the real AP poll
1. Miami
2. Ohio State
Ohio State has won five in a row but they didn’t do anything this week to change their standing in the AP Poll. The Buckeyes had the week off and they’ll have to navigate, perhaps, the rest of the regular season without injured QB Julian Sayin.
The schedule only gets more difficult for this 6-1 squad. Ohio State has to face ranked opponents in USC and Northwestern and Oregon, Nebraska and Michigan also come to play.
3. Georgia
Georgia was another team that was on a bye following a loss. The former No. 1 team in the AP Poll seems like the best team in the SEC by default because they didn’t lose a second time and were out of the spotlight this weekend.
Coming out of the bye will be a matchup with Florida in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. The Gators have been up and down and also had the weekend off, but it seems like they’re back on the upswing, something Georgia hopes to be this week.
4. Indiana
Somehow, some way, Indiana beat Michigan in Ann Arbor 13-6 in overtime. QB Josh Hoover was severely limited with injury, per head coach Curt Cignetti, but we can at least talk about a top five team winning in the AP Poll.
The Wolverines missed two field goals, which ultimately helped the Hoosiers keep the game to a 6-6 tie going into overtime. Hoover scored the go-ahead, and winning, touchdown in overtime and the defense held Michigan to just 224 total yards and forced two turnovers.
5. Notre Dame
6. Utah
7. UCLA
Hey let’s not forget about UCLA, one of the few undefeated teams in the AP Poll. The Bruins beat Michigan State 28-10 at home but nearly lost backup QB Ty Dieffenbach to injury.
Still, he managed to return to the game and kept the UCLA train rolling. He threw for 198 yards and a touchdown while Anthony Woods, Wayne Knight and Jaivian Thomas combined for 39 carries for 209 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
8. BYU
9. Kentucky
10. Alabama
11. Texas
Welcome back Texas! That’s right, Texas is back folks and up a little higher in the AP Poll this weekend. In all seriousness, the Longhorns saved their CFP hopes with a 34-27 win over Ole Miss in Austin.
The run game came alive in the second half with Raleek Brown, who finished with 23 carries for 157 yards. Arch Manning wasn’t perfect, but threw for 212 yards, one touchdown, two picks and ran in two scores for the Longhorns, improving to 5-2 on the season and right back in the thick of the CFP picture.
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
That’s right folks, LSU is still here and ready to make a move in the SEC and within the CFP rankings coming next month. The Tigers trounced Auburn 38-17 on the road and Sam Leavitt is turning it up a notch at QB now.
Leavitt threw for 387 yards and three touchdowns in this one while running for 54 yards and a score. Dilin Jones added 92 yards and a touchdown on the ground as Lane Kiffin has this crew humming at 6-2.
16. Tennessee
17. Florida
Florida had the week off following their big win over Texas, 27-24. As said earlier in this AP Poll breakdown, the Gators will take on Georgia this coming weekend in must-see TV. Can Jon Sumrall earn another signature win?
Florida has Georgia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Florida State to end the season. Can they win out? Win four of five? Three of five? They will be a very interesting watch down the stretch, especially in November.
18. Houston
19. SMU
T20. Boise State
T20. Northwestern
Northwestern improved to 6-1 in what’s looking like their best season under David Braun and they’re ranked in the AP Poll for another week. The Wildcats dominated Rutgers at home 42-14 to become bowl eligible.
Aidan Chiles threw for 219 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and ran for 83 yards and two scores. Caleb Komolafe ran for 150 yards and a score as well. Northwestern will head to Oregon next weekend in what could be the start of a defining stretch.
22. Arizona
23. Missouri
24. Oklahoma State
25. Wisconsin
Wisconsin gets into the AP Poll with a 24-7 win over USC, which got bumped out this week. Luke Fickell came into 2026 needing a big year and well, they’re now 5-2 and ranked with five games to play.
A lot of ground and pound in this game as they ran for 142 yards and mustered only 200 yards of offense. Still, they limited USC to 241 yards of offense, including -17 rushing, and scored on a blocked field goal. The Badgers head to Iowa next weekend.
Others receiving votes in AP Poll: Iowa (5-2) 76, New Mexico (6-1) 41, Cincinnati (5-2) 11, Oregon State (5-2) 11, South Carolina (4-3) 8, Minnesota (5-2) 7, USC (6-2) 7, UTSA 1, Virginia Tech (6-2) 1
