Ohio State Drops Out of Top 10 as UCLA and New Mexico Climb AP Poll
Ohio State fell out of the Associated Press Top 25 top 10 for the first time in five years, landing at No. 11 following a 30-18 loss to USC. The defeat marks the fourth consecutive week that a team ranked No. 1 or No. 2 has lost to an unranked opponent. Miami held the top spot for the third straight week after defeating North Carolina 38-35, while Georgia moved up to No. 2 ahead of a weekend slate featuring major top-tier matchups.
The latest rankings arrive just ahead of the College Football Playoff selection committee releasing its first official rankings of the season. Ohio State had remained inside the top 10 for 86 consecutive polls, not falling outside the threshold since Sept. 26, 2021, when the Buckeyes dipped briefly before returning immediately.
UCLA and New Mexico Reach Historic Milestones
UCLA climbed to No. 5 after shutting out Nevada 27-0 to improve to 8-0 under coach Bob Chesney. The ranking gives the Bruins their highest position since starting 6-0 at No. 4 in 2001. Meanwhile, New Mexico cracked the AP Top 25 for the first time in the program’s history, which dates back to 1892. The Lobos secured the No. 22 spot under coach Jason Eck following a 21-16 victory at San Jose State, marking the program’s first 7-1 start since 1982.
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At the top of the ballot, Miami received 62 of the 70 first-place votes from the media panel. Georgia secured seven first-place votes, and Utah claimed one vote to land at No. 3, matching its highest ranking since Oct. 18, 2015. Notre Dame and UCLA rounded out the top five.
Top-10 Showdowns Shape the Playoff Picture
Several marquee matchups highlight the upcoming schedule as ranked teams clash across multiple conferences. No. 1 Miami travels to face No. 4 Notre Dame in a matchup echoing their historic 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” game. No. 2 Georgia visits No. 12 Ole Miss as the Bulldogs seek to avenge a loss from the previous postseason, while No. 7 BYU meets No. 3 Utah in the Holy War with Big 12 command on the line.
Additional games carry heavy postseason implications as No. 10 Texas plays No. 19 Missouri in their first meeting as SEC members, and No. 9 Alabama faces No. 15 LSU in a battle for survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the first College Football Playoff rankings come out?
The College Football Playoff selection committee releases its first rankings of the season on Tuesday, following the release of the Sunday AP poll.
What historic milestone did New Mexico achieve in the poll?
New Mexico entered the AP rankings for the first time in program history at No. 22 following a 21-16 win at San Jose State, securing the Lobos’ first 7-1 start since 1982.
How long had Ohio State maintained its top-10 streak?
Ohio State had stayed inside the top 10 for 86 consecutive polls, maintaining its position since Sept. 26, 2021, before dropping to No. 11 after the loss to USC.