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College Football Top 10 Ranking: Big changes after wild weekend

ARI WASSERMAN headshotby: Ari Wasserman10/19/25AriWasserman
NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Vanderbilt
Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) runs with the ball against the Louisiana State Tigers during the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

It’s the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff. When the CFP committee starts releasing rankings later this season, they won’t be the end-all, be-all, given the new seeding rules for the 12-team field. However, the rankings are still enjoyable, and people will continue to argue over them. They still matter. 

So after every weekend, after the dust settles from the games, I’m going to unveil my updated top 10. This weekend saw four of my top 10 teams from a week ago lose, causing a major change in the ranking.

1. Ohio State (7-0)

After Miami lost to Louisville on Friday evening, there was a lot of online talk about “everybody stinks.” If you feel that way, you’re probably forgetting about Ohio State. A year after winning the national title, the Buckeyes look like by far the best team in college football. Some may push back because the Buckeyes’ key win over Texas looks less impressive and they haven’t had an overly daunting schedule, but just look at them. Quarterback Julian Sayin is painfully accurate and improving every week, they have (maybe) the two best receivers in the country and the defense is stifling. Ohio State shut out Wisconsin 34-0 on Saturday to remain unbeaten. Ohio State also doesn’t play another ranked team in the regular season.

2. Indiana (7-0)

Indiana liked what it saw from head coach Curt Cignetti so much that the Hoosiers backed it up with their wallet. Cignetti signed an eight-year contract this week that will pay him $11.6 million per year. Indiana’s first game after the new contract was a 38-13 win over Michigan State. Indiana will continually be doubted because, well, it’s Indiana, but the Hoosiers are the real deal. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw for 332 yards and four touchdowns against the Spartans as the Hoosiers kept rolling. Indiana will not play another ranked team for the remainder of the regular season, so get used to this placement.

3. Texas A&M (7-0)

Texas A&M is off to a 7-0 start under head coach Mike Elko. It has been time for the Aggies faithful to start believing this team may be different. While many in the fan base are waiting for something bad to happen to Texas A&M in SEC play, Elko’s squad just keeps winning. Most recently, Texas A&M took care of Arkansas on the road. It was an ugly 45-42 win, so if you’re an Aggie, you’re probably still not satisfied. But look at the remainder of its schedule. There isn’t a single team listed that the Aggies can’t beat. It’s becoming clear this team seems destined for a College Football Playoff berth.

4. Alabama (6-1)

Its season-opening loss to Florida State no longer defines Alabama. The Crimson Tide have proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that they are one of the four best teams in college football at the moment. Alabama beat Tennessee at home Saturday night, which makes four consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Ty Simpson is coming into his own, Ryan Williams‘ presence was felt, and the defense slammed the door on the Volunteers at the end of the first half, taking an interception 99 yards to the house as time expired to break open a close game. Alabama heads to South Carolina next week.

5. Georgia (6-1)

Georgia has given us plenty of reason to doubt this season, which is probably why one of the most bet teams in the country Saturday was Ole Miss. Georgia looked like it was going to go down for a second time this year, but it erased a nine-point deficit to the Rebels in the third quarter. Georgia scored 17 unanswered points in the first quarter to win 43-35, winning by a half point more than the 7.5 points Vegas gave the Rebels. Quarterback Gunner Stockton is a dog. He made great plays down the stretch to lift the Bulldogs when a loss seemed right around the corner. This Georgia team is not as good as some of the ones in the not-so-distant past, but it is proving every week that it can compete with anyone.

6. Miami (5-1)

Coming into the weekend, we thought Miami was one of the three best teams in college football. Then the Hurricanes laid an egg on Friday night, losing to Louisville at home. This Miami team was supposed to be different because of its front seven on defense and its offensive line. That wasn’t enough to overcome four Carson Beck interceptions. That said, Miami controls its own destiny to the College Football Playoff even if it doesn’t control it in the ACC race. Miami, on the right night, still feels like a team that can compete with anyone in the country. And that win over Notre Dame continues to prop up its resume.

7. Ole Miss (6-1)

Ole Miss scored touchdowns on each of its first five possessions against Georgia on Saturday. You’re not supposed to lose games like that. The Rebels, though, are still a very good team. They can score on anyone. Though the win over LSU is aging like milk, the Rebels have a pretty clear path to CFP contention. The teams remaining on their schedule are Oklahoma, South Carolina, The Citadel, Florida and Mississippi State. Lane Kiffin has to find a way to avoid losing to an inferior team, something Ole Miss was unable to do a year ago. 

8. Oregon (6-1)

A week removed from being humbled by Indiana, Oregon came out and played angry. Rutgers, unfortunately, was standing on the train tracks. The Ducks shot out to a 42-3 lead at halftime before winning the game 56-10. Oregon’s best win over Penn State isn’t even a ranked win anymore, and the Ducks don’t face another ranked team (as of now) for the rest of the year after USC’s loss to Notre Dame. Still, Dante Moore is the real deal, and the Ducks have good players everywhere.

9. Vanderbilt (6-1)

If Vanderbilt’s helmet was just about anyone else in the SEC, would it have taken this long for the Commodores to make the top 10? Probably not. But if you watch Clark Lea’s team play every week, you know there’s nothing flukey about what Vanderbilt is doing right now. It beat LSU on Saturday and the home fans didn’t rush the field. Why? Because Vanderbilt was the favorite and the better team. Diego Pavia is absolutely electric to watch. Vanderbilt still has Missouri, Auburn, Texas and Tennessee left on its schedule. Is there anyone you don’t believe the Commodores could beat?

10. Notre Dame

Notre Dame lost its first two games of the regular season and the Irish has to win its final 10 in a row to make the College Football Playoff. After a 34-24 win over a pesky USC team on Saturday night, Notre Dame has now won four in a row. If any team is capable of an impressive run to backdoor its way into the postseason, wouldn’t it be the Notre Dame team who did something similar last year? People were quick to dismiss Notre Dame after its rough start, but this is a really good football team. Expect them to keep stacking wins.