New AP Top 25 poll out. How did Texas, Penn State losses impact Week 7 rankings?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- AP Top 25 will reshuffle as Texas and Penn State fall and lose credibility.
- UCLA and Florida upset ranked opponents, boosting resume for poll consideration.
- Cincinnati, Nebraska and Memphis position for entry as losses create openings.
The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll once again is saw major shifts in the rankings tafter a chaotic weekend of college football.
First things first: It’s time to admit Texas and Penn State were over-ranked all season, and, until they prove themselves, neither team should sniff the top 15 — much less top 10.
The Nittany Lions (3-2) picked up their second loss of the season after falling to previously winless UCLA (1-4), 42-37, in Pasadena, California. The Bruins, who fired their head coach after three games, upset the then-seventh-ranked team. Penn State trailed 27-7 at halftime.
UCLA entered the game as a 25.5-point underdog. It finished as the first team in 40 years to start 0-4 or worse and beat a top-10 team, according to Sportradar. Texas-El Paso was the most recent team to achieve the feat, beating then-No. 7 BYU in 1985.
Penn State, which saw its streak of 34 straight wins against unranked teams snapped, joined UCLA outside the AP Top 25.
Texas also slipped to 3-2 after it lost to Florida, 29-21, in Gainesville, after a gritty win by the Gators (2-3). UF’s defense held the Longhorns to 52 yards rushing, and Texas QB Arch Manning passed for 289 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was sacked six times.
Coming off a bye, DJ Lagway put together his best performance of the year and threw for a season-high 289 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas Wilson made both scoring catches in his freshman debut. Jadan Baugh rushed for 107 yards and one score.
The Longhorns looked shaky in their wins over San Jose State and UTEP. Their 14-7 Week 1 loss to Ohio State in Columbus was really the only saving grace, but it wasn’t enough. Texas joined Penn State, falling out of the top 25.
Texas and Penn State were the only ranked teams without a win over a Power Four opponent.
After starting the season 5-0, No. 14 Iowa State lost at unranked Cincinnati (4-1), 38-30, Saturday. The Cyclones missed 16 players in the game, and the Bearcats capitalized by building a 31-point first half lead.
Iowa State’s defense, which was missing two All-Big 12 defensive backs, could not control the run and gave up a season-high 260 yards on the ground.
This was a key win for the Bearcats more than it was a bad loss for the Cyclones. Iowa State dropped eight spots to No. 22, while Cincy — with a win over Kansas and a three-point loss to Nebraska, another team knocking on the door of the poll — finished right outside of the top 25 in voting.
No. 6 Texas A&M (5-0) beat a solid Mississippi State (4-2) team after a somewhat slow start. The Aggies led 7-3 at halftime but put together a 17-point fourth quarter to pull away.
KC Concepcion, the former NC State receiver, hauled in two scoring receptions to end the first half and begin the second.
The Aggies leapfrogged Oklahoma, rising to No. 5, after their 31-9 win.
Alabama moved up two spots to No. 8 after it defeated then-No. 16 Vanderbilt in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide (4-1) used a 14-point second quarter and 10-point fourth quarter en route to its 30-14 victory.
Ty Simpson threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns, while Jam Miller ran for 136 yards and found the end zone once. They helped lead Alabama to the second straight win over a top-20 team.
The Commodores moved to 5-1 on the season after the loss and slipped four spots to No. 20.
Teams ranked 19-25 were either on a bye this week or won their respective games, including Michigan, Notre Dame and Virginia. They all moved up multiple spots after the two top 10 collapses and slips by Vandy and Iowa State.
Miami (5-0) escaped a late-game scare against Florida State (3-2) after giving up 19 fourth-quarter points. The Hurricanes defeated the Seminoles, 28-22, in Tallahassee. FSU scored a field goal on its opening drive before Miami’s defense recorded stops on seven straight drives.
Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw for two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Hurricanes, led by Carson Beck’s clean game, found the end zone after the changes of possession.
Miami jumped Oregon (5-0), which was one a bye, and took over the No. 2 spot. With No. 1 Ohio State (5-0) remained at the top after blowing out Minnesota.
Florida State plummeted seven spots to No. 25 after starting its ACC schedule 0-2. Its win over Alabama and the losses coming by one possession to now-ranked teams are doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Memphis snuck into the poll for the first time this season at No. 23. The Tigers are 6-0 with a Power Four win over Arkansas and a blowout victory over Tulsa. South Florida (4-1) returned to the AP Top 25 after its 54-26 win over Charlotte. The Bulls briefly dropped out, but their resume includes the statement win over Florida in Gainesville.
Nebraska still remains outside of the poll, four spots behind Cincinnati despite owning the head-to-head. The Cornhuskers (4-1) defeated Michigan State, 38-27, for their second Power Four victory. Their lone loss was by three points to a ranked Michigan (4-1). Four ACC teams remain ranked in this week’s poll.
Week 7 Associated Press Top 25 poll
This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
