The 2026 college football season has delivered one of the most chaotic weekends in recent sports history, and the Associated Press Top 25 poll released on Sunday, 11 October 2026, shows the damage. Three top-10 SEC powerhouses fell on the same Saturday — only the third time that has ever happened in AP Poll history — and the national championship race has been completely reshuffled. Here is your full roundup of the latest AP Poll news as of October 2026.
Georgia Is the New No. 1
The Georgia Bulldogs are officially back on top as the No. 1 team in the nation. Voters overwhelmingly rewarded Kirby Smart’s squad for their consistency, handing Georgia 66 of a possible 70 first-place votes in the Week 7 poll.
Georgia earned the spot with a hard-fought 20-17 win on the road against then-No. 6 Alabama — the Bulldogs’ first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007. Relentless defensive play and efficient offensive execution did the job, and the Bulldogs now stand as the undisputed favourite to capture the top seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff bracket.
Texas Tumbles After Red River Heartbreak
The most dramatic fall belonged to the Texas Longhorns. Entering the weekend as the nation’s No. 1 team, Texas lost 27-24 to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Longhorns led by as many as 10 points before it all unravelled: a blocked punt, a pick-six, and a late Arch Manning interception gave the Sooners their chance, and kicker Tate Sandell drilled the game-winning field goal at the death.
AP voters responded by dropping Texas from first to seventh. Alabama, despite the home loss to Georgia, held firm at No. 6. Sitting between Georgia and Texas at the top are Notre Dame, Miami, and Ohio State, who all stayed in the top five after the weekend’s chaos.
LSU and Oregon Plunge
Kentucky delivered one of the shocks of the season, upsetting then-No. 10 LSU 35-34 in overtime — the Wildcats’ second consecutive overtime win. Coach Will Stein’s bold overtime gamble paid off when quarterback Kenny Minchey found a wide-open lane to the end zone, handing Lane Kiffin his second defeat since arriving in Baton Rouge. LSU, which allowed 401 yards to the Wildcats, dropped to No. 22, with almost no margin for error in the CFP race and a daunting schedule still ahead: Mississippi State, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.
No. 13 Oregon suffered a similar fate, losing 17-15 to No. 21 UCLA at Autzen Stadium in a game featuring 10 turnovers and four different quarterbacks. Starting in place of the injured Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola was benched for Brock Thomas after going 6-of-19 for 43 yards and two interceptions. The Ducks, who reached the CFP semifinals a season ago, fell out of the poll entirely — a bitter blow for Dan Lanning’s championship hopes.
Risers, Fallers, and Surprises
Among the winners: Missouri climbed to No. 14 after a convincing blowout win over Florida, while Ole Miss held firm ahead of LSU in the SEC pecking order. Kentucky’s win should send the Wildcats back into the top 25 after two straight overtime thrillers.
Among the losers: Florida dropped eight spots after being stunned 38-19 at the Swamp by South Carolina, ending an eight-game skid in SEC play for coach Shane Beamer and giving him some much-needed stability. Iowa also slid after its defeat, while Michigan and Penn State failed to receive any votes at all. No. 25 Pittsburgh’s stay in the poll was short-lived, falling 21-17 to North Carolina — the first top-25 win of the Bill Belichick era.
What Comes Next: Week 8 Predictions
The next AP Top 25 poll is expected on Sunday, 18 October 2026 — today. With Georgia in firm control of the top spot and a string of quality opponents lining up for contenders like USC (which survived the Penn State White Out to move to 5-1 and sits firmly on the CFP bubble), the race is only getting tighter. Keep an eye on Notre Dame and Ohio State, both of which can make their case for No. 1 with statement wins over the next fortnight.
One thing is certain: if this season keeps producing Saturdays like the last one, nobody’s position is safe. For more sports and entertainment headlines, bookmark Celebrity Hub.