AP Top 25 has Oregon back at No. 5 as Miami leads ACC rankings

Oregon’s move up to No. 5 in this week’s Top 25 means the Ducks would play at home against the Group of Five representative in the first round of the College Football Playoff if the bracket were based on the latest poll.

The CFP committee will release its fourth rankings of the season Tuesday night.

▶ Read more about the AP Top 25 playoff predictions

After a relatively calm Week 13, rivalry week awaits and offers the final opportunity for contenders to make a case for the CFP.

Texas A&M and Georgia look to punch their tickets to Atlanta for the SEC championship game with wins against in-state foes Texas and Georgia Tech.

In the Big Ten, Michigan hosts No. 1 Ohio State. A win by the Wolverines could be enough for them to earn an at-large bid, but it’s a feat no team has accomplished this season.

Virginia aims to clinch an ACC Championship game appearance with a win against Virginia Tech, and SMU hopes for the same outcome against Cal. The door opens if either team loses, and eyes will turn to Miami vs. Pitt.

Michigan beat Maryland 45-20 this week, while USC dropped 42-27 to Oregon.

The combination helped move the Wolverines up a notch to fourth in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon. USC fell to fifth.

Michigan also moved up three spots in the AP Top 25, coming in at No. 15. The Wolverines await rival Ohio State. A win against the reigning National Champions and playoff front-runners could carry an under-the-radar Michigan team to the College Football Playoff.

Michigan has won their past four against the Buckeyes.

Can I call it a circus act?

The buildup to the season was monumental. The amount of eyes on UNC football heading into their Labor Day game vs. TCU was unbelievable. Chapel Hill WAS the epicenter of college football.

Say what you want about the off-the-field headlines. On the field, it’s been poor. It took them eight games to score more than 20 points vs. a P4 team AND win. The team did show some positive momentum in wins vs. Syracuse and Stanford.

However, they’re just undisciplined. In last night’s loss to Duke, they had 12 penalties. Three of them were for unsportsmanlike conduct. One was a personal foul. That doesn’t correlate with the idea of calling yourself the “33rd NFL team.”

I think the Tar Heels are going through a rough patch, like any program, when you have a new coaching staff and major roster turnover.

But when your head coach has won six Super Bowls, it’s not acceptable to miss a bowl game.

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

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Utah fell one spot in the rankings to No. 14 after narrowly escaping an upset loss to Kansas State on Saturday night.

The Utes scored two touchdowns and notched an interception in the final three minutes of the game to overcome a 10-point deficit and win it 51-47.

Utah was the second team out of the 12-team CFP bracket in Tuesday’s rankings. The committee ranked the Utes No. 12, but the projected fourth and fifth highest-ranked conference winners — Miami and Tulane — took over the No. 11 and 12 seeds.

It was the first game of the season. And a road contest. That was the only game of the season where they failed to score less than 20 points.

Since that loss, Bama has won three significant road games at Georgia, Mizzou and South Carolina.

If anything, the loss to Oklahoma hurt them because it makes their chances of getting to the SEC Title game MUCH harder.

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

Five ACC teams are featured in the AP Top 25 this week, which added SMU and Pitt to the rankings.

At No. 13, Miami holds the the ACC’s top spot, while Virginia trails at No. 17. Georgia Tech fell to No. 23, Pitt ranks No. 24 and SMU rounds out the rankings at No. 25.

Wins by SMU and Pitt knocked Houston and Missouri out of the rankings. Missouri lost to Oklahoma and Houston dropped to TCU.

I don’t think Texas is being punished.

Playing on the road vs. the reigning natty champs didn’t hurt the Longhorns. Losing to UF and then getting rocked by Georgia did.

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Ohio State running back CJ Donaldson is stopped by the Texas defense during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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Florida defensive back Devin Moore, right, breaks up a pass intended for Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

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Georgia wide receiver Noah Thomas (5) reacts during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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If you were to “remove” the Ohio State loss, Texas would still be 5-2 in SEC play, probably with a similar ranking.

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

Heating up: Oregon (5), Miami (13), Michigan (15), Texas (16), Virginia (17), Tennessee (18), James Madison (20), North Texas (21), Tulane (22), Pittsburgh (24), SMU (25).

Cooling down: Ole Miss (6), Texas Tech (7), Utah (14), USC (19), Georgia Tech (23).

Steady: Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Texas A&M (3), Georgia (4), Oklahoma (8), Notre Dame (9), Alabama (10), BYU (11), Vanderbilt (12).

Great question.

I think the expansion of a 12-team playoff has challenged the way voters rank. Strength of schedule matters. Where you play matters. How you win or lose matters.

Are there injuries? Was the game defined by the last play? Were there any really big penalties or blown calls?

A question I ask myself when I fill out my ballot is, “If Team A and B were to play, who would win?”

Here’s an example. If Oregon and Ole Miss were to meet on the field, I think Oregon would win. I ranked Oregon at 5 for multiple statistical reasons, but that’s a genuine thought when I’m in the process of ranking.

I think human subjectivity strengthens the poll because every single voter has a different perspective on the game.

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

You’re right! Your resume matters.

According to ESPN, BYU has the 6th strongest schedule. Does BYU deserve the playoff?

I think so. They’ve shown they win. They’re 5-1 on the road.

The loss to Texas Tech wasn’t pretty. I think it raised some eyebrows on the committee, but the win over Utah was HUGE.

Unfortunately, the Cougs are in a tough spot because whatever ACC team gets a bid could bump them out.

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

Team no sleep!!!!! Kidding, but not.

Usually my Saturdays begin with watching bits and pieces of College GameDay. Then I tune into as many games as possible.

Whether it’s at home, in the newsroom, on my phone or scrolling through scores while I attend a game in-person, it’s an all day long commitment.

Once I’m done with my own work assignment, I watch the late-night games. Work on my poll til about 3 a.m. Set my Sunday morning alarm 8:30 a.m. Snooze it once or twice. I work on my poll some more. Triple check everything.

Submit my ballot.

Feel a rush of anxiety.

Then do it all over again. Exciting, right?!

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

Oregon returned to the top five for the first time since early October, coming in at No. 5 after a win against USC.

The Ducks tied with Texas Tech at No. 6 in last week’s poll, but leapt over an idle Ole Miss this week. They overcame an early second quarter tie vs. USC, scoring consecutive touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead before the half.

The Ducks kept it rolling in the second half, matching USC’s two scores with two of their own to solidify a 42-27 win.

Ole Miss was bumped down to No. 6 and Texas Tech fell to No. 7.

1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
3. Texas A&M
4. Georgia
5. Oregon
6. Ole Miss
7. Texas Tech
8. Oklahoma
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. Vanderbilt
13. Miami (Fla.)
14. Utah
15. Michigan
16. Texas
17. Virginia
18. Tennessee
19. USC
20. James Madison
21. North Texas
22. Tulane
23. Georgia Tech
24. Pittsburgh
25. SMU

I had Oregon and Ole Miss at 5-6 last week, too! With Ole Miss being idle, I think Oregon made a statement in its win over USC. Oregon is 3-1 vs. ranked opponents. Ole Miss is 2-1.

Prior to yesterday, Oregon was one of two teams in the nation to have a TOP 12 offense and defense. The other being Indiana...which the Ducks’ lone loss is to. Both programs have had strong seasons.

We’ll see how they handle rivalry weekend!

Kate Rogerson is a sports anchor and reporter for ABC 11 WTVD in North Carolina. She’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 2023. You can follow her on X: @KateRogersonTV.

▶ Ask a voter and AP sports writers a question about the Top 25 poll

Tulane earned the highest ranking of any non-power conference team in last week’s CFP rankings, coming in at No. 24 overall and No. 12 seed in the playoff bracket.

Tulane kept its playoff hopes alive this week with a 37-13 win against Temple. The Green Wave is in position to clinch a spot in the American Conference championship game with a win next week.

North Texas and Navy are still in the running, too. Previously ranked Memphis and South Florida are out of the picture, with three losses apiece.

Georgia Tech could’ve clinched its first ACC championship game appearance since 2014 with a win over Pitt on Saturday, but the Yellow Jackets’ home finale went sour.

Pitt got off to a hot start with a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. Georgia Tech climbed back and cut the deficit to 35-28 in the fourth, but Pitt answered back with a late touchdown to solidify its 42-28 win.

The results benefit SMU and Virginia’s playoff chances. Either team could clinch a spot in the ACC championship game with a win next week.

Miami, Pitt and Georgia Tech still have a chance, but only SMU and Virginia control their own destiny.

Arch Manning became the first quarterback in SEC history with a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the same game as the Longhorns defeated Arkansas 52-37.

Manning developed momentum early, catching a trick-play touchdown pass from Parker Livingstone late in the first quarter.

Stock up: Oklahoma, Miami, Alabama, Oregon, Tulane, Michigan, Texas, Vanderbilt.

Stock down: Missouri, Georgia Tech, USC, Houston, Illinois.

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Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin plays against Rutgers during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

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Samford wide receiver Preston Bird (4) looks to turn the corner on a run against Texas A&M linebacker Jordan Lockhart (54) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

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Georgia running back Bo Walker (24) runs with the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Charlotte, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

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Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates with teammate Malachi Fields (0) after rushing for a touchdown during the first quarter of an NCAA football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

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Alabama linebacker Luke Metz (26) and defensive lineman Fatutoa Henry (14) tackle Eastern Illinois running back Chris Caldwell (20) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

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No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Georgia, No. 9 Notre Dame and No. 10 Alabama rolled past opponents on Saturday.

Ohio State overwhelmed Rutgers with a 42-9 win, while Texas A&M shut out Samford 48-0, Georgia rolled past Charlotte 35-3, Alabama defeated Eastern Illinois 56–0 and Notre Dame beat Syracuse 70-7.

Oregon and Oklahoma had more daunting matchups against ranked conference opponents. Oregon, which is tied with Texas Tech at No. 6, ended USC’s playoff hopes with a 42-27 victory. The Sooners’ dominant defense led to a 17-6 win over Missouri.

Indiana, Ole Miss and Texas Tech had the week off.

Sports reporter and Top 25 voter Kate Rogerson will answer fan questions before and after the latest rankings drop.

No organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than The Associated Press, since 1936.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they do choose the voters. AP Top 25 voters comprise around 60 writers and broadcasters who cover college football for AP members and other select outlets. The goal is to have every state with a Football Bowl Subdivision school represented by at least one voter.

Voting is a straight points system: A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote is worth 24 points, down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote.

Then it’s just a summary of which teams are 1-25 based on the totals. Others receiving votes are also noted.

Voting is done online, and the tabulation is automated.

▶ Read more about the history of the AP Top 25 poll and how it works