The Associated Press Top 25 has a new No. 1 for the second straight week. Miami claimed the top spot on Sunday, Oct. 18, after a weekend in which five of the top seven teams lost, the first time that has happened in the poll's 90-year history.
The Hurricanes edged rival Florida State in double overtime to stay unbeaten and took over for Georgia, which lasted just one week at No. 1 after falling to unranked Auburn at home. Miami received 40 of 70 first-place votes and sits just 22 points ahead of No. 2 BYU, which beat Notre Dame 28-24 as a 10.5-point underdog. The Cougars are off to a 6-0 start for the third straight year and hold their highest ranking since the 1984 national championship season.
Historic Upset Saturday Reshuffles the Rankings
According to FOX Sports, the chaos marked the first time in AP poll history that five of the top seven teams lost in a single week. Georgia became the second No. 1 in two weeks, joining Texas, to lose to an unranked opponent. Alabama dropped seven spots to No. 13 after losing at Tennessee, and Texas plummeted 12 spots to No. 19 following a home loss to Florida.
The last time the Nos. 1 and 2 teams lost in the same regular-season week was 2017, when Alabama fell to Auburn and Miami lost to Pittsburgh on Thanksgiving weekend. The last time unranked teams knocked off No. 1s in consecutive weeks was 1990.
CBS Sports noted that Ole Miss was the only top-10 team from last week to survive the weekend unscathed, and that the SEC no longer has an unbeaten team. The AP News also confirmed Miami's first No. 1 ranking since the 2002 season, which ended with a national championship game appearance against Ohio State.
Where the Iowa Hawkeyes Stand
Iowa checked in at No. 15 in this week's poll, staying in the hunt as the Big Ten race tightens. The Hawkeyes sit behind No. 3 Ohio State, No. 9 UCLA and ahead of No. 16 USC and No. 24 Northwestern among Big Ten teams. Indiana, which lost at home to Ohio State, held at No. 6 thanks to its 6-0 start, while the Buckeyes earned nine first-place votes and sit just 26 points behind BYU.
The shakeup comes after a historic upset Saturday that had Iowa fans eyeing a Top 15 spot, and the new rankings delivered. The movement also shook up college football championship odds after Week 7 chaos, with Miami, BYU and Ohio State now bunched tightly at the top.
SEC Takes a Rare Backseat
The Southeastern Conference still leads all leagues with nine ranked teams, including No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 11 Tennessee. But the league's top team now sits behind programs from every other power conference, something that last happened on Dec. 3, 2023, when Alabama was No. 5 behind Michigan, Washington, Texas and Florida State.
Miami is the first ACC team to hold the No. 1 spot since Clemson in 2020. Before that, no ACC program had been No. 1 since Florida State in 2014.
Winners and Losers in the New Poll
Florida returned at No. 20 after going into Austin and handing Texas its second straight loss. Arizona made its season debut at No. 25 with four straight double-digit wins since losing to BYU. Oklahoma State fell out after losing at Houston, and Mississippi State dropped from the rankings after a 31-0 loss at LSU.
UCLA cracked the top 10 for the first time this season, matching its highest ranking since 2022, while Houston landed at No. 14, its best showing since 2016. Texas Tech grabbed the remaining first-place vote at No. 8.
What's Next for the New No. 1
Miami hosts unranked Pittsburgh on Saturday, and history offers a warning. Unranked teams have not knocked off No. 1s in consecutive weeks since 1990, but Georgia and Texas both just did it in back-to-back weeks. No. 7 Ole Miss travels to No. 19 Texas, where the Longhorns could have a new quarterback under center, and No. 14 Houston visits unbeaten No. 10 Utah.
FAQ
Who is No. 1 in the AP Top 25 this week?
Miami is No. 1 for the first time since the 2002 season, earning 40 of 70 first-place votes after beating Florida State in double overtime.
Where is BYU ranked?
BYU is No. 2, its highest ranking since winning the 1984 national championship. The Cougars are 6-0 after beating Notre Dame 28-24.
Where did the Iowa Hawkeyes land?
Iowa is No. 15 in this week's AP Top 25, one of five ranked Big Ten teams.
How many top seven teams lost last week?
Five of the top seven teams lost, the first time that has happened in the AP poll's 90-year history.