AP Poll Top 25: Iowa State football back in following convincing home win over Cincinnati

Cyclones jumped back into the latest rankings at No. 22 with two games remaining

Iowa State linebacker Jack Sadowsky V (33) celebrates with teammates during a win over Cincinnati Saturday night. / Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Iowa State football team is back in the AP Top 25, coming in at No. 22 following a win over Cincinnati at home. The victory for the Cyclones (8-2, 5-2) snapped a two-game losing skid that saw them fall from 10th to outside of the Top 25.

Matt Campbell’s team is one of several newcomers to the rankings this week including fellow Big 12 contender Arizona State, who is one spot ahead at No. 21. The highest-ranked conference team remains BYU, who fell seven spots to No. 14 following a home loss to Kansas, who has knocked off the Cyclones and Cougars in back-to-back weeks.

Kansas will have the chance to continue to play spoiler, as they meet Deion Sanders and 16th-ranked Colorado this week. 

Kansas State, who suffered another loss, fell from the Top 25. The Wildcats are the third team outside the rankings. 

Iowa State can keep its hopes for a spot in the conference title game alive with a win at Utah this week. The Cyclones close out the regular season back at home vs. Kansas State and need victories in both games along with a little help to reach Dallas in December. 

Oregon remained the unanimous No. 1 after surviving a scare at Wisconsin. They are one of just three undefeated teams left alongside fifth-ranked Indiana and No. 18 Army. 

Ohio State, who plays Indiana this week, is second followed by Texas and Penn State. Notre Dame moved up two spots to sixth, as did Alabama. Georgia, who topped Tennessee, is now eighth followed by SEC foes Ole Miss and the Volunteers. 

Here is the college football AP Poll Top 25 for Week 13 of the 2024 season:

Week 13 AP Poll Top 25

(Nov. 17, 2024)

1. Oregon (62)

2. Ohio State

3. Texas

4. Penn State

5. Indiana

6. Notre Dame

7. Alabama

8. Georgia

9. Ole Miss

10. Tennessee

11. Miami (Fla.)

12. Boise State

13. SMU

14. BYU

15. Texas A&M

16. Colorado

17. Clemson

18. Army

19. South Carolina

20. Tulane

21. Arizona State

22. Iowa State

23. UNLV

24. Illinois

25. Washington State

Dropped out: No. 20 Kansas State; No. 21 LSU; No. 22 Louisville; No. 24 Missouri.

Others receiving votes: Missouri 56; Memphis 38; Kansas State 36; Syracuse 21; Louisville 15; Pittsburgh 6; LSU 5; Louisiana 5; Vanderbilt 4; Colorado State 2; Duke 2; James Madison 2; Georgia Tech 1.

More Iowa State & Big 12 Analysis

*Three stars in Iowa State's win over Cincinnati including Stevo Klotz

*Complete game recap of Iowa State's win over Cincinnati

* Scouting the opponent: Get to know QB Brendan Sorsby

* Latest college football playoff rankings

* What Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield had to say about Cyclones

* Updated bowl projections for Iowa State, rest of Big 12

* Pair of ISU verbals compete in state football semifinals in Iowa