College Football Top 10 Ranking: Is Texas A&M one of the three best teams in the country?

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.

1. Ohio State (7-0)

Coming into the weekend, BetMGM had Ohio State’s odds of winning the national title set at +210. That’s an absurd number, given we’re still in October and this season has featured more parity than any season in recent memory. Do you know what that means? Ohio State is clearly the best team in college football. Though the Buckeyes’ biggest win over Texas no longer looks impressive, and the Buckeyes don’t face another ranked team for the rest of the season, no head coach wants to play this team.

2. Indiana (8-0)

Indiana faced a UCLA team that has been playing well over the past month. Many felt there was a chance UCLA, one of the fun stories of the 2025 season, could give the Hoosiers some problems. Nope. Curt Cignetti’s team did what it has done so many times since he took over before last season — blew out its opponent. The Hoosiers improved to 8-0 after beating UCLA 56-6, further illustrating the dominance, the general public has no choice but to accept it as legitimate.

3. Texas A&M (8-0)

Texas A&M fans were scared about watching their team go to LSU as a slight favorite. They are just waiting for the Aggies to turn into the Aggies of old. Nope. This is a different team —one that oozes speed and athleticism. Though Texas A&M trailed at halftime, it felt like the Aggies were giving the game away. In the second half, Texas A&M just blew the doors off the Tigers. Texas A&M, backed by star quarterback Marcel Reed, seems destined to make this year’s College Football Playoff.

4. Alabama (7-1)

For a while there, it looked like it was happening again. Alabama was down eight on the road at South Carolina late and it felt like the Crimson Tide were about to lose yet again to a double-digit underdog.
But Alabama put together a 14-play, 79-yard drive capped by a touchdown pass from Ty Simpson to Germie Bernard, got the two-point conversion and tied it. Then the Crimson Tide forced a fumble and Bernard ran in a game-winning touchdown to help them escape. Alabama has now won seven in a row since its shocking season-opening loss against Florida State. Win your clunkers. That’s what Alabama did. 

5. Georgia (6-1)

Georgia didn’t play Saturday, but its win over Ole Miss last weekend improved when the Rebels went to Norman and knocked off Oklahoma. Though you could put yourself in a pretzel playing the transitive property game and trying to make sense of all of these senseless results, the Bulldogs remain one of the favorites to win the SEC. Georgia was lucky to survive a few games with wins this year, but it continues to win behind quarterback Gunner Stockton, who is coming into his own down the stretch of this season.

6. Miami (6-1)

A few weeks ago, we felt Miami was one of the three best teams in college football. Then it lost at home to Louisville last Friday night. The Hurricanes had the good fortune of hosting Stanford on Saturday to take out their frustration on an overmatched opponent. After a slow start, Miami blew the doors of the Cardinal in the second half before winning 42-7. Miami doesn’t control its own destiny in the ACC, but it does in the CFP race.

7. Ole Miss (7-1)

After Ole Miss lost to Georgia last weekend, we spent the week wondering if the Rebels were overrated. They came into week nine with its most impressive win being LSU, a team that is trending in the wrong direction. Lane Kiffin‘s team responded well by going into Norman and beating Oklahoma, 34-26. Given what Ole Miss has remaining on its schedule, it seems like all but a certainty the Rebels are going to make the College Football Playoff. You can see why Kiffin is the top candidate for every big open job in America.

8. Oregon (7-1)

Oregon is a few weeks removed from a loss to Indiana, a result that has taken the Ducks out of the national conversation. Maybe once the public catches up to how good Indiana is this year, they’ll also realize that Oregon is still very much a national title contender. Oregon played Wisconsin on Saturday and won 21-7. Though it wasn’t the complete blowout we all anticipated, Oregon improved to 7-1. Its final four remaining games are against Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington. The Oregon-USC game may feel like a vintage big-time Pac-12 game in November. 

9. Vanderbilt (7-1)

Much like Indiana, Vanderbilt has taken the world by storm. How could a program that has been known as the joke of the SEC for so many years actually have a chance to win the conference? It’s a testament to what Clark Lea has built there. The Commodores picked up another impressive win Saturday, knocking off Mizzou at home, 17-10. Though it was unfortunate to see Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula leave the game prematurely with a serious leg injury, Vanderbilt has to be given credit for winning another SEC slugfest. It didn’t matter that Diego Pavia only completed 10 passes for 129 yards. Vandy got the win. Next up is Texas on the road, a game the Commodores absolutely can win as they fight for a conference title game berth. 

10. Notre Dame (5-2)

Notre Dame is the highest-ranked two-loss team in the country for a reason. The Irish got off to a rough start this year with consecutive losses to Miami and Texas A&M, but those two losses have proven to be more reasonable than we may have anticipated in the moment. Notre Dame responded by winning five consecutive games, most recently against a USC team with one of the best offenses in the country. There isn’t a single game Notre Dame will play for the remainder of the year as an underdog. It sits in an advantageous spot for a CFP berth if it finishes the season 10-2.