A couple of monster upsets sends Texas and Penn State out of our updated college football power rankings.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) | Last week: 1
The Buckeyes took care of business with a 42-3 win over Minnesota last week, and now they’ll hit the road to face No. 17 Illinois this weekend—in a matchup that actually hasn’t happened since 2017 due to the last meeting being canceled during the COVID-shortened season. After that, Ohio State’s only ranked opponent left on the schedule is rival Michigan.
2. Oregon Ducks (5-0) | Last week: 2
Oregon’s win over Penn State isn’t quite as impressive with the Nittany Lions losing again last week—but it was still a clutch performance by quarterback Dante Moore in double overtime. A bye will have the Ducks ready for Indiana in perhaps the biggest Big Ten clash left in the regular season.
3. Miami Hurricanes (5-0) | Last week: 3
Florida State battled to make it close late, but Miami won their first road game of the season, 28-22, and Carson Beck had his best game of the season with four passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Hurricanes will be in action next on October 17 versus Louisville, and they won’t be on the road again until November.
4. Texas A&M Aggies (5-0) | Last week: 5 (+1)
The Aggies were given a fight by Mississippi State last weekend, but they broke through in the fourth quarter of an eventual 31-9 victory. Rueben Owens led the way on offense (21 carries for 142 yards) with Le’Veon Moss dealing with an illness for much of the game, and Texas A&M is extremely balanced on offense.
5. Ole Miss (5-0) | Last week: 6 (+1)
Ole Miss is a 33.5-point favorite this week as they host Washington State, and we’ll see how Lane Kiffin handles the quarterback situation ahead of next weekend’s huge matchup versus Georgia.
6. Indiana Hoosiers (5-0) | Last week: 7 (+1)
Fernando Mendoza versus Dante Moore will be one of the top quarterback battles of 2025, and the Heisman race could become clearer by Saturday evening. Two years ago when he was the starter for Cal, Mendoza was on the wrong end of a 63-19 blowout at Autzen Stadium—but he’ll have an improved supporting cast this time around.
7. Alabama Crimson Tide (4-1) | Last week: 9 (+2)
Alabama was put on the ropes early against Vanderbilt with a 65-yard touchdown run putting them down 7-0 in the first quarter, but Ty Simpson and the offense eventually got rolling in a 30-14 win. The Crimson Tide is playing confident football heading into two more ranked matchups (@ No. 14 Missouri, vs. No. 12 Tennessee) over the next two weeks.
8. Georgia Bulldogs (4-1) | Last week: 10 (+2)
Georgia bounced back from their loss to Alabama last month by handily defeating Kentucky, and Chauncey Bowens led the backfield again with 15 carries for 70 yards—but it was quarterback Gunner Stockton and wideout Dillon Bell combining for four rushing touchdowns. Kirby Smart will make sure his guys aren’t overlooking Auburn this week.
9. Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) | Last week: NR
Star quarterback John Mateer (thumb) is pushing to play this week in the Red River Rivalry—but if not, sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. started last week and saw action last year as a freshman. One of his 2024 starts came in a 34-3 loss to the Longhorns, though, and a two-loss Texas team could be dangerous.
10. Texas Tech (5-0) | Last week: NR
Lost in the chaos of last week was Texas Tech getting a 35-11 road win against a previously unbeaten Houston team—with running backs J’Koby Williams (19 carries for 107 yards and two touchdowns) and Cameron Dickey (21 carries for 98 yards and a 69-yard touchdown catch) both going off. The Red Raiders have won every game this season by at least 24 points.