In a historic shift, Indiana has claimed the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 college football rankings for the first time. This achievement comes after an impressive 13-0 record, which included a victory over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game. The Hoosiers triumphed 13-10 in Indianapolis, effectively ending Ohio State’s 14-week stint at number one.
AP Top 25 Rankings Overview
After Saturday’s results, Indiana became the unanimous choice for the number one ranking. The team is now focused on securing a high seed for its second consecutive appearance in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Top Teams and Changes
- 1. Indiana – 13-0, first-ever No. 1 ranking
- 2. Georgia – Moved up one spot after defeating Alabama
- 3. Ohio State – Dropped two spots from No. 1
- 4. Texas Tech – Achieved highest ranking of the season
- 5. Oregon – Rounding out the top five
Texas Tech secured a decisive 27-point victory over BYU, boosting it to No. 4 in the rankings. Oregon followed closely in fifth place.
Significant Rankings Movements
Miami made a notable comeback, rising two spots and re-entering the top 10 for the first time since mid-October. Meanwhile, Alabama and BYU saw declines, falling to No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.
Group of Five Teams
- Tulane – Jumped to No. 17, marking its highest ranking in two years
- James Madison – Remained steady at No. 19
Virginia experienced the largest drop, plummeting from No. 16 to No. 20 after an overtime loss to Duke in the ACC championship game.
Conference Representation
| Conference | Ranked Teams |
|---|---|
| SEC | 8 Teams (2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 25) |
| Big Ten | 5 Teams (1, 3, 5, 16, 18) |
| Big 12 | 4 Teams (4, 12, 15, 20) |
| ACC | 3 Teams (10, 21, 24) |
| American | 3 Teams (17, 22, 23) |
| Independent | 1 Team (9) |
| Sun Belt | 1 Team (19) |
The final AP Top 25 rankings will be unveiled on January 20, coinciding with the national championship game. Indiana’s rise emphasizes the dynamic landscape of college football this season as teams position themselves for the playoffs.
