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AP college football poll response: What’s next for each Top 25 team?

The new AP Top 25 college football poll is out. And a Saturday full of upsets – four top 11 teams lost to unranked foes – means a major shake-up in the new rankings.

Last week’s No. 1 seed Alabama was stunned by Vanderbilt, the Commodores’ first win over a top-five team in 61 tries and their first win over Alabama since 1984. No. 4 Tennessee lost at Arkansas, No. 10 Michigan lost to Washington and No. 11 USC lost in Minnesota.

Elsewhere, Texas A&M made a big statement after clinching the No. 25 spot last week. The Aggies then routed No. 9 Missouri 41-10 to skyrocket the rankings.

What does all this mean for the new AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Statistics courtesy of ESPN Research.

Always Oriental

Previous ranking: 2

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas), 3:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 3

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Defeated Iowa 35-7

Stand to know: Jeremiah Smith is the first true freshman in Ohio State history with a receiving touchdown in five straight games.

What’s next: Saturday in Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC


Previous ranking: 6

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Defeated Michigan State 31-10

Stand to know: QB Dillon Gabriel threw two touchdown passes, giving him 136 for his career and making him third in FBS history behind only Case Keenum (155) and Kellen Moore (142).

What’s next: Saturday vs. Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., NBC


Previous ranking: 7

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Defeated UCLA 27-11

Stand to know: The Nittany Lions are the only FBS team to start 4-0 in each of the past five seasons.

What’s next: Saturday at USC, 3:30 p.m., CBS


Previous ranking: 5

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Defeated Auburn 31-13

Stand to know: The Dawgs ran their winning streak at home to 27 games – the longest active streak in the FBS – and their winning streak against unranked teams to 37, the second-longest active streak in the FBS.


Previous ranking: 8

2024 record: 6-0

Result week 6: Defeated Cal 39-38

Stand to know: The Hurricanes fell behind 35-10 in the second half before storming back for a last-minute win.

What’s next: Oct. 19 in Louisville


Previous ranking: 1

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Lost to Vanderbilt 40-35

Stand to know: The Tide become the first top-ranked team since 1960 Minnesota to lose to an unranked team the week after beating a top-two team.

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina, noon, ABC/ESPN+


Previous ranking: 4

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Lost to Arkansas 19-14

Stand to know: The Vols’ 14 points were their fewest in a game against an unranked opponent since 2020, as Josh Heupel’s team lost a conference game for the first time since 2017 when he entered the fourth quarter as the leader.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Florida, 7 p.m., ESPN


Previous ranking: 12

2024 record: 5-1

Result week 6: Defeated South Carolina 27-3

Stand to know: JJ Pegues had two rushing touchdowns for Ole Miss, giving him four this season, the most for an SEC defensive lineman in the past 20 years.

What’s next: Saturday at LSU, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+

What’s next: Saturday vs. Mississippi State, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network


Previous ranking: 15

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Defeated Florida State 29-13

Stand to know: With the win, Dabo Swinney now has 174 career wins in the ACC, passing Bobby Bowden for the most in league history.

What’s next: Saturday at Wake Forest, noon, ESPN


Previous ranking: 16

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Defeated Baylor 43-21

Stand to know: The Cyclones are 5-0 for the first time since 1980 and have allowed just 50 points this season.

What’s next: Saturday in West Virginia, 8 p.m., Fox


Previous ranking: 14

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Stanford, 3:30 p.m., NBC


Previous ranking: 13

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Ole Miss, 7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+


Previous ranking: 17

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arizona, 4 p.m., Fox


Previous ranking: 25

2024 record: 5-1

Result week 6: Defeated Missouri 41-10

Stand to know: The Aggies’ 31-point win was the largest win over a top 10 team in program history.

What’s next: October 19 at Mississippi State


Previous ranking: 18

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Friday at Arizona State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN


Previous ranking: 21

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Defeated Utah State 62-30

Stand to know: Ashton Jeanty is only the third FBS player since 1990 with more than 1,000 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns through his team’s first five games, joining Buffalo’s Jaret Patterson and Texas’ Ricky Williams.

What’s next: Saturday in Hawaii, 11 p.m., CBSSN


Previous ranking: 20

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday in Colorado, 10:15 p.m., ESPN


Previous ranking: 23

2024 record: 6-0

Result week 6: Defeated Northwestern-41-24

Stand to know: The Hoosiers improved to 6-0 for only the second time in school history (1967) and scored 40 or more points for the fifth straight game for the first time ever.

What’s next: October 19 vs. Nebraska


Previous ranking: 19

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas (in Dallas), 3:30 p.m., ABC


Previous ranking: 9

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Lost to Texas A&M 41-10

Stand to know: The Tigers entered Week 6 with the SEC’s fourth-best run defense, allowing just 92 yards per game and one score. The Aggies ran for 236 yards and five scores.

What’s next: Saturday at UMass, noon, ESPN2


Previous ranking: NO

2024 record: 5-0

Result week 6: Defeated North Carolina 34-24

Stand to know: QB Eli Holstein threw three touchdown passes in the win, the fifth straight time he has reached that mark, tying Kenny Pickett for the longest streak in 20 years at Pitt.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Cal, 3:30 p.m


Previous ranking: 24

2024 record: 4-1

Result week 6: Inactive

What’s next: Saturday vs. Purdue, 3:30 p.m., FS1


Previous ranking: 10

2024 record: 4-2

Result week 6: Lost to Washington 27-17

Stand to know: The Wolverines have just 690 passing yards this season, the fewest of any Big Ten team through the first six games in the last 20 years.

What’s next: October 19 in Illinois


Previous ranking: NO

2024 record: 5-1

Result week 6: Defeated Louisville 34-27

Stand to know: The Mustangs have now won seven road games in a row.

What’s next: October 19 at Stanford