2025 College Football Rankings Week 3: Ohio State Stays No. 1, Oklahoma Surges, South Florida Crashes Top 25

Reigning national champion Ohio State (2-0) crushed Grambling on Saturday, September 7, paying a $1 million guarantee to host the game. Freshman quarterback Julian Sayin looked sharp, opening 16-for-16 and finishing 18-of-19 for 306 yards with four touchdowns. Star wideout Jeremiah Smith added an 87-yard score in the first quarter. The Buckeyes have now outscored opponents 84-7 through two games.

This is Ryan Day’s team’s second straight week to hold the No. 1 ranking. Ohio State hasn’t lost to a non-conference opponent since 2021.

Ducks Fly Past Georgia Into No. 2

Oregon (2-0) jumps to No. 2 after demolishing Oklahoma State 69-3 in what became the Cowboys’ worst loss since 1907. The Ducks led 41-3 at halftime with 473 total yards already on the board. Quarterback Dante Moore completed 16 of 21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Oregon scored 59 against Montana State last week, marking 128 points over two games.

Pollsters rewarded that performance, moving Oregon ahead of Georgia despite the Bulldogs also being 2-0.

Georgia and LSU Round Out the Top Four

Georgia (2-0) slides to No. 3 after a 28-6 win over Austin Peay. Quarterback Gunner Stockton went 26-of-34 for 227 yards. Colbie Young caught seven passes for 76 yards. Georgia paid Austin Peay a $550,000 guarantee for the game, but did little to impress voters on offense, which explains the two-spot drop.

LSU (2-0) stays at No. 4 following a 23-7 victory over Louisiana Tech. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to 154 total yards and just three third-down conversions on 13 attempts. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 237 yards and a touchdown but needed 45 attempts.

Texas, Miami, Oklahoma Fill Out the Top Seven

Texas (1-1) rebounds to No. 5 after a 38-7 win over San Jose State. Arch Manning started 8-of-11 for 153 yards with four touchdowns and finished with 295 yards and five total scores. The Longhorns led 28-0 early in the second quarter.

Miami (2-0) stays at No. 6 following a 45-3 dismantling of Bethune-Cookman. Carson Beck completed 22-of-24 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns as the Hurricanes rolled up 538 yards of offense.

Oklahoma (2-0) is the week’s biggest riser at No. 7 after beating Michigan 24-13. Quarterback John Mateer threw for 270 yards and a touchdown while adding 74 rushing yards and two scores. The Sooners’ defense limited freshman star Bryce Underwood to 9-of-24 passing for 142 yards.

Penn State, Clemson, Notre Dame in the Top 10

Penn State (2-0) sits at No. 8 after blanking Florida International 34-0. Kaytron Allen ran for 144 yards and a touchdown. The Nittany Lions have yet to face a Power Four opponent, but meet defending Big Ten champion Oregon later this month.

Clemson (1-1) climbs back to No. 9 following a 27-16 comeback win over Troy. The Tigers erased a 16-0 deficit behind 107 yards, two touchdown catches from Bryant Wesco, and 112 rushing yards from Adam Randall.

After an idle week, Notre Dame (0-1) holds at No. 10.

Indiana, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri Stack Wins

Indiana (2-0) moves to No. 11 after a 56-9 victory over Kennesaw State, rushing for 313 yards at 8 yards per carry. The Hoosiers paid the Owls $1.3 million for the matchup.

Tennessee (2-0) jumps to No. 12 after scoring 72 on East Tennessee State. Quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns, while wideouts Chris Brazzell and Mike Matthews combined for 236 receiving yards and three scores.

Ole Miss (2-0) edges Kentucky 30-23 behind Kewan Lacy’s second straight 100-yard rushing game. Missouri (2-0) debuts at No. 14 after beating Kansas 42-31 behind quarterback Beau Pribula’s 334-yard, three-touchdown passing effort.

Alabama Back in the Poll at No. 22

Alabama (1-1) re-enters the Top 25 at No. 22 after a 73-0 blowout of UL Monroe. Quarterback Ty Simpson set a school record by completing 17 straight passes and finished with 226 yards and three touchdowns. UL Monroe collected a $1.925 million guarantee for the game. The Crimson Tide had dropped out of the poll after losing to Florida State in the opener.

South Florida Crashes the Rankings at No. 21

South Florida (2-0) is the biggest story outside the top 10. The Bulls defeated Florida 18-16 on the road, becoming the only team in the nation with two wins over AP Top 25 opponents in 2025. USF also dominated Boise State in its opener. Florida paid USF $500,000 for Saturday’s game.

Biggest Movers in Week 2

Arizona State drops out after a stunning loss at Mississippi State. Florida falls out after losing at home to USF, a defeat that could put head coach Billy Napier on the hot seat. Tennessee rises seven spots after scoring 72 points. Clemson slips four despite its win. Georgia drops two spots to No. 3, while Oregon’s 69-3 demolition vaults it to No. 2.