College football was at its best on Saturday with top teams putting their status on the line in a series of prize fights, and after a state fair-sized upset in Dallas and a heavyweight bout in Tuscaloosa, we are set to have a new No. 1 team in the country. Texas occupied the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll ever since knocking off then-No. 1 Ohio State back in Week 2. The Longhorns' stunning loss to Oklahoma in the latest edition of the Red River Rivalry put the top spot on the table for the winner of Alabama's showdown with Georgia later that night in Tuscaloosa.
The two SEC powers delivered the theater you'd expect from the stage, allowing for Georgia's move to the top. The quality of the work done already this season limits some of the rankings damage for Texas and Alabama, as it was the first defeat of the year for both. The same cannot be said for the likes of Oregon and Florida, each of which could find themselves unranked heading into Week 7 as voters weigh the impact of ranked wins against multiple losses.
On a Saturday that mostly saw ranked teams handle their business, the Ducks and Gators' defeats as double-digit favorites provide plenty of opportunities for voters to shake up their ballots. Further down in the rankings, there is a dramatic rise projected for UCLA as the Bruins improved to 5-0 on the year with the win in Eugene, and some interesting debates for the final spots in the top 25. Here's how we think the new AP Top 25 poll will look on Sunday after the scores and results of Week 6: 1.
Georgia (2): The Bulldogs first win against Alabama in Tuscaloosa since 2007 is set to move this proud program back to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since September 2024. The reigning back-to-back SEC Champions put themselves in the driver's seat for a return to Atlanta with Saturday night's win against the Crimson Tide, but it's also going to mark a return to the very top of the sport as the team to beat in college football. 2. Notre Dame (3): From a rankings perspective, the Fighting Irish won't have an argument for No. 1 by comparing Week 6 results.
But there is still a ton to like from Notre Dame's latest thrashing of an ACC opponent. The Fighting Irish are continuing to get real game-breaking potential from freshman running back Jonaz Walton, who scored on touchdown runs of 97 and 40 yards in the 58-7 win against Stanford. 3. Miami (4): The Hurricanes were off in Week 6 and will be back in action next week against Florida State. 4.
Texas (1): This becomes fairly clear for voters who try to wrestle with adjusting a team that just lost to an unranked team as a touchdown favorite. The win doesn't validate Oklahoma as much as the loss invalidates Texas' claim to the No. 1 spot, and now, with a loss, the Longhorns enter the debate of "best one-loss teams." Here's where the head-to-head win against the Buckeyes from Week 2 serves as an anchor, keeping Texas inside the top 10 after a stunning rivalry defeat. 5. Ohio State (5): Ryan Day dialed up a heavy dose of the run game, Jeremiah Smith was a star again and the Buckeyes defense had the clamps down on Maryland all afternoon in a 45-16 win.
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