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Inside the AP Poll: Five-pack of title contenders emerges; Northwestern in for first time since 2020

The latest AP Top 25 poll has solidified a clear tier of national championship contenders in college football, with Georgia and Alabama once again anchoring the top spots. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Kirby Smart, hold the No.

1 ranking, while Alabama—under Kalen DeBoer—remains a dominant force despite not having Nick Saban at the helm. Ohio State, featuring the game’s best player, has reasserted its title aspirations, though a late-game stumble against Texas has not fully erased its championship credentials.

Miami and Notre Dame, both untested but poised for a high-stakes Nov. 7 showdown in South Bend, could emerge as dark horses to challenge the elite.

Meanwhile, Northwestern has returned to the rankings for the first time since 2020, joining a reshuffled top 25 that includes rising programs like UCLA (No. 12), Kentucky, and Mississippi State, alongside Wake Forest’s first-ever AP Top 25 appearance.

The poll also reflects a steep drop for Oregon, now out of the Top 25 after underwhelming performances, while LSU teeters on the brink of unranked status following back-to-back losses and a grueling schedule ahead against Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee.

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