Longhorns Claim Top Spot in AP College Football Poll
Texas has seized the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the first time in 16 years, dethroning Georgia after the Bulldogs faced difficulties in maintaining an undefeated record. The Longhorns surged from the second position, garnering 35 first-place votes and 1,540 points, while Georgia, the previous top-ranked team, secured 23 first-place votes and 1,518 points.
Ohio State sits at No. 3 with five first-place votes, followed by Alabama and Mississippi at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Tennessee climbed to No. 6, swapping places with Missouri within the Southeastern Conference.
Notably, this marks the first time since the middle of the 2008 season that Texas has claimed the top spot in the polls. They are anticipated to maintain their position for at least another week as they prepare to face Louisiana-Monroe next, possibly with Arch Manning at the helm as the starting quarterback.
Arch Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, showcased his talent as he stepped in during the game against UTSA when starting quarterback Quinn Ewers sustained an abdomen injury. Coach Steve Sarkisian commended Manning for his performance in front of a crowd of 105,000.
Following a dominant showing by the SEC last week, the conference continued to assert its strength with six teams in the top seven positions. Further down the rankings, Miami rose two spots to No. 8, while Oregon held steady at No. 9 and Penn State dropped to No. 10.
In a trend that is not uncommon in college football, Georgia’s slip from the top spot marked the 94th instance since the inception of the poll in 1936. The Bulldogs narrowly escaped with a 13-12 victory over Kentucky, the lowest scoring output by a No. 1 team in victory since 2016.
Looking ahead, both Alabama and Georgia have a bye week to prepare for a highly anticipated matchup in Tuscaloosa on September 28, potentially leading to a reevaluation of the top spot.
Conference standings saw Boston College drop out of the rankings after a loss to Missouri, while Illinois and Texas A&M made their first appearances this season. The Big Ten tied a conference record with seven ranked teams, exemplifying the strength of the conference.
With several exciting matchups on the horizon, college football fans can anticipate thrilling games, including ranked showdowns between Tennessee and Oklahoma, USC and Michigan, and Utah and Oklahoma State.
Stay tuned for the latest updates on the AP Top 25 college football poll throughout the season.
Follow Ralph D. Russo on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP
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