The Associated Press released its latest Top 25 college football poll on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, with Miami being the only team to maintain its previous ranking. In a week characterized by widespread movement, the Hurricanes held onto the No. 1 spot.
The rankings shift followed a week of play where multiple top-ranked programs saw changes to their positions. Ohio State moved up to No. 2, displacing BYU. The new rankings also saw Notre Dame move to No. 4, while Indiana was positioned at No. 6 following a 6-1 start.
Several other programs shifted positions in the top 25. Texas Tech was ranked No. 8 with a 6-0 record, followed by UCLA at No. 9 and Tennessee at No. 11. Alabama was positioned at No. 13 in the latest release, while Iowa occupied No. 15. The poll also included SMU at No. 23 and Northwestern at No. 24.
The AP Top 25 poll serves as a benchmark for team prestige, affecting the recruitment and media visibility of 134 Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs. For the students, alumni, and fans associated with these schools, these rankings are often viewed in relation to the likelihood of participating in the College Football Playoff (CFP). A higher ranking can lead to more lucrative bowl game invitations, which generate television revenue and ticket sales for the participating universities.
Teams ranked in the top 10 are frequently selected for nationally televised slots on networks like ABC, Fox, and CBS. Conversely, teams that fall in the rankings may see a shift in their projected postseason destination. The poll results underscore the volatility of the current season; the next update for these teams will occur as they face scheduled opponents in late October and early November. For now, Miami remains at the top, while the remaining 24 spots shifted based on weekly performance.