Miami (FL) remains the top-ranked team in the 2026-27 US LBM Coaches Poll following the release of new rankings on Oct. 18, 2026, as the college football season enters its seventh week. The Hurricanes hold a perfect 6-0 record and lead the nation with 1791 points, maintaining their position at the summit of the weekly rankings.
BYU Climbs to Third
The latest rankings from USA Today Sports highlight a highly competitive landscape at the top of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Following a significant victory on Oct. 18, 2026, where BYU stunned Notre Dame to deny the Fighting Irish a bid for a top college football ranking, the Cougars have climbed to No. 3 in the nation. BYU holds a 6-0 record and has accumulated 1698 points, moving up from their previous position of No. 10.
Top Five Rankings Shift
The poll, which is conducted weekly throughout the regular season by a panel of head coaches from various FBS schools, shows significant movement across the board. While Miami holds the top spot, Ohio State has ascended to No. 2 with a 6-1 record and 1725 points. The Buckeyes moved up five spots from their previous rank of No. 7, trailing only the Hurricanes in the national standings.
Utah Maintains Top Ten Status
The University of Utah remains a prominent fixture in the national conversation, holding the No. 9 position in the latest poll. The Utes are currently undefeated with a 6-0 record, earning 1222 points. This ranking represents a jump of two spots from their previous position of No. 11.
Mid-Poll Movement
Other notable shifts in the top 10 include Georgia, which sits at No. 4 with a 6-1 record and 1469 points. Texas Tech holds the No. 5 spot with a 6-0 record, while Indiana follows at No. 6 with a 6-1 record. Ole Miss remains at No. 7 with 1371 points, and Notre Dame, following their recent loss to BYU, sits at No. 8 with a 6-1 record.
Poll Methodology and Scoring
The US LBM Coaches Poll utilizes a weighted scoring system to determine the Top 25. A panel of head coaches, chosen by random draw conference by conference including independents, submits their rankings. In this system, a first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote is worth 24 points, and each subsequent rank decreases by one point down to one point for the 25th position.
Teams Falling and Receiving Votes
As the rankings move into the latter half of the season, several teams have dropped out of the top 25 entirely. Mississippi State and Oklahoma State are among the teams that have fallen out of the rankings. Additionally, several programs are currently receiving votes but remain outside the top 25, including Arizona, Oklahoma State, James Madison, Auburn, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oregon State, New Mexico, UTSA, Michigan, North Dakota State, Wisconsin, Duke, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Air Force, and North Texas.
Undefeated Teams in Top 25
The current poll reflects a season of high-stakes competition, with multiple teams maintaining undefeated records of 6-0, including Miami (FL), BYU, Texas Tech, UCLA, and Utah. These teams face increasing pressure as they move deeper into the regular season schedule.
