First Regular-Season AP Top 25 College Football Poll Analysis

The initial regular-season AP Top 25 college football poll has been released. As expected, some teams experienced a shift in their rankings while others remained unchanged. Five programs held their positions from the preseason poll.

The games played in Week 1 may not have been extraordinary, yet they still influenced the rankings. For instance, LSU made headlines with their performance. Conversely, Michigan left voters confused with their struggles.

During the Ohio State Buckeyes’ game against the Ball State Cardinals at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, wide receiver Devin McCuin (#3) showcased his skills. This game took place on September 5, 2026.

Week 1 AP Top 25 Poll

• Ohio State
• Georgia
• Notre Dame
• Texas
• Indiana
• Oregon
• Miami (FL)
• LSU
• Ole Miss
• Texas A&M
• Oklahoma
• Alabama
• Texas Tech
• USC
• BYU
• Penn State
• SMU
• Tennessee
• Washington
• Utah
• Iowa
• Houston
• Missouri
• Louisville
• Virginia

The SEC teams achieved a perfect 16-0 record in Week 1, signaling their dominance in college football.

Virginia was the only team to enter the rankings after Week 1, while LSU and Michigan were notable movers. LSU started strong in the Lane Kiffin era by defeating Clemson 51-10. This impressive win propelled LSU up three spots from their preseason ranking of 11th.

Meanwhile, Michigan struggled against Western Michigan, needing extra time and a dramatic play to secure a narrow 13-12 victory. This performance led to their fall out of the Top 25 after starting the week ranked 16th.

Oregon survived a tough game against Boise State, winning 34-27. However, the close score resulted in Oregon dropping four spots from their preseason second-place ranking. Despite a narrow escape at Florida State with a 27-24 win, SMU climbed two spots to 17th.

Washington also encountered difficulties in their 24-10 win over Washington State. Consequently, they experienced a drop in the polls.

Surprisingly, no unexpected changes occurred in Week 1’s poll. Despite only one game being played, most teams retained predictable rankings.

After Week 1, Michigan still garnered 69 votes for a ranking, while Western Michigan received 12 votes.