

For the sixth consecutive week, Oregon remains the top team in the nation. The Ducks, the last unbeaten team in college football, continue to dominate the rankings. Behind them, Ohio State, Texas, and Penn State held firm in their respective spots, rounding out the top four.

Notre Dame Returns to the Top 5

The real movement began at No. 5, where Notre Dame made a triumphant return after a nine-game winning streak, capped off by a victory over Army. This marks the Irish’s first appearance in the top five since Week 2.

Miami and SMU Make Big Moves

At No. 8, Miami climbed three spots, while SMU made an even bigger leap, jumping four places to No. 9. This is SMU’s first top-10 ranking since 1985, and they’ve already secured a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. If Miami can defeat Syracuse this week, the two teams will face off for the conference crown. Otherwise, No. 12 Clemson could step in.

Indiana Falls, SEC Takes a Hit

Meanwhile, Indiana dropped from No. 5 to No. 10 after a crushing 38-15 loss to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are now poised to face Oregon in the Big Ten championship game—if they can finally beat Michigan this Saturday, breaking a four-year losing streak.

The SEC’s playoff hopes took a significant blow this weekend. Alabama, a double-digit favorite, fell 24-3 to Oklahoma, while Ole Miss lost 24-17 to Florida. Both teams dropped six spots in the rankings, with Alabama landing at No. 13 and Ole Miss at No. 15.

Adding to the SEC’s woes, Texas A&M suffered a heartbreaking 43-41 loss to Auburn in four overtimes. The Aggies fell five spots to No. 20 but still have a shot at the SEC championship game if they can upset Texas this week.

Big 12 Drama and Group of Five Highlights

Losses by BYU and Colorado have created a four-way tie atop the Big 12 standings. No. 14 Arizona State, a team picked to finish last in the conference, now leads the pack. If the tie holds, Arizona State will face No. 17 Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game.

In the Group of Five, No. 11 Boise State leads the way, followed by No. 18 Tulane, No. 21 UNLV, and No. 25 Army. Boise State’s ranking is its highest since 2011, while Arizona State is enjoying its best ranking since 2014.

Key Matchups to Watch

• No. 16 South Carolina at No. 12 Clemson: This is the first Top 25 matchup between these two rivals since 2013. Clemson won last year’s meeting 16-7.
• No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M: The stakes couldn’t be higher for this rivalry game. The winner will advance to the SEC title game.

Poll Points

Oregon continues to dominate as the consensus No. 1 team for the fourth straight week. If they beat Washington this Saturday, they’ll finish the regular season unbeaten for the first time since 2010.

Indiana-Ohio State marked the final top-five matchup of the regular season, bringing the total to five this year—the most since 1996.

Who’s In, Who’s Out

No. 24 Missouri re-entered the rankings after a 39-20 win over Mississippi State. Meanwhile, Oregon State knocked Washington State out of the Top 25 with a 41-38 victory.

Conference Breakdown

Here’s how the Top 25 shakes out by conference:

• SEC: 8 teams (Nos. 3, 6, 7, 13, 15, 16, 20, 24)
• Big Ten: 5 teams (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 10, 22)
• Big 12: 4 teams (Nos. 14, 17, 19, 23)
• ACC: 3 teams (Nos. 8, 9, 12)
• AAC: 2 teams (Nos. 18, 25)
• Mountain West: 2 teams (Nos. 11, 21)
• Independent: 1 team (No. 5)