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New Teams in AP Top 25 Poll: College Football Rankings Updated

The Arizona State Sun Devils Florida Gators fell out of the AP Top 25 Poll after suffering upset losses on Saturday. As a result, the No. 25 Missouri Tigers and No. 24 Auburn Tigers made their first appearance in the top-25 rankings while the USC Trojans remain unranked.
Charlie Viehl|
Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.
Sep 6, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

In this story:

USC TrojansGeorgia BulldogsOhio State BuckeyesTexas LonghornsOregon DucksNotre Dame Fighting IrishTennessee VolunteersFlorida GatorsLSU TigersTexas A&M AggiesGeorgia Southern EaglesPenn State Nittany LionsMiami (FL) HurricanesBYU CougarsAuburn TigersSouth Florida BullsArizona State Sun Devils

It was another exciting week of college football as previously-ranked No. 18 Oklahoma took down then-ranked No. 15 Michigan in the most anticipated matchup of the night. Some teams stumbled on Saturday, like Arizona State, Florida, and SMU, and all three programs fell out of the AP Top 25 Poll.

As a result, No. 25 Missouri and No. 24 Auburn are ranked while other programs like the BYU Cougars and USC Trojans remain on the outside looking in.

AP Top 25 Poll rankings college football Oklahoma Sooners Michigan Wolverines USC Trojans Lincoln Riley Big te
Sep 6, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) celebrates with head coach Brent Venables after the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

AP Top 25 Poll

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
3. LSU Tigers
4. Oregon Ducks
5. Miami Hurricanes
6. Georgia Bulldogs
7. Texas Longhorns
8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
9. Illinois Fighting Illinis
10. Florida State Seminoles
11. South Carolina Gamecocks
12. Clemson Tigers
13. Oklahoma Sooners
14. Iowa State Cyclones
15. Tennessee Volunteers
16. Texas A&M Aggies
17. Ole Miss Rebels
18. South Florida Bulls
19. Alabama Crimson Tide
20. Utah Utes
21. Texas Tech Red Raiders
22. Indiana Hoosiers
23. Michigan Wolverines
24. Auburn Tigers
25. Missouri Tigers

While USC and BYU all have legitimate arguments to be ranked inside the top-25, voters ranked USF after the upset win on the road over Florida instead of rewarding teams for cruising past opponents like Georgia Southern and Ball State.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) scrambles with the ball against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hil
Sep 6, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) scrambles with the ball against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Teams at the top of the AP Poll 25 remain unscathed as No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Miami, No. 6 Georgia, and No. 7 Texas all won their matchups.

If the Trojans are still unranked, the week 3 slate of college football could provide an opening in the top-25 for USC, with a number of ranked matchups scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13:
- No. 6 Georgia vs. No. 15 Tennessee
- No. 16 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 Notre Dame
- No. 18 USF vs. No. 5 Miami

MORE: What USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley Said About Clay Helton Before Georgia Southern Game

MORE: Should USC Trojans Be Insulted by Latest Coaches Poll Ranking?

MORE: USC Trojans' Four-Star Commit Braeden Jones Updates Recruitment

MORE: Former USC Trojans Star Wide Receiver Shines in Debut With New SEC Team

MORE: How Joe Mixon’s Injury Changes Everything for USC’s Woody Marks

USC Trojans No. 5 in ESPN's FPI

USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws a pass during the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagle
Sep 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws a pass during the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

While AP voters might not believe in USC and Trojans coach Lincoln Riley quite yet, ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) paints a drastically different picture. After week 2 ESPN's FPI has USC ranked as the No. 5 team in the country, making the Trojans the third-highest ranked Big Ten team behind Ohio State and Oregon.

ESPN's FPI also had Texas as the No. 1 team in the country despite losing the season opener to Ohio State. Now, the FPI has named Oregon the top team in the nation, most likely disagreeing with the AP Top 25 Poll again.

Top-25 Ranked by ESPN FPI (Week 2)

1. Oregon Ducks
2. Texas Longhorns
3. Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
5. USC Trojans
6. Georgia Bulldogs
7. Penn State Nittany Lions
8. Ole Miss Rebels
9. Tennessee Volunteers
10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
11. Auburn Tigers
12. Missouri Tigers
13. Utah Utes
14. Texas A&M Aggies
15. LSU Tigers
16. Indiana Hoosiers
17. BYU Cougars
18. Arkansas Razorbacks
19. TCU Horned Frogs
20. South Carolina Gamecocks
21. Miami Hurricanes
22. Oklahoma Sooners
23. Florida Gators
24. Illinois Fighting Illinis
25. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Published | Modified
Charlie Viehl
CHARLIE VIEHL

Charlie Viehl is the deputy editor for the Oregon Ducks, Colorado Buffaloes, and USC Trojans on SI. He has written hundreds of articles for SI and has covered events like the Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff Quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl. While pursuing a career in sports journalism, he is also a lifelong musician, holding a degree in Music and Philosophy from Boston College. A native of Pasadena, California, he covered sports across Los Angeles while at Loyola High School and edited the Gabelli Presidential Scholars Program’s magazine at BC. He is excited to bring his passion for storytelling and sports to fans of college athletics.

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