BYU holds the No. 8 spot and Utah sits at No. 11 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 college football rankings released Saturday, Oct. 11, 2026. The rankings follow a weekend of significant movement in the polls, including a rise to No. 1 for Georgia and a major jump for UCLA.
Utah Teams Maintain Top 15 Status
The Big 12 conference saw both of its prominent Utah-based programs maintain high national standing. According to data from ncaa.com, BYU remains at No. 8 with a 5-0 record, holding its position from the previous polling period. Utah follows in the No. 11 spot, also sporting an undefeated 5-0 record, though it saw a slight drop from its previous ranking of No. 12.
Georgia Ascends to No. 1
The Los Angeles Times reported that the latest poll was shaped by a Saturday filled with upsets that caused major shifts in the national landscape. Georgia ascended to the No. 1 position, receiving 66 first-place votes from a panel of 70 media members. This marks the Bulldogs' first time at the top of the poll since Sept. 8, 2024, following their 20-17 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, their first win in that location since 2014.
Notre Dame Climbs to No. 2
The shift at the top of the rankings also included Notre Dame, which moved up one spot to No. 2 after a 58-7 victory over Stanford. As noted by the Los Angeles Times, this marks the highest ranking for the Fighting Irish since the final poll of the 2024 season. The poll also featured a high-profile matchup between Notre Dame and BYU, which was noted as a top-10 matchup for the current week.
UCLA Leaps Nine Spots
UCLA saw one of the most significant jumps in the rankings, leaping nine spots to No. 12. This surge follows the Bruins' 17-15 upset victory over Oregon in Eugene, Ore., a win that included a successful stop on a two-point conversion attempt. Conversely, Oregon has been knocked out of the Top 25 for the first time in four years after its second loss in the past month.
Significant Shifts in Top 25
Other notable movements in the poll include Kentucky, which jumped from unranked to No. 15 following a 35-34 overtime victory against LSU. LSU, which previously held the No. 10 spot, fell to No. 22. Additionally, Texas saw a six-spot drop from No. 1 to No. 7 following a loss to rival Oklahoma. The top five in the current poll consists of Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami (FL), Ohio State, and Indiana.
Conference Breakdown
The current rankings highlight a highly competitive season across various conferences. In the SEC, nine teams are represented, including No. 1 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Texas, No. 9 Mississippi, No. 13 Missouri, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 15 Kentucky, No. 16 Mississippi State, and No. 22 LSU. The Big Ten features six teams: No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Indiana, No. 12 UCLA, No. 17 Iowa, No. 19 USC, and No. 25 Northwestern.
Expanded Conference Rankings
The Big 12 features five ranked teams, led by No. 8 BYU, followed by No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 11 Utah, No. 18 Oklahoma State, and No. 20 Houston. The ACC is represented by three teams: No. 3 Miami, No. 21 Wake Forest, and No. 24 SMU. The Pac-12 is represented by No. 23 Boise State, while Notre Dame remains as the sole Independent in the rankings.
