Oregon was the unanimous choice for No. 1 in The Associated Press College Football Poll Sunday, strengthening its bid for the top spot in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s first rankings of the season.

The Ducks are No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third consecutive week, and are unanimous for the first time, following their 21-point road win over Michigan.

Georgia, which received a No. 1 vote last week, remained No. 2 after overcoming Carson Beck’s three interceptions and pulling away late to beat Florida.

Ohio State earned a one-spot promotion to No. 3 with its win at Penn Statethe Buckeyes’ eighth straight in the series. No. 4 Miami, who beat Dukeand No. 5 Texas, which was inactive, each moved up one spot. Penn State, which was in the top five in the previous four polls, slipped to No. 6.

The expansion of the CFP to 12 teams this season means that top teams’ losses to other top teams are not a disqualifying factor in the national championship race. The first rankings of the CFP season will be released on Tuesday and updated weekly until the bracket is announced on December 8.

Tennessee held on to its No. 7 spot despite battling into the fourth quarter against three-win Kentucky. winning 28-18.

Indiana climbed five spots to No. 8, its highest ranking since being No. 7 in 2020 — and the best in a non-pandemic season since the Hoosiers were No. 4 in their 1967 season at the Rose Bowl. THE Hoosiers beat Michigan State 47-10 on track to go 9-0 for the first time in program history; every win this season has been by double digits.

No. 9 BYU and No. 10 Notre Dame were inactive.

SMU wins 48-25 against Pittsburgh earned the Mustangs a promotion from #20 to #13. – the biggest upward movement this week. They haven’t been ranked this high since they were No. 3 on Oct. 1, 1985, two years before the NCAA imposed the “death penalty” that ended the program in 1987 for egregious rule violations . The school also chose not to field a team in 1988.

Voting points

Clemson and Iowa State, tied for 11th last week, suffered the biggest drops after losing at home. The Tigers fell eight places to 19th thanks to their 33-21 loss to Louisville. The Cyclones fell six spots to 17th with their 23-22 loss to Texas Tech. Texas A&M, Kansas State and Pittsburgh each fell five spots.

Army, at 18th, is in its highest ranking since it was 10th at midseason in 1960.

Boise State, at No. 12, posted its best ranking since it was No. 8 in the 2011 final poll.

Indiana edges out Notre Dame for the first time since the 1979 final poll, when the Hoosiers were No. 19 and the Irish were unranked. Schools are 200 miles apart in Indiana.

Entry and exit

Vanderbilt wins 17-7 at Auburn allowed the Commodores to return to the ballot, at No. 24, after a week of absence.

Louisville, which had been ranked every week in September, is back at No. 25 after its upset at Clemson.

Illinois, 24th last week, saw its seven-week run in the Top 25 end with its 25-17 loss to Minnesota at home.

Missouri, which appeared in the poll every week and ranked No. 6, withdrew after an open date. The Tigers clung to No. 25 last week despite a 34-0 loss to Alabama.

Conference call

SEC — 8 (No. 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 24).

ACC — 5 (No. 4, 13, 19, 23, 25).

Big Ten – 4 (No. 1, 3, 6, 8).

Big 12-4 (No. 9, 17, 21, 22).

AAC-1 (No. 18).

Mountain West — 1 (No. 12).

Pac-12-1 (No. 20).

Independent – ​​1 (No. 10).

Ranked vs Ranked

— No. 2 Georgia at No. 16 Mississippi: The Bulldogs haven’t visited Oxford since losing 45-14 there in 2016. Georgia routed Ole Miss 52-17 at home last year .

— No. 11 Alabama at No. 14 LSU: LSU’s 32-31 overtime win over ‘Bama ignited a storm on the field two years ago, the last time the Crimson Tide visited the Death Valley. Both teams just completed their open dates.

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