College Football Rankings: Projecting AP Poll Top 25 after Week 6

Who said Week 6 would be a sleepy, uninspiring Saturday slate?

We got chaos. We got carnage. 

Alabama’s return to the top of the rankings lasted one week, as Vanderbilt pulled off a total shocker by taking down the Tide in a 40-35 upset. 

While not nearly as noteworthy the Commodores’ historic upset, Tennessee also lost at Arkansas — being the first two SEC teams ranked in the Top 5 to ever lose in the same weekend, and Miami went cross-country and lost at Cal.

The carnage didn’t stop there, though, as UNLV’s stint in the AP Poll Top 25 was short-lived while USC went on the road and lost at Minnesota, and Missouri got completely exposed in a rout at Texas A&M. 

Meanwhile, Louisville and Michigan both suffered defeats for the second time this fall, too. 

All the upsets and movement should set the stage for an epic Week 7 with games like Ohio State-Oregon, Texas-Oklahoma and Ole Miss-LSU. 

But first, how far should Alabama fall? Who else cracks into the Top 10 with?

Let’s take a look.

Here’s how I think the Week 6 AP Poll Top 25 could look come Sunday morning:

1. Texas (Last week: 1)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: With the Red River Rivalry Showdown on deck, all eyes will be on the status of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is expected to retain his starting role against the Sooners.

2. Ohio State (Last week: 3)

With a date at Oregon looming, the Buckeyes passed their first true “test” of the 2024 season by bludgeoning Iowa after halftime to turn a 7-0 lead into a 35-7 laughter. After scoring on a 14-play, 88-yard drive to opening the game, Ohio State’s offense was stymied by miscues (Will Howard was stopped on a 4th-and-2 run, all-world freshman Jeremiah Smith fumbled and Howard threw an interception). But they cleaned up their act in the second half where Howard ultimately finished with 21 of 25 with 209 yards and five total touchdowns — including ridiculous one-handed snag in the end zone by Smith on a short fade. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Ohio State’s defense has put up dominant performances week-in and week-out, and the Buckeyes didn’t allow Kaleb Johnson (who ranked No. 2 nationally in yards, yards per carry and touchdowns) to beat them. Johnson had 87 yards on 15 carries but Iowa had just 226 total yards, with Ohio State racking up four sacks, nine tackles for loss and two turnovers. 

3. Oregon (Last week: 6)

The Ducks overcome some early sloppiness from quarterback Dillon Gabriel (two red zone interceptions that wiped away scoring opportunities) to rout Michigan State 31-10 in their final dress rehearsal before a ballyhooed matchup against No. 3 Ohio State next weekend. Gabriel rebounded to throw for two scores and run for another, finishing with over 275 total yards. Tailback Jordan James had his third 100-yard game of the season, going for 166 and a score. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Oregon’s defense allowed just 250 total yards and held the Spartans to just 2-10 on third down. Jordan Burch had 2.5 sacks with a forced fumble, and the former 5-star recruit who transferred from South Carolina is having his best season (career-high 5.0 sacks already) of his career in 2024.

4. Alabama (Last week: 1)

In an absolute stunner, top-ranked Alabama lost at Vanderbilt, as Diego Pavia out-dueled Heisman Trophy favorite Jalen Milroe in a 40-35 historic loss. In one of the the biggest upsets in SEC history, the Commodores, 23.5-point underdogs, had lost all 60 games against AP Top-5 teams before Saturday afternoon. A week after being No. 2 Georgia 41-34 in a thriller, the Tide appeared disinterested and unfocused. Milroe threw a pick-six, the defense had no answers for Vandy’s spread-option attack and they committed multiple poor penalties. 

Milroe got hot after halftime (a 14-yard TD run and another ridiculous long touchdown to Ryan Williams), but Tide defense couldn’t get a stop. Pavia uncorked a 36-yard touchdown on 4th-and-1, and later lead two other scoring drives to give Vandy a 40-28 lead. Pavia, who finished with 300 total yards, iced the game with a 8-yard run.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: A week after Alabama couldn’t get off the field on fourth down against Georgia (the Bulldogs were a perfect 5-5), the Tide were terrible on third down Saturday. Vanderbilt converted 12 of 18 third downs against the second-best third down defense in the nation coming into the game (11 of 64 – 17.2%)

5. Georgia (Last week: 5)

In the South’s Oldest Rivalry, the Bulldogs kept Auburn at arm’s distance, slogging their way to a 31-13 win. It wasn’t overly impressive, but a comfortable, methodical victory after last weekend’s bittersweet loss at No. 4 Alabama. Georgia scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time all season, but Carson Beck & Co., managed just seven more points the rest of the half.  

Beck was efficient but hardly explosive (23 of 29 with two picks), while Trevor Etienne led the way with 88 rushing yards and two scores. Georgia’s defense did force a takeaway against an Auburn offense prone to turnovers, but they held the Tigers (No. 3 in yards per play at 7.6) to 5.6 per play with three sacks, five TFLs and a big 4th-and-1 stop.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Penalties continue to be a problem for Georgia, which entered the game ranked 108th nationally with nearly eight flags per game. The Bulldogs committed seven penalties for 85 yards against Saturday. 

6. Penn State (Last week: 7)

Perhaps with a bit of an eye on another Big Ten newcomer from Los Angeles on the schedule next week, Penn State started slow against UCLA but found a second-gear to win 27-11. The Nittany Lions were held scoreless in the first quarter, but Drew Allar had a pair of touchdowns (one rushing, one 5-star pass to tight end Tyler Warren) to give PSU a 14-3 halftime lead. Without Nick Singleton, Penn State could not run the ball against the UCLA, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry on 30 attempts. After a month of home games, Penn State will now travel to USC next week. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Penn State’s defense is starting to round into form at just the right time. The Bruins were without starting quarterback Ethan Garbers, and PSU allowed just 187 total yards before UCLA’s final garbage-time touchdown in the last two minutes. 

7. Miami (Last week: 8)

Miami’s trip to the West Coast went from disaster to elation, as the ‘Canes rallied from a 35-10 deficit to outlast Cal 39-38. Cam Ward led the game-winning drive, finding Xavier Restrepo for a 77-yard gain to setup the winning touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Arroyo inside the final 30 seconds. Cal jumped out to a 21-10 lead and then tried to hold on for dear life, but Ward & Co., chipped away, finishing with over 450 total yards and three scores.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Miami’s secondary had an awful night, allowing nearly 300 yards passing (at 14.7 points per throw) including four throws (two for touchdowns) over 51 yards, but the Canes sealed the comeback with an pick to end the game.

8. Tennessee (Last week: 4)

The “feels like ’98” vibes were quieted with a dispiriting 19-14 loss at Arkansas. Tennessee’s Top 5 defense did its job until the final drive when it allowed backup quarterback Malachi Singleton to drive 60 yards for the game-winning score. Nico Iamaleava and the Vols’ offense couldn’t do much of anything against the Hogs, totaling just 332 yards with seven punts. Tennessee had a chance to escape with a win, but facing 4th-and-5 with around 17 seconds remaining, Iamaleava (who was just 17 of 29 for 158 yards) ran out of bounds as time expired rather than make a play for a first down or in the end zone. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Tennessee entered the game No. 1 nationally in scoring, but the Vols’ offense has struggled to generate points and explosive plays the last two weeks against Oklahoma and Arkansas.

9. Ole Miss (Last week: 12)

The Rebels are known for their high-powered offense, but with quarterback Jaxson Dart a tad off (14 of 27 for 285 yards and his first game all season without a touchdown), Lane Kiffin’s team leaned on J.J. Pegues and its defense to win comfortably 27-3 at South Carolina. Pegues, Ole Miss’ starting nose tackle at 325 pounds, rushed for two one-yard scores and also had a tackle for loss, as the Rebels held South Carolina to 313 yards and just 6 of 20 on third or fourth down. 

Ole Miss sniffed out a fake-punt in the first quarter that led to a short scoring drive, and they forced a fumble on South Carolina’s second series to jump out to a 14-0 lead. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: With a road trip to LSU next weekend, the Rebels suddenly have a couple notable injuries to monitor: Top edge Princely Umanmielen did not play Saturday, while star wideout Tre Harris (who led the nation with 804 receiving yards) exited the game in the second quarter and did not return. Kiffin was mum on both injuries after the game. 

10. LSU (Last week: 13)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: After blasting South Alabama 42-10, the Tigers come out of their bye week facing the teeth of their schedule — No. 12 Ole Miss, at Arkansas, at 24 Texas A&M and vs. 1 Alabama.

The rest of the projected AP Top 25:

11. Notre Dame (Last week: 14)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Despite the early, ugly loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame’s playoff hopes are alive and well thanks to a schedule that suddenly looks more challenging with Navy, Army and USC.

12. Clemson (Last week: 15)

Clemson made quick work of the 2024 hapless Florida State Seminoles, jumping out to another big lead in the first quarter (17-0) before cruising to a 29-13 win. Cade Klubnik had 267 total yards with two touchdowns, while Phil Mafah churned out 134 yards on 20 carries. The Tigers dominated the stat-sheet (they doubled-up FSU in total yards: 500 to 250), but they had to settle for five field goals in the red zone. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Clemson is now 5-1 after losing its opener to Georgia, and Dabo Swinney picked up his 174th win with the Tigers — breaking Bobby Bowden’s record for wins at an ACC school. 

13. Texas A&M (Last Week: 24)

After missing the last three games, Conner Weigman returned from injury to lead the Aggies to a 41-10 pummeling over No. 9 Missouri. While the junior quarterback had a very strong showing (18 of 24 for 276 yards with five throws over 20 yards), the story of Saturday was Texas A&M’s ground game and tenacious front-seven. Le’Veon Moss had a career-high 138 yards and three scores including a 75-yard scamper out of halftime to give the Aggies a 31-0 lead. Nic Scourton led a TAMU front-seven with 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two hurries. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Perhaps the wrong SEC team was in the preseason playoff conversation? While Missouri proved to be a paper-tiger, Texas A&M has won five straight since losing its opener to Notre Dame. The Aggies are 3-0 in conference play and have a remaining schedule that does not include Alabama, Georgia or Tennessee.

14. Iowa State (Last week: 16)

Behind a mixture of explosive plays (14 in total) and quality special teams (three field goals, a 25-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown), Iowa State toppled Baylor 43-21. The Cyclones are now 5-0 and off to their best start in 24 years. Iowa State racked up over 540 yards of total offense, as quarterback Rocco Becht shook off a bad INT to throw for 277 yards and two scores, while transfer tailback Jaylon Jackson had 107 rushing yards and two scores on just 15 carries. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Iowa State’s defense had its poorest showing of the season, but after Johnson scored the go-ahead touchdown to give the Cyclones a 26-21 lead, Matt Campbell’s defense bowed up — forcing a turnover and three straight punts to end the game.

15. BYU (Last week: 17)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: With home games against Arizona and Oklahoma State, the Cougars have a real opportunity to start the season 6-0 for just the second time in the last 16 years (2020). 

16. Indiana (Last week: 23)

The Hoosiers are going bowling! — oh, and they remain undefeated with their best start 52 years with a 41-24 win at Northwestern. Kurtis Rourke had 380 yards (11.5 yards per attempt) and three scores, leading a pair of touchdown drives late in the fourth quarter after the Wildcats had cut the deficit to three points. Indiana, whited averaged just 22.2 points per game in 2023, entered the day No. 3 nationally in scoring and have topped 40-point in five of six games this season.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Indiana is a legitimate Big Ten spoiler and playoff contender. The Hoosiers are now 6-0 entering their bye week, and their next three games are against Nebraska and Washington at home, and at Michigan State. Could they be 9-0 with Michigan coming to town to start November?

17. Utah (Last week: 18)

Idle.

ONE THING TO KNOW: The Utes badly need quarterback Cam Rising (hand) to return to action if they hope to stay in the hunt for the Big 12 title. Freshman Isaac Wilson has struggled with turnovers (seven picks in 3.5 games) and Utah’s red zone offense is among the worst in the league.

18. Missouri (Last week: 9)

The Tigers were exposed in an embarrassing loss at Texas A&M, getting pushed around early and often in a 41-10 loss to the Aggies. Eli Drinkwitz spent the week mocking Texas A&M’s quarterback depth chart and injury report, only for Conner Weigman to end up starting and the Tigers looking totally unprepared. Texas A&M raced to a 24-0 halftime lead and then Le’Veon Moss went 75-yards untouched on the opening play of the third quarter. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Which unit was worse Saturday?  Mizzou’s offense (just 68 yards rushing, 20 combined sacks, hurries and TFLs allowed) or defense (over 300 yards in the first half, 15 total explosives allowed).

19. Oklahoma (Last week: 19)

Idle. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: While Texas has emerged as one of the top teams in the country the last two seasons, Oklahoma has actually dominated the Red River Rivalry, winning seven of the last nine meetings including a 34-30 upset last year. 

20. Kansas State (Last week: 20)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: The Wildcats have one of the more favorable Big 12 schedules, but they come out of their bye with a tricky next month — three conference road games (Colorado, West Virginia and Houston) sandwiched between the Sunflower State Showdown against rival Kansas. 

21. Boise State (Last week: 21)

The Ashton Jeanty Show continues, as the Heisman hopeful took his first carry 63 yards to the house to set the stage for a 62-30 splattering over Utah State. Jeanty finished with 186 yards and three touchdowns — all in the first half, as the Broncos jumped out to a 49-17 lead. Jeanty now has over 1,000 yards in the first games of the season, joining an elite company that includes Barry Sanders and Leonard Fournette. Perhaps the best news for Boise State was Jeanty wasn’t a one-man band Saturday. Maddux Madison threw for 256 yards and three scores, proving a much-needed balance for the Broncos’ offense. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Led by Jeanty, the Broncos’ offense has proven it has the firepower to match scores with anyone, but if they want to be the G5 representative in the College Football Playoff, the defense has to improve. Boise State has allowed over 24 points four times already this season.

22. Illinois (Last week: 24)

Idle.

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: The Illini play host to Purdue and Michigan coming out of their bye week, so there’s a real possibility Bret Bielema’s team is 6-1 before a late October road game at Oregon.

23. Pitt (Last week: Unranked)

The Panthers moved to 5-0 for the first time in 33 years with a 34-24 win at North Carolina. Alabama transfer Eli Holstein had a career day, throwing for a high of 381 yards and three touchdowns with a team-high 76 rushing yards to boot. Aside from a bad red-zone interception that resulted in a pick-six, Holstein tore up UNC’s secondary, pinning versatile tailback Desmond Reid (catches 11 balls for 155 yards and a touchdown) over and over. 

In a tie game early in the fourth quarter, Holstein gave the Panthers a 31-24 lead with a 3-yard touchdown run, and on the ensuing defensive possession, Pitt stopped UNC on 4th-and-1 deep at the 8-yard line.  

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Holstein joined some elite company Saturday, becoming the first Pitt quarterback since Dan Marino in 1979 to win huis first five starts with the Panthers.

24. SMU (Last weekend: Unranked)

Rhett Lashlee might’ve waited a couple weeks too late, but SMU’s head coach looks like he made the smart decision to turn the keys to Kevin Jennings. The former backup quarterback had a career day in an upset over No. 22 Louisville, throwing for 281 yards and rushing for another 113 (both highs) in a 34-27 win on the road. SMU blew a 24-13 halftime lead, but Jennings led the go-ahead touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter and then the Mustangs’ defense came up with a pick in the end zone to halt the Cards’ comeback hopes. The Mustangs are now 2-0 in the ACC and looking like a real spoiler in their first year in a power conference. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: SMU allowed some yards (nearly 475) but it had several timely stops including a 4th-and-1 inside the red zone where it stoned Donald Chaney for loss to deny a potential scoring drive late in the second half.

25. Michigan (Last week: 10)

The Wolverines have a quarterback controversy once again, as Alex Orji was so ineffective (3 of 7 for 15 yards) that he was benched for former third-stringer Jack Tuttle, who had two fourth quarter turnovers that paved the way for the Wolverines’ 27-17 loss at Washington. While the Huskies got some slight revenge from last season’s national title game, the bigger story was how awful Michigan’s passing game was again Saturday night. Tuttle led a touchdown drive, but he finished 10 of 18 for just 98 yards (5.4 per attempt) with one pick and one score. 

ONE NUGGET TO KNOW: Michigan’s defense was put into some tough spots Saturday, but it allowed Will Rogers to throw for 271 yards and two touchdowns, which proved to be the difference.

Projected to drop out: No. 11 USC, No. 22 Louisville, No. 25 UNLV