AP Top 25: Michigan, Texas gaining on No. 1 Georgia
Amidst a crescendo of questions as to whether Georgia is really the best team in college football, this week’s AP Top 25 poll lists the Bulldogs as No. 1 for a 16th consecutive time, although with a season-low of 35 of possible 62 first-place votes.
The two-time defending National Champion Dawgs needed a late touchdown drive to escape with a 27-20 win over Auburn and lost 20 first place votes compared to the previous week.
No. two Michigan received a dozen first-place votes and the No. 3 Texas Longhorns are stampeding into favor with 10 first place votes. The Wolverines blasted Nebraska, 45-7, and the Longhorns crushed Kansas, 40-14.
After a last-second win over No. 4 Ohio State didn't move and kept its spot at No. 4 while receiving one first-place vote. No. 5 Florida State received four first-place votes. Neither the Buckeyes nor Seminoles played in Week Five.
Week 6 promises to shake up the ratings with five games between Top 25 teams:
-No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 20 Kentucky
-No. 3 Texas vs. No. 12 Oklahoma
-No. 7 Washington vs No. 8 Oregon
-No. 10 Notre Dame at No. 25 Louisville
-No. 21 Missouri vs. No. 22 LSU
See details below including ratings, last weekend’s results, time and broadcast information on next games:
No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 1
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Auburn 27-20
That’s a fact: Before holding for Saturday’s close win, Georgia won seven straight against Auburn, the second-longest streak (Georgia won nine in a row between 1923 to 1931) by either team in a rivalry game played 128 times.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 20 Kentucky, 7 p.m., ESPN
No. 2 Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: 2
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Nebraska 45-7
That’s a fact: Michigan scored at least 30 points and allowed seven or fewer in all five of its games this year. The only other teams in the past 50 years to do that are Florida State in 1993 and Alabama in 1979 -- both won the national title.
Next: Saturday at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., NBC
No. 3 Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 3
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Kansas 40-14
That’s a fact: Texas racked up 661 total yards in the game, its most against a Big 12 opponent since joining the conference in 1996. The Longhorns also didn't punt for the first time against an AP Top 25 team since 2011.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 12 Oklahoma, noon, ABC
No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 4
Record:4-0
Week 5 result: Idle
That’s a fact: The Buckeyes stars have been delivering in the early going -- RB TreVeyon Henderson is averaging 6.7 yards per carry with five touchdowns, while Marvin Harrison Jr. is averaging 19.8 yards per reception.
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Maryland, noon, Fox
No. 5 Florida State Seminoles
Previous ranking: 5
Record:4-0
Week 5 result: Idle
That’s a fact: QB Jordan Travis passed for 1,028 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception through the Seminoles' first four games.
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m.
No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous ranking: 6
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Northwestern 41-13
That’s a fact: The Nittany Lions have won 10 consecutive games by 10 points or more.
Next: Oct. 14 vs. UMass, 3:30 p.m.
No. 7 Washington Huskies
Previous ranking: 7
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Arizona 31-24
That’s a fact: QB Michael Penix Jr. didn't throw a touchdown for the first time this season but the Huskies got four on the ground to hold off the Wildcats.
Next: Oct. 14 vs. No. 8 Oregon
No. 8 Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 9
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Stanford 42-6
That’s a fact: Oregon's point differential of plus-199 through five games is the best for a Pac-12 team since Oregon in 2013.
Next: Oct. 14 at No. 7 Washington
No. 9 USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 8
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Colorado 48-41
That’s a fact: The Trojans led wire to wire -- they remain the only FBS team not to trail this season -- while improving to 17-0 all time against the Buffaloes.
Next: Saturday vs. Arizona, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 11
Record:5-1
Week 5 result: Defeated Duke 21-14
That’s a fact: The Fighting Irish have won 30 consecutive regular-season games against ACC opponents.
Next: Saturday at No. 25 Louisville, 7:30 p.m., ABC
No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 12
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Defeated Mississippi State 40-17
That’s a fact: The Crimson Tide won their 16th straight against Mississippi State behind two rushing touchdowns from QB Jalen Milroe.
Next: Saturday at Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m., CBS
No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners
Previous ranking: 14
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Iowa State 50-20
That’s a fact: QB Dillon Gabriel finished with five total touchdowns, three passing and two rushing.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 3 Texas, noon, ABC
No. 13 Washington State Cougars
Previous ranking: 16
Record:4-0
Week 5 result: Idle
That’s a fact: Last week, Cam Ward became the first Pac-12 QB with four passing touchdowns and a rushing score in back-to-back games since Ryan Leaf in 1996.
Next: Oct. 7 at UCLA, 3 p.m., Pac-12 Network
No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous ranking: 15
Record:4-0
Week 5 result: Idle
That’s a fact: By running for a score last week against Pitt, Omarion Hampton scored a touchdown in every game this season and also already surpassed his touchdown total from a year ago.
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Syracuse, 3:30 p.m.
No. 15 Oregon State Beavers
Previous ranking: 19
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Defeated Utah 21-7
That’s a fact: The win was the Beavers' largest against a top-10 team in 22 years, while the seven points allowed were the fewest they've given up to a top-10 team since 1967.
Next: Saturday at Cal, 10 p.m., Pac-12 Network
No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 20
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Defeated LSU 55-49
That’s a fact: The Rebels finished with 706 total yards, their second most in an SEC contest, while their 55 points is the most they have scored against an AP Top-25 opponent.
Next: Saturday vs. Arkansas, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
No. 17 Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 18
Record:4-0
Week 5 result: Idle
That’s a fact: Tyler Van Dyke completed 74.7% of his passes this season, 11 for touchdowns. That's the highest completion percentage for an ACC quarterback with at least 10 TD passes in the season's first four games in the past 20 years.
Next: Oct. 7 vs. Georgia Tech, 8 p.m., ACC Network
No. 18 Utah Utes
Previous ranking: 10
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Lost to Oregon State 21-7
That’s a fact: The Utes have lost six consecutive games as an AP top-10 team, tied for the third-longest streak in poll history.
Next: Oct. 14 vs. Cal
No. 19 Duke Blue Devils
Previous ranking: 17
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Lost to Notre Dame 21-14
That’s a fact: Duke still has not won a matchup between AP-ranked teams since 1994.
Next: Oct. 14 vs. NC State
No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: NR
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Florida 33-14
That’s a fact: The Wildcats have won three in a row against Florida for the first time since 1948 to 1951.
Next: Saturday at No. 1 Georgia, 7 p.m., ESPN
No. 21 Missouri Tigers
Previous ranking: 23
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Vanderbilt 38-21
That’s a fact: Thus far, QB Brady Cook has 348 consecutive passes without an interception -- the longest streak in SEC history. (The FBS record is 444.)
Next: Saturday vs. No. 22 LSU, noon, ESPN
No. 22 Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 21
Record:4-1
Week 5 result: Defeated South Carolina 41-20
That’s a fact: The Vols enjoyed their second-largest margin of victory over the Gamecocks since 2000 thanks in part to their first defensive touchdown since 2021.
Next: Oct. 14 vs. Texas A&M
No. 23 LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 13
Record:3-2
Week 5 result: Lost to Ole Miss 55-49
That’s a fact: WR Brian Thomas Jr. finished with 124 receiving yards and a career-high three touchdown catches.
Next: Saturday at No. 21 Missouri, noon, ESPN
No. 24 Fresno State Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 25
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated Nevada 27-9
That’s a fact: The Bulldogs won their 14th straight game on Saturday, second to only Georgia in the FBS.
Next: Saturday at Wyoming, 8 p.m.
No. 25 Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: NR
Record:5-0
Week 5 result: Defeated NC State 13-10
That’s a fact: Louisville is now 5-0 for the first time since 2013, the year before the Cardinals joined the ACC, when they finished 12-1.
Next: Saturday vs. No. 10 Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., ABC