AP Poll Reaction to Week 1 of College Football: What’s Next for Every Top 25 Team

After a week of games, there was little change in the poll. The only ranked team to lose in Week 1 was Louisville, which lost to then-No. 9 Ole Miss Michigan, with a last-second win over unranked Western Michigan, fell completely from No. 16 in the poll and was replaced by Virginia, which opened the season by beating North Carolina State. There’s sure to be more action in Week 2, headlined by Saturday’s Ohio State-Texas game.

Statistics courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times ET.

Previous rating: 1

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Ball State 56-3

Statistics you need to know: Ohio State’s 53-point win over Ball State is its biggest lead in a season opener under Ryan Day and its biggest lead in any season opener since 2016.

What’s next: Saturday, Texas, 7:30 p.m., ABC.

Previous rating: 3

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Tennessee defeated 63-3.

Statistics you need to know: Georgia’s 63 points were the highest in the first season since 1941.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Western Kentucky, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network

Previous rating: 4

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Wisconsin 41–13.

Statistics you need to know: Notre Dame became the fifth program to open the season with a 20-point win over a power conference opponent.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Rice, 3:30 p.m., NBC

Previous rating: 5

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Texas State won 59-7.

Statistics you need to know: The team’s 52-point win matches its largest margin of victory in the first six games of the season under Steve Sarkisian.

What’s next: Saturday – Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Previous rating: 6

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated North Texas 52–16.

Statistics you need to know: Indiana is on 17-game winning streak. It’s the longest streak by any Big Ten team since Ohio State won 19 straight in 2018-19.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Howard, noon, Big Ten Network

Previous rating: 2

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Boise State 34-27

Statistics you need to know: Oregon is now 2-3 all-time against Boise State.

What’s next: Saturday Oklahoma State, noon, ESPN.

Previous rating: 7

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Stanford won 45-6.

Statistics you need to know: Malachi Toney’s 234 receiving yards in the opener set a school record.

What’s next: Thursday – Florida A&M, 8 p.m., ACC Network

Previous rating: 11

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Clemson 51–10.

Statistics you need to know: Against Clemson, LSU set a program record for most first downs in a game with 38.

What’s next: Saturday – Louisiana Tech, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network+

Previous rating: 9

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Louisville won 41–38.

Statistics you need to know: Ole Miss’ win over Louisville was the 700th win in program history.

What’s next: Saturday – Charlotte, 7:45 p.m., ESPN2

Previous rating: 8

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Missouri 50-0.

Statistics you need to know: The Aggies’ win over Missouri State was their biggest shutout win over an FBS opponent since 1997.

What’s next: Saturday – Arizona State, noon, ABC

Previous rating: 10

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated UTEP 51-0

Statistics you need to know: Oklahoma has beaten UTEP in four season-opening games since 2012.

What’s next: Saturday in Michigan, noon, Fox.

Previous rating: 13

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated East Carolina 48-10.

Statistics you need to know: Alabama held East Carolina to 2 rushing yards, the fewest by an Alabama opponent since 2021.

What’s next: Saturday, Kentucky, 3:30 p.m., ABC.

Previous rating: 12

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Abilene Christian defeated 33-10.

Statistics you need to know: Texas Tech has now won three straight season openers.

What’s next: Saturday, Oregon, 7:30 p.m., CBS.

Previous rating: T14

2026 record: 2-0

First week result: Defeated Fresno State 39-0

Statistics you need to know: USC allowed a total of 116 yards against Fresno State, the fewest yards allowed in a game since 2008.

What’s next: Saturday – Louisiana, 11:00 p.m., Big Ten Network

Previous rating: T14

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Utah Tech 63-7

Statistics you need to know: BYU is now 10-1 in its season opener under Kalani Sitake.

What’s next: Saturday – Arizona, 3:30 p.m., Fox

Previous rating: 18

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Marshall 45-0.

Statistics you need to know: Penn State now has 26 straight wins over non-conference opponents.

What’s next: Saturday at Temple, noon, ESPN2.

Previous rating: 19

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Florida State won 27-24.

Statistics you need to know: SMU has won eight straight season openers.

What’s next: Saturday, UC Davis, 4 p.m., ACC Extra

Previous rating: 20

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Furman 56-9.

Statistics you need to know: Tennessee is 18-0 against FCS schools since the FCS/FBS split in 1978.​

What’s next: Saturday at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m., ESPN.

Previous rating: 17

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Washington State 24–10.

Statistics you need to know: Washington now has back-to-back wins over Washington State for the first time since 2022-23.

What’s next: Saturday – Utah State, 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network

Previous rating: 21

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Idaho 66-14.

Statistics you need to know: Utah’s 66 points against Idaho were the most in a first season since 1915.

What’s next: Saturday – Arkansas, 10:15 p.m., ESPN

Previous rating: 22

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Northern Illinois 40-0.

Statistics you need to know: Iowa is 10-1 all-time against Northern Illinois.

What’s next: Saturday – Iowa State, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous rating: 23

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated Oregon State 33–20.

Statistics you need to know: QB Conner Weigman had his eighth game since last season with a passing and rushing touchdown. He ranks third in those type of games in the FBS during that period.

What’s next: Saturday – Yuzhny, 19:00, ESPN+

Previous rating: 25

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Arkansas defeated Pine Bluff 54-14.

Statistics you need to know: Missouri has won 20 straight season-opening games against non-conference opponents.

What’s next: Friday in Kansas, 8 p.m., Fox.

Previous rating: 24

2026 record: 0-1

First week result: Lost to Ole Miss 38–41.

Statistics you need to know: Eight of Louisville’s nine losses over the last three seasons have been one-possession games.

What’s next: Friday – Villanova, 7 p.m., ACC Network

Previous rating: NR

2026 record: 1-0

First week result: Defeated North Carolina State 34-8

Statistics you need to know: Virginia’s 258 yards against NC State were the most in an ACC game since 2020.

What’s next: Friday vs. Norfolk State, 7 p.m., ACC Extra