The first regular-season AP Top 25 college football poll has been released, bringing changes for several teams. While some teams saw movement, five programs maintained their preseason rankings.
Week 1 Highlights
The Week 1 games might not have been the most exciting, but they did influence the rankings significantly. Teams like LSU sent strong messages, whereas Michigan’s performance left voters puzzled.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Devin McCuin #3 is captured during the match between Ohio State Buckeyes and Ball State Cardinals at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on September 5, 2026.
Week 1 AP Top 25 Poll:
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Texas
- Indiana
- Oregon
- Miami (FL)
- LSU
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Texas Tech
- USC
- BYU
- Penn State
- SMU
- Tennessee
- Washington
- Utah
- Iowa
- Houston
- Missouri
- Louisville
- Virginia
The SEC teams had an impressive start, going 16-0 in Week 1, potentially indicating the conference’s dominance in college football.
Rankings Movements
Virginia entered the poll as the only new team this week. LSU and Michigan, on the other hand, experienced significant shifts. LSU’s decisive 51-10 victory over Clemson, marking the beginning of Lane Kiffin’s era, boosted them three spots in the rankings.
LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin observed on the sidelines during the game against Clemson Tigers at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 5, 2026.
Conversely, Michigan’s lackluster 13-12 win over Western Michigan, aided by additional time and a critical touchdown, pushed them out of the Top 25 after starting at 16th.
Oregon managed to beat Boise State 34-27 but fell four spots from No. 2 due to the unexpected struggle. SMU climbed two spots following their narrow 27-24 triumph at Florida State, while Washington also dropped in the rankings after a sluggish 24-10 victory over Washington State in the Apple Cup.
Reaction and Surprises
Despite the shifting ranks, the poll this week offered no surprises. Many teams still have only played one game, bringing some stability during this typically over-reactive period.
Michigan continues to garner attention with 69 votes for ranking consideration, and Western Michigan also received 12 votes.
Mark Harris reports for OutKick, a source for sports coverage.