Five Big Ten Teams Remain in Associated Press, Coaches Top 25 Polls

The Big Ten Conference remained in the driver's seat in the latest USA Today Coaches and Associated Press top 25s. The SEC saw two of its programs fall out of the top 10 after monumental upsets Saturday.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer celebrates a sack during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Ohio State won 38-15. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Big Ten Conference survived another week at the top of the college football world and remains with four teams in the top 10 of this week's USA Today Coaches and Associated Press polls.

After its bye week, No. 1 Oregon (11-0, 8-0 B1G) continued its hold as the top overall team in the country. The Ducks avoided the national chaos that overthrew three top-10 teams, as Indiana, Ole Miss and Alabama all suffered losses, dropping them in the rankings.

The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1 B1G) fell at Ohio State 38-15 for their first loss of the season. The defeat knocked the Hoosiers back five spots to No. 10 in both polls. The Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1 B1G) remain on a collision course to rematch the Ducks for the Big Ten Championship game as they remain at No. 2.

Nov 23, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar runs the ball against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. / Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Penn State (10-1, 7-1 B1G) remained at No. 4 after avoiding disaster in a 26-25 victory at Minnesota. In addition to its four top-10 teams, the Big Ten is represented in the rankings by Illinois (8-3, 5-3 B1G), which rose to No. 22 in the AP poll and to No. 25 in the coaches poll.

With a single vote in the coaches poll, Iowa was the only other Big Ten team to receive consideration in either set of rankings.

While the Big Ten maintained its course, the Southeastern Conference struggled with two top-10 teams dropping critical decisions. Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) fell six spots after getting run over by unranked Oklahoma in Norman, 24-3. Meanwhile, Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) fell to unranked Florida in "The Swamp," 24-17, to settle at No. 15 in the AP poll and No. 16 by the coaches.

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Brenen Thompson celebrates between Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back DeVonta Smith (8) and Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (0) in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. Oklahoma won 24-3. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The SEC did keep three teams in the top 10, with Texas (10-1, 6-1 SEC) holding steady at No. 3 after beating Kentucky, 31-14; Georgia (9-2, 6-2 SEC) climbing two spots to No. 6 after a 59-21 win over UMass; and Tennessee (9-2, 5-2 SEC) rising three positions to No. 7 after blasting UTEP 56-0. Notably, South Carolina (8-3, 5-3 SEC) moved up five spots in the coaches rankings to No. 14 while going to No. 16 in the AP after a 56-12 win over Wofford.

The SEC remains represented by eight teams in the top 25, including No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 23 Missouri. The Aggies (8-3, 5-2) were upset by Auburn on Saturday, likely pushing them out of playoff contention. Florida and LSU also received votes in both polls.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (10-1) moved to No. 5 after demolishing No. 25 Army 49-14 Saturday. It is the first time since Week Two that Notre Dame has appeared back in the top five of either poll.

Nov 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Army Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily crosses the line for his second touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half at Yankee Stadium. / Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The ACC placed two teams in the top ten for the first time this season, including No. 7 Miami (10-1, 6-1 ACC) and No. 9 SMU (10-1, 7-0 ACC). The Clemson Tigers (9-2, 7-1 ACC) are also on the rise, moving up to No. 12 in both polls with an outside shot of sneaking into the College Football Playoff.

The Big 12 continues to grow muddier as BYU (9-2, 6-2 B12) now has fallen from the top 10 two weeks ago to No. 19 after losing Saturday at Arizona State, 28-23. The Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2 B12) are now the conference's highest-ranked team, moving up seven spots to No. 14. Iowa State (9-2, 6-2 B12) also moved up five spots to No. 17.

Colorado (8-3, 6-2 B12) lost by 16 points to unranked Kansas and slid seven spots to No. 23 in the AP poll and all the way out of the coaches top 25.

Nov 23, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas Jayhawks tight end Trevor Kardell gestures for a first down after a catch against the Colorado Buffaloes at Arrowhead Stadium. / Nick Tre. Smith-Imagn Images

The highest ranked non-Power Four programs remain with No. 11 Boise State, No. 18 Tulane, No. 21 UNLV, and No. 25 Army.

Nebraska football has played four teams currently rated in the top 25, including a home win over Colorado on Sept. 7. The Huskers dropped a home overtime battle to Illinois in September before losing at Indiana and at Ohio State in October.

Nebraska wraps up the season at unranked Iowa on Black Friday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST.

Associated Press Top 25

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Tennessee
8. Miami
9. SMU
10. Indiana
11. Boise State
12. Clemson
13. Alabama
14. Arizona State
15. Ole Miss
16. South Carolina
17. Iowa State
18. Tulane
19. BYU
20. Texas A&M
21. UNLV
22. Illinois
23. Colorado
24. Missouri
25. Army

Coaches Poll

1. Oregon
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Penn State
5. Notre Dame
6. Georgia
7. Miami
8. Tennessee
9. SMU
10. Indiana
11. Boise State
12. Clemson
13. Alabama
14. South Carolina
15. Arizona State
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State
18. Tulane
19. Texas A&M
20. BYU
21. UNLV
22. Army
23. Memphis
24. Missouri
25. Illinois

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