The first Associated Press Top 25 college football poll of the regular season delivered plenty of movement Tuesday, with LSU making one of the biggest jumps after a dominant Week 1 performance while Michigan fell completely out of the rankings despite winning its opener.
LSU Tigers climbed from No. 11 to No. 8 after an impressive 51-10 rout of Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s debut as the Tigers’ head coach. Meanwhile, Oregon slipped from No. 2 to No. 6 following a 34-27 victory over Boise State. At the top, Ohio State Buckeyes remained No. 1 by a wide margin heading into Saturday’s highly anticipated showdown against No. 4 Texas.
Ohio State Remains No. 1
Ohio State received 46 of the 69 first-place votes in the latest AP poll, giving the defending powerhouse a substantial advantage over the rest of the field. The other 23 first-place votes were spread among six teams. Defending national champion Indiana received eight first-place votes, while LSU earned five, Notre Dame four, Oregon three, Texas two and Miami one.
Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas and Indiana each moved up one spot, while Oregon’s drop from No. 2 to No. 6 was the biggest change among the teams near the top of the poll. The top 10 is rounded out by Miami at No. 7, LSU at No. 8, Ole Miss at No. 9 and Texas A&M at No. 10.
LSU Makes a Major Statement
LSU’s move into the top 10 comes after the Tigers overwhelmed Clemson 51-10 in one of the most impressive performances of the opening week.
The victory was especially significant because it marked Kiffin’s first game in charge at LSU. The Tigers entered the season surrounded by questions, including courtroom drama involving the eligibility of players seeking to return to college football after spending time in NFL training camps.
Once the game began, however, LSU quickly put those distractions aside. The Tigers dominated Clemson and immediately established themselves as one of the teams to watch in the national championship picture.
LSU’s jump to No. 8 gives the program its first top-10 ranking since it was ranked No. 4 after starting last season 4-0. The Tigers struggled afterward, going 3-6 over their final nine games, leading to Brian Kelly’s dismissal and Kiffin’s hiring away from Ole Miss.
Kiffin was brought to Baton Rouge with the task of restoring LSU to national prominence, and the opening-week victory provided an early indication that the Tigers could be headed in that direction.
Michigan Falls Out After Narrow Victory
One of the biggest surprises in the new poll was Michigan’s complete disappearance from the Top 25. The Wolverines entered the week ranked No. 16 but dropped out despite defeating Western Michigan 13-12 at home. Michigan needed an extraordinary sequence at the end of the game to escape with the victory.
After one second was restored to the clock, quarterback Bryce Underwood was given another opportunity to attempt a Hail Mary. His second chance found JJ Buchanan for the game-winning touchdown, allowing Michigan to avoid a stunning upset.
Despite the victory, the Wolverines’ offensive struggles were enough to send them out of the rankings. Michigan will now enter its upcoming matchup against No. 11 Oklahoma under considerably more pressure.
Oklahoma Moves Into the Top 11
Oklahoma moved into the No. 11 position after opening the season with a dominant 51-0 shutout of UTEP. The Sooners were previously just outside the top 10, but LSU’s rise pushed Oklahoma down one spot despite its impressive opening-week performance.
The upcoming Oklahoma-Michigan matchup would have carried significant national attention under different circumstances. Michigan’s narrow escape against Western Michigan, however, has raised questions about the Wolverines heading into the meeting.
Virginia Returns to the Rankings
Virginia was one of the biggest newcomers to the AP Top 25, entering the poll at No. 25 after an impressive Week 0 victory over NC State.
The ranking marks the Cavaliers’ first appearance in a first regular-season AP poll since 2005. Virginia finished last season ranked No. 16 in the final poll but received only one vote in the preseason rankings this year. Its strong opening performance has quickly changed that perception.
Louisville Makes History After Loss
Louisville remained No. 24 despite suffering a 41-38 loss to Ole Miss on a walk-off field goal. The Cardinals’ ability to remain ranked after losing was particularly notable because it marked the lowest-ranked team to stay in the AP Top 25 following a loss since at least 2008.
Louisville’s competitive performance against Ole Miss ultimately allowed the Cardinals to hold onto their spot in the rankings.
Seven Teams Receive First-Place Votes
The latest poll also featured an unusually wide distribution of first-place votes. Seven different teams received at least one first-place vote, matching the number from the 2016 preseason poll.
It was the most widespread distribution of first-place votes in a regular-season AP poll since seven teams received votes on Sept. 2, 2014.
The depth at the top of the rankings highlights how much uncertainty remains in the 2026 college football season, even with Ohio State maintaining a commanding position at No. 1.
Almost Every Ranked Team Wins
The opening week was also notable for the overall success of ranked teams. Of the 25 teams in the AP poll, 24 won during the week, marking the first time that had happened since Week 1 of the 2019 season.
With LSU making a major statement, Ohio State preparing for Texas and several other ranked teams moving up, the early season AP Top 25 has already provided plenty of drama.
The biggest question now is whether LSU can maintain its momentum and whether Michigan can rebound quickly enough to return to the rankings. With conference play approaching, the national championship picture is beginning to take shape.
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