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Ohio State and Oregon Find Themselves Ranked at the Top of the College Football World Again

Originally posted on The Forkball | By Phillip Riggs | Last updated Sep 28, 2025 10:24 PM ET

A lot of ranked teams went down this week, including Penn State and Georgia. There are only 20 undefeated FBS teams remaining, so for the first time in the 2025 Power Rankings there are some teams with some losses in the top 25.

1. Ohio State (4-0) (Last Week #1) (Ranked #1 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Buckeyes broke out their same game play from their victory over Texas to take on Washington and the Huskies’ 22-game winning streak. They unleashed their defense, kept it simple and mistake-free on offense, and came away with the 24-6 win. Stars on the defensive line, Kayden McDonald and Caden Curry led the way with a combined eight tackles for a loss and five sacks. The Buckeyes return home to take on 4-1 Minnesota next week.

2. Oregon (5-0) (Last Week #4) (Ranked #2 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Oregon and Penn State played another classic. This one in it’s own way matched their Big Ten Championship battle in 2024. The Ducks came into one of the most hostile environments in college football and just slugged it out with Penn State. Oregon and Penn State are starting a new Big Ten rivalry that the Ducks have come out on top of in two huge games. The Ducks have this coming week off before hosting Indiana in another top ten matchup.

3. BYU (4-0) (Last Week #6) (Ranked #23 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

I really believe in this BYU team, but I may have them ranked too high. I gotta stick with my criteria, though, that a team that wins doesn’t drop or get jumped in my rankings. BYU may not be the third-best team in the country, but this is a resilient team with a ton of talent and an awesome head coach who just keeps making them better every week. This is the fourth time for Kalani Sitake to get BYU off to a 4-0 start. In the first three times, BYU went 11-1, 10-3, and 11-2.

4. Miami (4-0) (Last Week #7) (Ranked #3 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Hurricanes had the week off. They’ll hit the road next week to play at Florida State. Miami’s rival just lost a heartbreaker in double overtime, which could be partially because FSU was looking ahead to this huge matchup.

5. Iowa State (5-0) (Last Week #8) (Ranked #14 and #12 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Cyclones earned their second straight 5-0 start to a season and they did it by knocking Arizona from the ranks of the undefeated. ISU crushed Arizona, 39-14. Iowa State hits the road and heads to Cincinnati, Ohio this weekend. The Bearcats offense has found their footing and seems like they could shoot it out with anyone, even the favorite to win the Big 12 in Iowa State.

6. Indiana (5-0) (Last Week #9) (Ranked #8 and #9 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Big Ten is wild. Penn State and Oregon are developing a rivalry and Indiana is growing into a nationally relevant and good team under Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers blew Illinois out of the waters of the Wabash River last week, and slugged out a victory in a game of defense and toughness with their 20-15 win over Iowa. The Hoosiers have the coming week off before they hit the road to play Oregon out west in Eugene in what should be another good, top ten matchup.

7. Navy (4-0) (Last Week #10) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Navy built on their lead in the American Conference with a 21-13 win over Rice. The Midshipmen play Air Force next week, but their final five game stretch looks very daunting now. They’ll play currently undefeated North Texas, Notre Dame, resurgent USF, currently undefeated Memphis, and rival Army. Blake Horvath and Navy look prepared, though, and are still the favorite to get the Group of Five bid to the College Football Playoff.

8. Texas A&M (4-0) (Last Week #11) (Ranked #6 and #5 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Aggies are 4-0 for the first time since 2016, and have a strong case and I believe it is a true one that they are the best team in the SEC right now. Marcel Reed, Le’Veon Moss, Mario Craver, KC Concepcion lead a lethal offense and A&M has a swarming defense that overpowered Auburn. The Aggies won 16-10. Next, they host Mississippi State who is the most improved team in the nation.

9. Louisville (4-0) (Last Week #12) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Louisville stayed undefeated by beating Ohio River rival Pittsburgh. Pitt jumped out to a 17-0 lead early and looked to be poised to blow Louisville out of he Ohio River. But Jeff Brohm didn’t panic and neither did his team. Louisville kept fighting no matter what Pittsburgh did. The Cardinals just kept hammering away at the Panthers, shutting them out in the second half until Louisville was on top when the final gun sounded. Jeff Brohm and his ability is why I ranked Louisville early this year and why they will keep battling in the ACC.

10. Georgia Tech (5-0) (Last Week #15) (Ranked #17 and #16 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Despite a rocky start where they were down 17-3 at halftime, Georgia Tech held on to beat Wake Forest in overtime. They needed another big game from Haynes King that should help him stay in the Heisman race. King delivered with over 240 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. They’ll have this week off before welcoming Virginia Tech to Atlanta.

11. Texas Tech (4-0) (Last Week #16) (Ranked #11 and #14 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Texas Tech had this week off before they’ll travel to Houston to have a battle between West Texas and East Texas. The Red Raiders will probably be favored, but Willie Fritz and Houston much better than they were last year.

12. Oklahoma (4-0) (Last Week #17) (Ranked #5 and #8 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Oklahoma had week off but still took a haymaker to the nose. Heisman frontrunner John Mateer broke his hand against Auburn and it required surgery. Mateer could return in November, but the question is, will Oklahoma be able to keep their playoff hopes alive until he returns?

13. Houston (4-0) (Last Week #18) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

After barely scraping by Oregon State, I think I may have rated Houston too highly. No matter how it looks, any game you walk away from with a win is a good one, and any one you walk a way form undefeated is a great one. They are one of only 20 teams that are still undefeated going into October. That might not last very long, though, as Texas Tech, fresh off a bye week, comes to Houston in the Battle of West Texas vs. East Texas.

14. Maryland (4-0) (Last Week #19) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The Terps are a surprising team this year and had the week off. Their next game is a visit from the Washington Huskies, fresh off of their fight with Ohio State. A win over Washington would have Maryland one win away from bowl eligibility only five games into the season.

15. Vanderbilt (5-0) (Last Week #20) (Ranked #16 and #17 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

I thought Utah State could upset Vanderbilt because of how good USU’s offense is. Utah State scored plenty, but it was the Vanderbilt offense that shone the brightest in this game. The Commodores put up 55 points to beat USU by 20, 55-35. Vanderbilt will have to prove that they are now on another level when they visit Alabama, with the Tide coming off a big win and itching to avenge their loss in Nashville last year.

16. Ole Miss (5-0) (Last Week #21) (Ranked #4 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

I didn’t doubt Ole Miss this week, and they delivered with a 24-19 win over LSU. Lane Kiffin has always had them as competitive winners, but this season they look poised to get over that hump that stands between a good season and a great season. A playoff berth is a great season. If Ole Miss wins the six out of their last seven games that they will be favored in, then they are in. They have the week off before playing Washington State.

17. Missouri (5-0) (Last Week #23) (Ranked #19 and #18 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The final of the forgotten three of the SEC, Mizzou is having a quietly good season with quarterback Beau Pribula. Like Ole Miss and Vanderbilt though, they got do more than compete like they have in years past. Now, they’re at the win it phase, and they have that capability. They crushed UMass 42-6, and have a week off before they end their six-game homestand with a visit from Alabama.

18. Memphis (5-0) (Last Week #25) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Memphis is undefeated and thumped FAU 55-26 on Saturday. The Tigers are out to prove to the Big 12 that it was a mistake not to pick them up this past offseason and hopefully show the ACC why they should not make that mistake. Like Navy, South Florida, and North Texas, Memphis controls their own playoff destiny this year. Win the American Conference Championship and you’re almost a lock for a playoff berth.

19. North Texas (5-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Another solid team out of the American Conference, North Texas has a fantastic offense and because of how well their conference is playing this year, they have a shot at the College Football Playoff. They beat South Alabama 36-22 this week and have next week off before they play USF on October 10^th. That game will likely be decisive to the Mean Green’s playoff hopes.

20. UNLV (4-0) (Last Week Unranked) (Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Dan Mullen’s Rebels had this week off. The only undefeated team in the Mountain West, UNLV, will play their next game on the road against the Cowboys of Wyoming in Laramie.

21. Texas (3-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked #9 and #7 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

When your only loss was in Week 1, on the road, to the team now ranked #1 in the nation, that makes you the best one loss team. Texas has a lot of games left against solid teams to get themselves back to where they want to be. Texas has had back-to-back teams make it to the final four, so doubt them at your own peril. This week, they hit the road to play a wounded and therefore dangerous Florida in Gainesville.

22. Illinois (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked #22 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Illinois didn’t stay out of the top-25 for long. They had a shootout Saturday afternoon against USC. They rebounded from their horrible loss to Indiana with a 34-32 in over the Trojans. This win showed that Bret Bielema’s team is very much alive in the race for the Big Ten crown. Next they’ll go to the state of Indiana again, this time to play Purdue.

23. Virginia (4-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked # 24 and Unranked in the AP and Coaches Polls)

I know. A not-so-great NC State team beat Virginia. But they’re 3-2 and Virginia is 4-1 so that’s where I could stop the dominoes. 4-1 Virginia beat 3-1 Florida State, who beat 3-1 Alabama, who beat 3-1 Georgia, who beat 3-1 Tennessee, who beat 3-1 Mississippi State, who beat 3-1 Arizona State, who beat 3-1 TCU. These head-to-head matchups have to matter and be accounted for, even if they are a long line of dominoes.

24. Florida State (3-1) (Last Week #14) (Ranked #18 and #19 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

Florida State is the first team of the 2025 season to lose a game and stay in the top-25 of the Power Rankings. It’s partly because they are the front of that line of dominoes but also because their loss to Virginia and their win over Alabama are both in a great position to age very well for the Seminoles. Florida State, however, can’t rely on either of those when they host top-5 Miami this coming Saturday in Tallahassee.

25. Alabama (3-1) (Last Week Unranked) (Ranked #10 and #11 in the AP and Coaches Polls)

The tide snapped Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak and has, through some kind of voodoo, won 10 of the last 11 over the Dawgs. It will be interesting to see next week when they host Vanderbilt if the reports of the end of the Alabama dynasty have been greatly exaggerated or if they just still hold some kind of magic power over Georgia.