Hold on to your hats, college football fans – Texas might just be roaring back into contention after a heart-pounding victory that had everyone on the edge of their seats!
Picture this: the Texas Longhorns, facing a fierce comeback attempt from the Vanderbilt Commodores, who unleashed a staggering 21 points in the fourth quarter alone. But the Longhorns held firm, thanks in large part to the stellar play of quarterback Arch Manning. He threw for 328 yards and tossed three touchdowns, leading his team to a nail-biting 34-31 triumph. For those new to the game, a win like this – especially a close one against a scrappy opponent – can signal momentum and often propels teams up the rankings. And boy, did it pay off: Texas jumped seven spots in this week's AP Top 25 poll, which is basically the gold standard for ranking the best college football teams each week based on votes from sports writers and broadcasters across the country.
But here's where it gets really exciting – or chaotic, depending on your favorite team. While Ohio State and Indiana, the current powerhouses sitting at numbers one and two, cruised through their matchups without breaking a sweat (Ohio State defying expectations with their young talent, and Indiana continuing their surprising dominance under coach Curt Cignetti, who's rewriting the playbook for power conference teams), there were some shocking upsets elsewhere. Three teams that were once in the top 10 – Georgia Tech, Miami, and Vanderbilt – all stumbled. Georgia Tech and Miami fell to unranked foes, which is a real gut punch for playoff hopefuls, as seen in Miami's heartbreaking overtime interception that dashed their postseason dreams. Vanderbilt, of course, put up a valiant fight but couldn't quite pull off the miracle.
And this is the part most people miss: the coaching carousel is spinning wildly. Auburn shocked the college football world by firing head coach Hugh Freeze on Sunday after a disappointing loss to Kentucky, leaving their 4-5 record in the dust and raising big questions about program stability. On a brighter note for legends, Bill Belichick notched his first ACC victory with North Carolina over Syracuse, and he sounded optimistic about the future. Meanwhile, Utah capitalized on their College GameDay spotlight by demolishing Cincinnati 45-14, a blowout that showcased their defensive prowess and offensive firepower.
Needless to say, all this drama led to a massive reshuffling in the rankings. Some teams climbed high on the backs of strong performances, while others tumbled due to unexpected defeats. For instance, bold climbers like Oklahoma and Texas surged with seven-spot jumps each, proving that a single big win can change everything. But wait, losses hit hard too – Tennessee dropped a whopping nine places, and former top-10 squads like Miami and Georgia Tech each fell eight spots. Newcomer Washington Huskies burst into the top 25 for the first time this season, while Cincinnati slid out after that Utah thrashing.
Let's dive into the full latest AP Top 25 poll, complete with changes from last week to see who's hot and who's not:
- Ohio State Buckeyes (No change) – Steady at the top, living up to their powerhouse reputation.
- Indiana Hoosiers (No change) – Keeping the pressure on with flawless execution.
- Texas A&M Aggies (No change)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (No change)
- Georgia Bulldogs (No change)
- Oregon Ducks (No change)
- Ole Miss Rebels (No change)
- BYU (Up 2) – Momentum building in Provo.
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (Up 4) – Red Raiders raiding the rankings successfully.
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Up 2)
- Oklahoma Sooners (Up 7) – A massive leap that has Sooners fans buzzing.
- Virginia Cavaliers (Up 3)
- Texas Longhorns (Up 7) – The stars of this week's show, but is this rise sustainable?
- Louisville Cardinals (Up 2)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (Down 6) – A tough slide after that near-upset.
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Down 8) – Unranked loss stings.
- Utah Utes (Up 7) – GameDay magic worked wonders.
- Miami Hurricanes (Down 8) – Playoff hopes flickering.
- Missouri Tigers (No change)
- USC Trojans (Up 3)
- Michigan Wolverines (No change)
- Memphis Tigers (Up 3)
- Tennessee Volunteers (Down 9) – Ouch, that's a steep fall.
- Washington Huskies (New to Top 25) – Fresh blood shaking things up.
- Cincinnati Bearcats (Down 8)
Now, here's something that could spark some heated debates: firing a coach mid-season like Auburn did with Hugh Freeze – is it a bold move to salvage the year, or just panic that could doom them long-term? And with Texas climbing despite that close call, are the Longhorns truly 'back' in the national title conversation, or is this just a temporary blip? What do you think – does Arch Manning have what it takes to lead Texas to glory, or will these upsets expose bigger flaws in the top teams? Drop your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you're Team Texas Revival or skeptical of the hype!
For more thrilling college football coverage, check out Sports Illustrated's feed.
Published 28 Minutes Ago
MIKE KADLICK
Mike Kadlick contributes to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2024, he reported on the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and still does so for CLNS Media. He holds a master's degree in public relations from Boston University. When he's not analyzing games, Mike's out running marathons or indulging his passion for the perfect pizza slice.
