The latest college football rankings brought major movement after a busy Week 3, with Ole Miss climbing to No. 4 after its 32-24 victory over LSU and the Southeastern Conference placing 10 teams in the Top 25.
Texas remained No. 1 for a second consecutive week, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Indiana. Miami, Ohio State, Alabama, BYU and LSU completed the top 10.
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College football rankings shift after Ole Miss win
Ole Miss made the largest move near the top of the poll, rising from No. 8 to No. 4 after defeating then-No. 7 LSU in Oxford, Mississippi, on September 19, 2026.
The Rebels built a 24-7 halftime lead before LSU rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Ole Miss regained control late, then sealed the result with an interception in the end zone with just over a minute remaining.
The victory moved Ole Miss to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC play. It also gave the Rebels their first top-five ranking since they finished No. 3 in the final poll of last season.
LSU dropped three places to No. 10 but remained in the top 10 after opening the season with a win over Clemson. The Tigers will face another ranked opponent when Texas A&M visits Tiger Stadium on September 26.
SEC leads all conferences with 10 ranked teams
The SEC accounted for 10 of the 25 ranked teams, the seventh time the conference has reached that mark in a regular-season poll. Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Texas A&M and Mississippi State represented the conference.
Florida entered the rankings at No. 21 after a 44-39 road win over Auburn. The Gators improved to 3-0, their first unbeaten start since 2019, under first-year head coach Jon Sumrall.
Mississippi State also returned to the Top 25 at No. 24 following a 41-34 comeback victory over South Carolina. The Bulldogs erased a 16-point deficit and earned their first ranking since 2022.
Texas A&M experienced the steepest fall in the poll, sliding from No. 9 to No. 23 after losing 31-21 at home to Kentucky.
Louisville makes biggest jump
Louisville was the biggest gainer in the updated college football rankings, moving seven spots to No. 16 after beating SMU 41-31 in a ranked conference matchup.
SMU fell six places to No. 22 after the defeat. The result left the Atlantic Coast Conference with three ranked teams: Miami at No. 6, Louisville at No. 16 and SMU at No. 22.
Oklahoma and Virginia dropped out of the Top 25. Oklahoma fell after a 14-6 win over New Mexico, while Virginia was removed following a 38-27 loss to West Virginia.
Full Top 25 breakdown
| Rank | Team | Previous rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1 |
| 2 | Georgia | 2 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | 3 |
| 4 | Ole Miss | 8 |
| 5 | Indiana | 4 |
| 6 | Miami | 5 |
| 7 | Ohio State | 6 |
| 8 | Alabama | 10 |
| 9 | BYU | 11 |
| 10 | LSU | 7 |
| 11 | Texas Tech | 13 |
| 12 | USC | 12 |
| 13 | Penn State | 14 |
| 14 | Tennessee | 15 |
| 15 | Utah | 17 |
| 16 | Louisville | 23 |
| 17 | Iowa | 18 |
| 18 | Michigan | 19 |
| 19 | Missouri | 20 |
| 20 | Oregon | 21 |
| 21 | Florida | Not ranked |
| 22 | SMU | 16 |
| 23 | Texas A&M | 9 |
| 24 | Mississippi State | Not ranked |
| 25 | Houston | 22 |
Ranked matchups to watch next
The new rankings set up several important games for the coming weekend.
- No. 1 Texas visits No. 14 Tennessee in the first meeting between the programs since the 1969 Cotton Bowl.
- No. 4 Ole Miss travels to No. 21 Florida in a matchup between unbeaten SEC teams.
- No. 17 Iowa meets No. 18 Michigan in a Big Ten clash.
- No. 19 Missouri visits No. 24 Mississippi State.
- No. 20 Oregon faces No. 12 USC.
- No. 23 Texas A&M visits No. 10 LSU.
Those games could produce another significant reshuffling, particularly in the SEC, where 10 ranked teams remain in contention and several are scheduled to face one another.
For now, Texas retains the top position, but Ole Miss has moved into the lead group after one of the weekend’s most significant wins. Florida and Mississippi State have also added depth to an already crowded conference race.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is No. 1 in the latest college football rankings?
Texas remains No. 1 after its 30-6 win over UTSA.
Why did Ole Miss move to No. 4?
Ole Miss climbed from No. 8 to No. 4 after defeating LSU 32-24 in Oxford on September 19, 2026.
How many SEC teams are ranked?
The SEC has 10 teams in the updated Top 25.
Which teams entered the Top 25?
Florida entered at No. 21 and Mississippi State entered at No. 24.
Which ranked games are scheduled next?
Key matchups include Texas at Tennessee, Ole Miss at Florida, Iowa against Michigan, Oregon at USC and Texas A&M at LSU.
Fact-Checked: Key rankings, records, scores and upcoming matchups were checked against official university athletics information and the latest national Top 25 listing.
Disclaimer: Rankings can change after each week of games and reflect the poll available on September 20, 2026.