The third week of the college football season has concluded, leading to substantial shifts in the Associated Press (AP) Poll. Ole Miss secured a significant win against LSU in Oxford, elevating the Rebels to a spot in the Top 5. This game, featuring Lane Kiffin facing his former team, met high expectations and was among the most anticipated of recent times.
Mississippi State made a notable jump, entering the Top 25 at No. 24 after a road victory over South Carolina. Conversely, Texas A&M experienced the steepest drop, following an unexpected home loss to Kentucky. Mississippi State’s quarterback, Kamario Taylor, played a key role, maneuvering past South Carolina’s defensive players in the second half—a moment captured by Jeff Blake of Imagn Images.
The top three teams remain unchanged, with Texas holding first place, backed by its win over Ohio State in Week 2.
AP Top 25 for Week 3:
- Texas
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
- Indiana
- Miami (FL)
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- BYU
- LSU
- Texas Tech
- USC
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Louisville
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Oregon
- Florida
- SMU
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi State
- Houston
A prominent aspect of this week’s poll is the strong presence of SEC teams. Despite LSU’s loss to Ole Miss, the Tigers remain in the Top 10, contributing to half of the top 10 being SEC teams. With Florida and Mississippi State also securing Top 25 positions, the SEC boasts 10 ranked teams overall.
The Big Ten also has a strong showing with seven teams in the Top 25 as Week 4 approaches. This includes Oregon, coached by Dan Lanning, who prepared for a successful play during their game against Boise State, as shown in an image by Ali Gradischer.
Looking ahead to Week 4, several crucial matchups will influence College Football Playoff aspirations. Highlights include Tennessee hosting No. 1 Texas, Ole Miss traveling to Florida, LSU facing Texas A&M, Mississippi State playing Missouri, Iowa heading to Michigan, and USC vs. Oregon. These games are set to significantly impact the upcoming polls.
By Mark Harris for OutKick.