The Latest: Georgia climbs to No. 4, Oklahoma returns to the top 10 of the AP Top 25

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The latest AP Top 25 poll features new teams in its top spots: Georgia inched up to No. 4, Ole Miss cracked the top five and Oklahoma slid into the top 10 at No. 8.

That’s Georgia’s highest ranking since the first week of September thanks to its 35-10 win over Texas. The Longhorns dropped seven spots to No. 17.

No. 22 North Texas is ranked for the first time since 1959, putting it in the thick of the race for the Group of Five’s automatic CFP bid.

That brings the number of Group of Five teams in the Top 25 to three, a first this season. The Southeastern Conference has five teams in the top 10.

Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M held onto the top three spots for a fifth straight week. Oregon and Texas Tech both moved up to tie at No. 6.

Alabama dropped six spots to No. 10.

Find out more about what happened in this week’s Top 25 poll and follow live updates from The Associated Press below.

Here's the latest:

Heating up: Georgia (4), Ole Miss (5), Texas Tech (T-6), Oregon (T-6), Oklahoma (8), BYU (11), Vanderbilt (12), Utah (13), Miami (14), USC (16), Virginia (19), Tennessee (20), James Madison (21), North Texas (22), Missouri (23), Tulane (24), Houston (25).

Cooling off: Alabama (10), Georgia Tech (15), Texas (17).

Steady: Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Texas A&M (3), Notre Dame (9), Michigan (18).

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Georgia

5. Ole Miss

6. Texas Tech

6. Oregon

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. BYU

12. Vanderbilt

13. Utah

14. Miami (Fla.)

15. Georgia Tech

16. USC

17. Texas

18. Michigan

19. Virginia

20. Tennessee

21. James Madison

22. North Texas

23. Missouri

24. Tulane

25. Houston

By BOB ASMUSSEN

I was waiting for the Illinois-Maryland game to start and following on my phone. As the score piled up, I started to consider who would move to No. 3 on my ballot.

Then the Aggies made the exercise moot with the best comeback in program history.

I really like A&M’s team and believe it is capable of winning the national title. But I like the two Big Ten teams a tiny bit more.

They all exceptional, well-coached squads, and if you told me any one of them would be the champ, I wouldn’t argue.

I always like teams that find a way to win when it looks hopeless. Like Indiana at Penn State. It makes an impression.

Bob Asmussen is a college football writer and columnist for the Champaign News-Gazette. He’s been an AP Top 25 voter for 15 years. You can follow him on X @BobAsmussen.

By MAURA CAREY

Texas A&M’s unbeaten record looked like it was about to come to an end on Saturday as the Aggies trailed 30-3 at halftime against South Carolina.

Then quarterback Marcel Reed threw three touchdown passes in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 30-24. The Aggies finalized the greatest come-from-behind win in program history in the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown and extra point.

By BOB ASMUSSEN

Yes, the Group of Five needs a bid. Just like the non-Power Four leagues need bids to the NCAA tournament. Let’s be honest, if left on their own, the Power Four will do what is best for them. Period.

I like the way it is now and hope it stays that way. Five conference champions with automatic bids, then everything else is at-large.

If the CFP expands, I don’t believe the Power Four should automatically gobble up all the bids. Pick the teams based on merit.

By MAURA CAREY

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, center, reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

Losing to Oklahoma marked Alabama’s first defeat since Week 1, when it fell to Florida State.

The Crimson Tide dropped to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in SEC play. Meanwhile, No. 5 Georgia asserted its dominance with a 35-10 win over Texas and improved to 9-1.

Georgia is likely to take over Alabama’s No. 4 CFP ranking and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it. The Bulldogs are also in line for the SEC Championship game in early December, where Texas A&M will likely await.

Oklahoma accomplished what no other SEC team has been able to do this season on Saturday and defeated Alabama, 23-21.

It was a standout performance for the Sooners’ defense, which recorded four sacks, forced two fumbles and returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown.

Oklahoma was the first team out of the 12-team bracket in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings. Now, the Sooners’ chances of making the postseason are very much alive, as long as they don’t fall to Missouri or LSU over the next two weeks.

Stock up: Georgia, Oklahoma, BYU, USC, Notre Dame.

Stock down: Alabama, Texas, Louisville, Iowa, Cincinnati, South Florida, Pitt.

No organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than The Associated Press, since 1936.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they do choose the voters. AP Top 25 voters comprise around 60 writers and broadcasters who cover college football for AP members and other select outlets. The goal is to have every state with a Football Bowl Subdivision school represented by at least one voter.

There is a 1-to-25 point system, with a team voted No. 1 receiving 25 points down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. After that, it’s simple: The poll lists the teams with the most points from 1 to 25, and others receiving votes are also noted.

Voting is done online, and the tabulation is automated.