Predicting College Football’s New Top 25 After Wild Week 10

All of one week into the 2026 College Football Playoff rankings era, the poll requires demolition.

Just how dramatically another madcap weekend impacts the Top 25, we will not know for sure until Tuesday night.

There are some certainties; Georgia will be No. 1 and Utah will be No. 2.

Whether or not that is the correct order atop what it is guaranteed to be another contentious poll deserves discussion.

Both teams will have two Top 25 wins after Utah’s defeat of BYU and with Georgia’s rout of Ole Miss effectively replacing Florida, as the Gators will be on their way out.

With the top of the rankings setting the tone, the second Playoff poll is guaranteed to generate controversy. Consider this a suggestion for how the Top 25 should shape up.

1. Utah

On ESPN’s reveal of the initial Playoff poll, an exasperated Greg McElroy lamented Utah’s placement at No. 3 due to schedule quality. With wins over BYU and Houston in two of the last three weeks, however, the Utes are poised to have a pair of top-15 wins without a blemish.

2. Georgia

Georgia’s blowout of Ole Miss, coupled with Miami’s loss at Notre Dame, positions the Bulldogs for No. 1. Their win over Alabama is also impressive. Still, a loss to 5-4 Auburn really should not be overlooked when evaluating resumes for No. 1.

3. Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s placement at No. 11 was among the more stunning developments from the first poll, though justifiable with the Irish’s lack of resume wins. Beating the previously unbeaten No. 1-ranked team, though, gives Notre Dame arguably the best win of any one-loss team.

4. Miami

Playing without Malachi Toney and falling behind by three scores, Miami could not packed it in vs. Notre Dame. Instead, the Hurricanes took the Fighting Irish to the brink that should prevent them from dropping too significantly.

5. UCLA

One of only two undefeated teams still remaining, UCLA has an argument to be included in the top three. That may be a little hasty, even with the quality of the Oregon win gaining some steam, but the Bruins deserve placement in the top five.

6. Texas

It should be noted for both Texas and Indiana that neither beat nor lost to the current Ohio State team riding the struggle bus. The Longhorns also have a demerit against them for losing twice, both against teams unlikely to appear in this week’s Top 25.

But with wins over Ole Miss, Missouri and Tennessee, Texas boasts perhaps the best resume in terms of quantity of meaningful wins.

7. Tennessee

When other factors are close to equal, head-to-head results need to matter for Playoff ranking purposes. And, with Tennessee routing Kentucky to add another signature win after beating Alabama by two scores, the Vols should be in the discussion to be the highest-ranked two-loss team.

8. Alabama

LSU may or may not (but probably should) drop out of the Top 25 this week, which lessens some of the impact of Alabama’s 31-13 romp. The blowout of Kentucky remains the Crimson Tide’s signature victory, which is not enough on its own for a spot in the top four.

9. Indiana

The person tasked with overseeing Curt Cignetti’s social-media handle signal-boosted a report of Indiana having the most wins among Playoff contenders against teams above .500. With the exception of North Texas, none are in the Playoff mix themselves, leaving this year’s version of Indiana with an underwhelming resume not yet worthy of the top five.

10. Wake Forest

Wake Forest and Indiana have remarkably similar resumes in that both lost to what were at the time of playing top-10 caliber opponents. The Demon Deacons are closer to having a Top 25 win through Week 10, with Louisville on the periphery. SMU could break into the rankings ahead of the Mustangs hosting Wake Forest in Week 11.

11. Texas Tech

Texas Tech has made a habit of living on the edge but emerging unscathed, its most recent example coming in a 53-48 shootout against West Virginia. With wins over Houston and Arizona, the Red Raiders would have some argument for the top four — if not for a hideous loss at Cincinnati.

12. Houston

Outside of a pair of narrow losses to top-10 caliber opponents Texas Tech and Utah, Houston has handled business. The only problem for the Cougars is that an Oklahoma State on the edge of the Top 25 is their only marquee win and they close with Big 12 also-rans Colorado, West Virginia and Baylor.

13. BYU

From having a case for No. 1 to being left precariously on the bubble, BYU may be the quintessential team most reflective of the 2026 season’s uncertainty. The Cougars have a case to be ranked ahead of their fellow two-loss Big 12 Cougs down in the Texas, boasting resume wins over Notre Dame and Arizona.

The lopsided loss at UCF is an albatross that could be what keeps BYU from at-large consideration, though.

14. Kentucky

Kentucky’s win over South Carolina in overtime is gaining impact, but the Wildcats’ defeat of LSU is losing ground. Likewise, what was a top-10 win over Texas A&M at the time has become pedestrian. Coupled with blowout losses to both Alabama and Tennessee, the Wildcats have one of the shakier two-loss resumes.

15. USC

A lopsided loss to Wisconsin left Lincoln Riley in the same position as predecessors Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Clay Helton. The Trojans’ Halloween night win over Ohio State rejuvenated USC, and a road win at Indiana would be enough to catapult the Cardinal and Gold into the Playoff picture.

16. Iowa

Iowa’s a victim of Big Ten bloat, playing a schedule that has not provided many opportunities for a marquee win. The Hawkeyes could very well finish 10-2 without a single end-of-season Top 25 defeat.

17. Oregon

Oregon’s come surging back since dropping its third loss of the season with a Week 8 defeat against Illinois. With the Ducks’ defeat of hobbled Ohio State, Oregon now has wins over three teams ranked in the Week 10 Playoff poll. And while “quality loss” is one of those nebulous terms that invites eye rolls, it’s entirely possible Oregon’s three defeats are all to teams ranked in the Week 11 Top 25.

Closing out with Michigan, Michigan State and Washington, it’s likely the Ducks are 9-3 at the end of the regular season. That could be good enough to get into the Playoff in a season as wild as this.

18. South Carolina

Three straight losses early in the season had Shane Beamer looking like a lame-duck head coach and the Gamecocks’ goose thoroughly cooked. Now on a four-game winning streak, South Carolina might be the most dangerous team in the SEC outside of Georgia.

19. Ole Miss

It’s been a roller-coaster campaign for last year’s national semifinalist Rebels. Every peak has been followed by a sharp drop, the most recent a 35-point loss to Georgia that might keep Ole Miss out of the Playoff altogether.

21. Arizona

Allowing prime opportunities for road wins over BYU and Texas Tech slip away have to have Arizona punching air ahead of Utah’s Week 11 visit to Tucson. The Wildcats have been outstanding at home, including being the beneficiary of some magic as evidenced in their Week 10 win over TCU.

22. Boise State

Oregon State’s recent skid deprives Boise State of a much-needed high-profile opponent late in the season. Other Broncos teams have been able to build more impressive resumes and were discounted for it. Nevertheless, Boise State’s on the nation’s third-longest winning streak, which includes a defeat of American Conference contender Memphis.

23. Ohio State

Back-to-back losses since Julian Sayin’s shoulder injury have the pitchforks raised and torches lit, which includes the possibility of Ohio State falling out of the Top 25 altogether. That’s a bit ridiculous with the quality wins the Buckeyes scored prior to their season-altering loss of Sayin, including Iowa and Indiana.

24. New Mexico

UTSA falling to Florida Atlantic on Thursday positioned New Mexico as the top challenger to Boise State for the Group of Six bid. However, the Lobos arguably didn’t need the help. Jason Eck deserves National Coach of the Year consideration.

Illinois

Since struggling in the early part of the season, which included a loss to Purdue, Illinois has won four straight. The Illini share a win over Oregon with fellow Top 25 contender Oklahoma State, but the edge goes to Illinois by virtue of both its winning streak and not having a loss quite as unsightly as OSU’s to Tulsa.

25. Louisville

A variety of teams can stake claim to No. 25: Missouri and LSU each have three losses like Louisville, and theirs came in the SEC gauntlet. Aforementioned Oklahoma State has a more impressive win with its defeat of pre-Dante Moore injury Oregon.

And these are valid points. However, Louisville shares a common loss with both LSU and Missouri, Ole Miss, and the Cardinals were much more competitive. Louisville is also on a four-game winning streak that includes a defeat of another team on the periphery of the Top 25, SMU.