The college football landscape witnessed a significant shakeup in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, reflecting the thrilling upsets and standout performances from the opening weekend of the season. No. 21 Duke and No. 22 Colorado made notable appearances in the rankings, while No. 4 Florida State soared into the top five following a resounding victory over LSU in a marquee Week 1 matchup.
Georgia continued to hold the top spot in the poll, securing 58 first-place votes, while Michigan remained at No. 2 with two first-place votes. Alabama moved up to No. 3, setting the stage for a highly competitive top tier. Florida State made a significant leap, climbing four places and receiving the remaining three first-place votes after their impressive 45-24 win over LSU. This marks the Seminoles’ return to the top five for the first time since the beginning of the 2017 season, signaling their resurgence as a football powerhouse.
Rounding out the top five is Ohio State, ensuring a formidable presence in the early rankings. On the other hand, LSU experienced a nine-spot drop to No. 15, reflecting the impact of their loss to Florida State. Clemson, who faced an upset at the hands of Duke, tumbled 16 places to No. 25. TCU, which suffered defeat at the hands of Colorado, slipped out of the rankings entirely after beginning the preseason at No. 17.
Colorado’s remarkable victory as a three-touchdown underdog against TCU, in coach Deion Sanders’ debut, captured the spotlight and propelled the Buffaloes into the rankings for the first time since 2020. The Buffs’ program underwent a substantial transformation, welcoming nearly 90 new players, including 58 transfers. This revamped team secured an impressive 45-42 road victory against a program that played in the national title game the previous season.
The remainder of the top 10 includes USC at No. 6, followed by Penn State, Washington, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. Duke made headlines by concluding the Labor Day weekend with a stunning 28-7 victory over Clemson on Monday night, marking their first win against a top-10 ranked team since 1989. Under the leadership of coach Mike Elko in his second year, Duke, traditionally known for its basketball prowess, found a spot in the AP college football poll for the first time since 2018.
For Florida State, this achievement carries historical significance as well. Their last appearance in the preseason Top 25 dated back to 2018. The Seminoles, under coach Mike Norvell, have been on an upward trajectory, finishing the previous season at 10-3 and ranking No. 11 in the country. Their impressive victory over LSU marked a turning point, as it was their first win against a top-five ranked team since October 2014, when they defeated No. 5 Notre Dame at home.
The AP Top 25 poll sets the stage for an exciting college football season, as teams vie for supremacy and aim to build upon their early successes.
