In the first AP poll of the regular season Oregon came in at No. 6 behind Mario Cristobal and Miami after the Hurricanes beat Notre Dame 27-24 in primetime Sunday night.
Ten of the Top 25 teams are from the SEC. Previously unranked Texas A&M vaulted to No. 19 after a 42-24 win over UTSA. Oklahoma climbed to No. 18 after storming past Illinois State 35-3.
Kalen DeBoer and Alabama fell on their face in Tallahassee, looking undisciplined and unmotivated in a 31-17 loss to the Seminoles, yet they remain in the poll at No. 21.
To stay in the playoff race, it pays to be overrated in the beginning and it boosts a team's strength of schedule (perceived strength of schedule) to play overrated opponents.
As it stands, Oregon plays only two currently-ranked opponent this season, at No. 2 Penn State on September 27, home against No. 23 Indiana after a bye on October 11.
NEW 🚨 The AP Poll for Week 2 just dropped. @OhioStateFB is the new No. 1 after knocking off Texas to open the season.
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) September 2, 2025
2) Penn State
3) LSU
4) UGA
5) Miami pic.twitter.com/DOAnv7hQqe
In the Big Ten's rotating schedule among the 18 conference teams, they miss Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois, unless they make the Big Ten Championship Game or the playoffs. Since strength of schedule is a new point of emphasis for the College Football Playoff Committee, the Ducks will need at least a 10-2 finish to make the field, and achieving at least one ranked win could be a decider.