AP Top 25: Texas returns to No. 1, Texas A&M bounces back after a big Week 6

It’s been a tumultuous week in the Associated Press college football polls, with Texas returning to No. 1 on Sunday after a one-week absence following Vanderbilt’s upset of Alabama.

The Commodores’ win as underdogs by more than three touchdowns dropped the Tide from No. 1 to No. loss at Wisconsin.

Texas, which had an open day, received 52 of 61 first-place votes and became the first team in two years to come out on top in three voting periods. The Longhorns were also the third team since 2008 to be voted No. 1 after not playing the day before.

Ohio State defeated Iowa for its fourth straight win, earning nine first-place votes and moving up to the No. 2 spot.

Oregon and Penn State each moved up three spots, with the Ducks reaching No. 3 and the Nittany Lions fourth. Georgia remained number 5.

Miami (Fla.), which came back from a 25-point second-half deficit to beat Cal, 39-38, moved up two spots to No.

The chaos didn’t end in Alabama.

Six of 18 AP Top 25 teams lost to unseeded opponents (33%), which is the highest mark since six of 16 (38%) lost in the first week of October 2020.

The Tide were among four teams in the top 11 to lose to unranked opponents – the first time that has happened since October 2017.

Tennessee lost to Arkansas and moved from No. 4 to No. 8. Michigan lost to Washington and moved from No. 10 to No. the first among the parties also received votes.

Texas A&M soundly beat Missouri at home in the only Top 25 game. That earned the Aggies a promotion from a tie for No. 25 to No.

The Big Ten dominates the top five, but the SEC maintains its hold on the top ten. No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon and No. 4 Penn State is booked by the SEC’s Texas and Georgia. The SEC also has Alabama, Tennessee and Ole Miss in the top ten.

Double-digit declines by Missouri, Michigan and USC marked the first time since Nov. 13, 2016, when three teams dropped 10 or more spots in the same poll. That week it happened to Auburn (8 to 18), Texas A&M (10 to 23) and North Carolina (15 to get votes).

The biggest movers were Texas A&M (25 to 15), Clemson (15 to 10) and Iowa State (16 to 11).

SMU (5-1) was rewarded for knocking off Louisville on the road and reentering the rankings at No. 25. The Mustangs have appeared in the Top 25 in all but one season (2022) since 2019. Louisville (3-2) lost. two out of three and out.

Pittsburgh beat North Carolina to start 5-0 for the first time since 1991 and enters the rankings at No. 22 for the first time in two years.

USC (3-2) lost its first three Big Ten games and is out, as is UNLV, whose first Top 25 appearance was marred by an overtime home loss to Syracuse.

SEC: 9 (Nos. 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, T-18, 21).

Big Ten: 6 (Nos. 2, 3, 4, T-18, 23, 24).

Big 12: 4 (Nos. T-11, 14, 16, T-18).

ACC: 4 (Nos. 6, 10, 22, 25).

Mountain West: 1 (No. 17).

Independence: 1 (No. 11).

Here are the full top 25:

1. Texas
2. State of Ohio
3. In Oregon
4. Penn State
5. Georgia
6. Miami (Fla.)
7. Alabama
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Clemson
T-11. Iowa State
T-11. Notre Dame
13. LSU
14. BYU
15. Texas A&M
16. Utah
17. Boise State
T-18. Kansas State
T-18. In Indiana
T-18. In Oklahoma
21. Missouri
22. Pittsburgh
23. Illinois
24. In Michigan
25. SMU

It is reported by the Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

---

---