October 27th 2024.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the college football world was buzzing with excitement as the Associated Press released its latest Top 25 poll. Miami had made a significant jump, surpassing Texas and securing the No. 5 spot. It was their highest ranking since 2017 and a testament to their impressive performance this season. But Miami wasn't the only team making waves in the top 10.
Oregon, Georgia, Penn State, and Ohio State maintained their positions as the top four teams, while Washington State and Colorado made their debut on the list. The Cougars and the Buffaloes had been playing exceptional football and it was well-deserved recognition for their hard work.
But the real story of the week was Miami. Led by the talented Cam Ward, a Heisman Trophy candidate, the Hurricanes had just defeated Florida State and improved to a perfect 8-0 record. It was their eighth consecutive week in the top 10, but this time they had reached their highest rank since being No. 2 back in 2017.
Meanwhile, Texas continued to slide down the rankings, dropping from No. 1 to No. 6 after a close win against Vanderbilt. Notre Dame, on the other hand, was on the rise, climbing four spots to No. 8 after a dominant win over Navy. And BYU, with their undefeated record, broke into the top 10 for the first time since 2020.
But perhaps the biggest surprise of the week was Texas A&M. Their impressive 38-23 victory over LSU, their second win against a top-10 opponent this season, earned them a four-spot promotion to No. 10. It was their highest ranking since 2022 when they were ranked sixth.
The top two teams, Oregon and Georgia, remained the same, with the Ducks receiving 61 of 62 first-place votes. Penn State and Ohio State also maintained their positions at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, despite facing some challenges in their most recent games.
As for the biggest movers of the week, Notre Dame and Texas A&M saw significant jumps while LSU dropped the most spots, falling from No. 8 to No. 16. And in a season full of surprises, it was no surprise to see BYU and Pittsburgh continuing to rise in the polls.
Speaking of surprises, the SEC, known for its dominance in college football, only had one team in the top five this week due to Texas' drop. This also marked the fourth consecutive week that the Big Ten had three of the top four teams.
Miami's rise to the top five was not only a great achievement for the team, but it also marked a significant moment for the Atlantic Coast Conference. They had not had a team in the top five since Florida State in December of 2020.
In addition to Miami, two other teams made their first appearances in the Top 25 this season. Washington State, with their impressive win over San Diego State, entered at No. 22, becoming the first ranked team from the Pac-12. And Colorado, with their fifth win in six games, earned the No. 23 spot, their first ranking since early last season.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt's return to the Top 25 was short-lived as they fell out of the rankings after just one week. Navy also dropped out after their loss to Notre Dame, while Army moved up two spots to No. 21.
As for the conference breakdown, the SEC continued to have the most teams in the rankings with eight, followed by the Big Ten and ACC with five and four teams, respectively. The American, Independent, and Mountain West conferences each had one representative.
Looking ahead to next week, there are two exciting matchups between ranked teams to keep an eye on. No. 4 Ohio State will face No. 3 Penn State in what will be the fourth meeting of top-five teams this season. And No. 18 Pittsburgh will take on No. 20 SMU, two of the biggest surprises in the ACC. It's sure to be another thrilling week in the world of college football.
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