The Week 2 College Football AP Top 25 Rankings saw its first significant shakeups of the season, with a few teams taking major hits while others continue to fly under the radar.
Florida State’s early-season woes have dramatically dropped the latest Associated Press college football poll. After starting the season 0-2, the Seminoles have tumbled out of the rankings entirely, making them just the third team since 1989 to fall from a preseason top-10 spot to unranked in the first regular-season poll.
Florida State wasn’t the only top-10 team to experience a fall in the Week 2 AP Top 25. Oregon, which started the season ranked No. 3, slid to No. 7 after a narrow 24-14 victory over FCS opponent Idaho. Despite being heavily favored by 44.5 points, the Ducks struggled to put away the Vandals, who came within three points late in the game, raising concerns about Oregon’s early-season performance.
At the top of the poll, Georgia and Ohio State reinforced their dominance. The Bulldogs easily dispatched Clemson with a 34-3 victory, while Ohio State took care of Akron. Clemson, ranked No. 14 going into Week 1, barely held onto a spot in the rankings, dropping to No. 25 after their defeat.
Texas and Alabama each moved up one spot to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, behind the Buckeyes. Notre Dame rounds out the top five, while Oregon’s struggles pushed them down to No. 7. Miami was one of the biggest risers, leaping seven spots to No. 12, and USC jumped ten to No. 13.
Check out the full AP Top 25 breakdown below:
College Football AP Top 25 Rankings Week 2
| Rank | Team | Record | Conference | Trend | Opponent | Result | Points (1st Place Votes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 1-0 | Southeastern | – | vs. Clemson | W 34-3 | 1545 (57) |
| 2 | Ohio State | 1-0 | Big Ten | – | vs. Akron | W 52-6 | 1478 (5) |
| 3 | Texas | 1-0 | Southeastern | +1 | vs. Colorado State | W 52-0 | 1418 (0) |
| 4 | Alabama | 1-0 | Southeastern | -1 | vs. Western Kentucky | W 63-0 | 1309 (0) |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 1-0 | IA Independents | +2 | @ Texas A&M | W 23-13 | 1240 (0) |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 1-0 | Southeastern | – | vs. Furman | W 76-0 | 1212 (0) |
| 7 | Oregon | 1-0 | Big Ten | -4 | vs. Idaho | W 24-14 | 1197 (0) |
| 8 | Penn State | 1-0 | Big Ten | – | @ West Virginia | W 34-12 | 1146 (0) |
| 9 | Missouri | 1-0 | Southeastern | +2 | vs. Murray State | W 51-0 | 968 (0) |
| 10 | Michigan | 1-0 | Big Ten | -1 | vs. Fresno State | W 30-10 | 935 (0) |
| 11 | Utah | 1-0 | Big 12 | +1 | vs. Southern Utah | W 49-0 | 897 (0) |
| 12 | Miami (FL) | 1-0 | Atlantic Coast | +7 | @ Florida | W 41-17 | 893 (0) |
| 13 | USC | 1-0 | Big Ten | +10 | vs. LSU | W 27-20 | 811 (0) |
| 14 | Tennessee | 1-0 | Southeastern | +1 | vs. Chattanooga | W 69-3 | 784 (0) |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 1-0 | Southeastern | +1 | vs. Temple | W 51-3 | 703 (0) |
| 16 | Oklahoma St. | 1-0 | Big 12 | +1 | vs. South Dakota State | W 44-20 | 610 (0) |
| 17 | Kansas St. | 1-0 | Big 12 | +1 | vs. Tennessee-Martin | W 41-6 | 607 (0) |
| 18 | LSU | 0-1 | Southeastern | -5 | @ USC | L 20-27 | 410 (0) |
| 19 | Kansas | 1-0 | Big 12 | +3 | vs. Lindenwood | W 48-3 | 349 (0) |
| 20 | Arizona | 1-0 | Big 12 | +1 | vs. New Mexico | W 61-39 | 339 (0) |
| 21 | Iowa | 1-0 | Big Ten | +4 | vs. Illinois State | W 40-0 | 294 (0) |
| 22 | Louisville | 1-0 | Atlantic Coast | – | vs. Austin Peay | W 62-0 | 188 (0) |
| 23 | Georgia Tech | 2-0 | Atlantic Coast | – | vs. Georgia State | W 35-12 | 161 (0) |
| 24 | North Carolina St. | 1-0 | Atlantic Coast | – | vs. Western Carolina | W 38-21 | 142 (0) |
| 25 | Clemson | 0-1 | Atlantic Coast | -11 | @ Georgia | L 3-34 | 134 (0) |
Who’s Still Underrated?
While the top 10 teams have solidified their rankings, a few programs just outside that elite group are making strong cases for more recognition. Let’s look at some of the most underrated teams in the Week 2 AP Top 25 poll.
No. 11 Miami
The Hurricanes made a statement with a dominant road win over in-state rival Florida, outclassing the Gators in every phase of the game. Adding Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward has given Miami the elite playmaker they’ve been searching for. With a favorable matchup against Florida A&M this weekend, the Hurricanes have a prime opportunity to crack the top 10 in the Week 3 poll.
No. 13 USC
Expectations were high for USC’s offense under quarterback whisperer Lincoln Riley, and the Trojans delivered in their upset win over LSU. However, the biggest surprise was the dramatic improvement on defense. After struggling mightily last season with tackling and pass coverage, USC looked like a different team under new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. With a tune-up game against Utah State before diving into a demanding Big Ten schedule, the Trojans could be a legitimate threat this season.
No. 20 Arizona
The Wildcats are proving that their high-powered offense is one of the best in college football. Arizona lit up the scoreboard with 61 points in their Week 1 win over New Mexico, showcasing their ability to score at will. The question mark remains on defense, particularly in their ability to make critical stops. If they can shore up that side of the ball, Arizona could be a dark horse contender for the Big 12 title.
No. 23 Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech’s rise under head coach Brent Key is just beginning. While Florida State’s struggles might make some dismiss the Yellow Jackets’ potential, this program is on the upswing. Georgia Tech is quietly positioning itself as a future contender in the ACC, and its current ranking might not fully reflect how competitive it could become.
