Power Rankings: Oregon stays on top, South Carolina joins top 25
It was an exciting week of matchups with a lot of movement in this week’s top 25.
After No. 3 Penn State took an early lead in the first quarter, No. 4 Ohio State came back and held onto the lead throughout the second half, securing a big win at Beaver Stadium.
Following a 24-point win over No. 10 Texas A&M, we welcome South Carolina into this week’s top 25 list, alongside Vanderbilt after a victory over Auburn.
How did Saturday’s action affect our Power Rankings?
Here’s the latest top 25 from our college football experts, who provide their insight on each team’s Week 10 performance.
Previous ranking: 1
Though it may have taken a few weeks for quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the Oregon offense to be fully in sync, what has transpired over the past five games has been nothing short of exactly what Gabriel and the Ducks envisioned when he transferred to Eugene this offseason.
As Oregon has shown itself to be the best team in the country, Gabriel and offensive coordinator Will Stein’s offense have become a symphony of efficient production and, most importantly, winning. Gabriel has now thrown for 2,371 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes on his way to leading one of the top offenses in the nation. — Paolo Uggetti
Previous ranking: 2
It was physical and frustrating, but Georgia eventually took over in a 34-20 win over Florida. For the second straight game, the Bulldogs had to overcome three Carson Beck interceptions — he’s now thrown 11 in the past five games! — but he also threw a pair of second-half touchdown passes. Florida led 13-6 at halftime, but once the Gators’ starting quarterback, DJ Lagway, left the game with injury in the second quarter, a UGA comeback felt inevitable. It was. In the end, Georgia proved that its most important quality is depth. The Bulldogs have more ways to wear down an opponent and eventually prevail than just about everyone else in the country. They are, after all, 49-3 since the start of 2021.
Beck really does need to cut down on the picks, though. I mean, goodness. — Bill Connelly
Previous ranking: 5
Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has already tied Cris Carter’s Ohio State true freshman record set in 1984 with eight touchdown receptions. During Saturday’s 20-13 victory over Penn State, the 18-year-old phenom also broke Carter’s school freshman receiving yards record, hauling in a game-high 55 yards on four catches.
On a loaded Ohio State roster stocked with future pros, including running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, Smith has stood out, highlighted by his dazzling, one-handed catches in the end zone. Smith amazingly won’t be eligible for the NFL draft until 2027. That is bad news for opposing Big Ten defensive backfields, both for the rest of this season and beyond. — Jake Trotter
Previous ranking: 6
It is undeniable what Cam Ward has done for Miami since his arrival from Washington State. Ward has planted himself firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation with his stellar play. It continued in a 53-31 win over Duke, when Ward had to lead the Hurricanes to a comeback win. For the third time this season, Ward’s magic helped erase a double-digit deficit. What was a 28-3 Duke run was quickly erased with a scoring blitz that featured three touchdown passes from Ward.
In all, Ward threw for 400 yards, five touchdowns and an interception. On the season, he has already thrown for 3,146 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions while adding three more scores on the ground. In nine games, he has eight 300-plus yard performances. — Andrea Adelson
Previous ranking: 3
Texas had a bye week, an opportunity for Steve Sarkisian to keep working on an offense that has been spotty of late, set back by inconsistency and some injuries at wide receiver and a banged-up offensive line. A bright spot, however, has been the emergence of Gunnar Helm, the Longhorns’ leading receiver in both catches (31) and yards (419) after stepping into a starting role following the departure of Ja’Tavion Sanders for the NFL. He has been a dependable target, with Sarkisian saying he has become a complete player, a benefit for Quinn Ewers in what Texas hopes is an efficient passing attack. Texas has Florida up next, followed by a hostile trip to Arkansas. — Dave Wilson
Previous ranking: 7
Until Saturday, Indiana had not trailed in a game all season. With the 47-10 win at Michigan State, the 9-0 Hoosiers have won every game by double digits. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who ranks second nationally in QBR (91.6), is the biggest reason the Hoosiers have already tied a program record for wins in a season. Rourke missed last week’s game against Washington following surgery to his injured right thumb, but showed no lingering issues against the Spartans.
Rourke threw for 263 yards and tied a season high with four touchdown passes. The transfer from Ohio has now thrown 19 touchdowns with only three interceptions. With him leading the way, the Hoosiers remain in the thick of the Big Ten title race — and on track to make the playoff. — Trotter
Previous ranking: 8
As is often the case, exceptional quarterback play has a chance to lift any team into championship consideration. That is what has happened at BYU with Jake Retzlaff under center. Retzlaff has thrown for 1,872 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding three scores and 303 yards on the ground.
BYU had an open date to prepare for its Holy War rivalry game at Utah, one that has large significance not just because it is their first meeting since 2021. BYU will be favored going on the road against a scuffling Utah team. To keep those Big 12 and CFP hopes alive, the Cougars are going to have to keep the wins coming, and that means more steady performances from Retzlaff leading the way. — Adelson
Previous ranking: 4
Tyler Warren has stretched the imagination of what a tight end can do in a game, and Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki has quite the imagination. The 6-foot-6, 261-pound Warren has lined up at different spots, including quarterback, and steamrolled his way to the top of Mackey Award consideration for a Penn State team lacking elite wide receivers.
Not surprisingly, Warren supplied Penn State’s two longest plays Saturday against Ohio State, a 31-yard reception and a 33-yard direct-snap run that put the team in position to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter. But he inexplicably didn’t get another touch after a quiet first half and Penn State fell 20-13, dropping its eighth straight to Ohio State and fourth at home. Warren leads PSU with 51 receptions for 606 yards this season and has been the team’s most consistent offensive threat. — Adam Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 11
The Vols have been just shaky enough all season on offense to give pause to any real conversation that they could be a national championship contender. But then you look at what they continue to do on defense each week, and it’s hard not to include the Vols in that conversation. They held off Kentucky 28-18 on Saturday at home and have still yet to give up more than 19 points in a game all season.
Two of Tennessee’s touchdowns were set up by turnovers, and Dylan Sampson bounced back from an early fumble to score two touchdowns, giving him 19 on the season to break the Tennessee single-season record that had stood for 100 years. The Vols (7-1, 4-1) remain at home next week against Mississippi State before traveling to Georgia on Nov. 16 for a game that will have major national and SEC implications. — Chris Low
Previous ranking: 13
The Irish were off in Week 10, which was probably for the best, given the shake-ups in the middle of the rankings. Notre Dame should benefit from some of the chaos, and its spot in a 12-team playoff looks strong, assuming the Irish win out. They’re one of just 13 remaining Power teams with zero or one losses, and they have the luxury of avoiding a conference title game loss, too. The remaining schedule includes woeful Florida State, listless Virginia and sagging USC, along with undefeated Army. Odds are in Notre Dame’s favor for an 11-1 finish, which could land it a home playoff game in the opening round. — David Hale
Previous ranking: 16
There is arguably no single player in college football who has been more impactful to his team’s success this season than Ashton Jeanty. In the past two weeks, Jeanty has gone from superhuman to simply very good, and the 7-1 Broncos still go as he does. In eight games this season, Jeanty now has 1,525 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Both numbers are leading the country.
It is to Jeanty’s ultimate credit that a 149-yard, 31-carry, two-touchdown night in a win against San Diego State on Friday night feels not just like par for the course, but like a diminished version of him. That is what happens when Jeanty makes crossing the 200-yard threshold look easy and can score six touchdowns in a game at will. Jeanty’s dominance has carried Boise State’s season and its quest for a playoff berth in the new configuration of the College Football Playoff. Should it claim one of the 12 spots, it’ll be because of Jeanty; and if it makes any noise in the new format and pulls off an upset or two, you can bet that Jeanty will be at the center of it all. — Uggetti
Previous ranking: 19
Kevin Jennings took over the starting job from Preston Stone after the Mustangs’ only loss, a 15-18 setback to undefeated BYU in which the offensive line struggled. Jennings’ dual-threat ability has provided a spark for the Mustangs, until a five-turnover performance in a 28-27 win over Duke. But he lit it up on the big stage against Pitt, going 17 of 25 for 306 yards with two touchdowns, and a partnership with running back Brashard Smith (23-161-2 TDs, including a 71-yarder) showed the big-play capability of the Mustangs’ offense.
Along with Jennings’ 80-yard TD pass to Matthew Hibner, it marked the first time in the past 25 seasons that SMU had a 70-yard pass and a 70-yard run in same game. With Clemson’s loss, SMU controls its own road to the ACC title game and Jennings is in the drivers’ seat. — Wilson
Previous ranking: 15
To be fair, quarterback Jalen Milroe isn’t the only one on Alabama’s team that’s been hot and cold. That’s sort of been the story of Alabama’s season to this point. There aren’t any more mulligans remaining for the Crimson Tide (6-2, 3-2) if they’re going to make a run at the College Football Playoff. They almost certainly will need to win out, and that starts this coming Saturday at LSU.
Both teams will be coming off bye weeks. Alabama’s last outing was its most complete game of the season, a 34-0 shutout of Missouri. Most importantly, the Crimson Tide didn’t have any turnovers and cut their penalties from 15 in the loss to Tennessee to seven. Milroe will be key for the Tide the rest of the way. He’s a dynamic playmaker, but doesn’t need to feel as if he has to do too much. If he stays within the framework of what Kalen DeBoer wants him to do and takes care of the ball, Alabama has a chance to close the season with its best football. — Low
Previous ranking: 20
There are several members of the Rebels’ defense worthy of the spotlight, but it’s difficult to look past QB Jaxson Dart, the SEC’s leading passer, especially after his historic Week 10 explosion at Arkansas. The senior quarterback began the weekend ranked third nationally in passing yards before erupting for 515 passing yards and six touchdowns in a 63-31 win over the Razorbacks.
The performance shattered the single-game Ole Miss records for yards passing and touchdown throws, and Dart joined Missouri’s Drew Lock (2017) as the second SEC quarterback to log 500-plus yards and six touchdowns in a game since 1996, per ESPN Research. The Rebels’ preseason playoff aspirations might be on the ropes entering the final quarter of the regular season, but three years after Dart arrived at Ole Miss from USC, he’s cemented himself this fall as the SEC’s top quarterback. — Eli Lederman
Previous ranking: 9
South Carolina lighting up Texas A&M’s defense for 530 yards and 44 points was the most glaring problem Saturday night in a 44-20 road rout that knocks the Aggies out of the top 10 and into a tie atop the SEC standings. But running back Le’Veon Moss getting carted off in the first quarter after an apparent right knee injury was a more ominous development. Moss has been the Aggies’ offensive MVP and the third-leading rusher in the SEC (765 yards). He’s a tough, explosive back who makes their offense move no matter who’s playing QB.
Coach Mike Elko acknowledged it doesn’t look good, but he’s hopeful it’s not necessarily a season-ending one. The loss in Columbia was ugly in many ways, but the schedule still sets up favorably for Texas A&M to be 9-2 when it’s time to face Texas in a game that ought to have significant SEC and CFP implications. — Max Olson
Previous ranking: 18
The bye week hit at an ideal moment for this team, giving the Tigers two weeks to get over their loss at Texas A&M and prepare for a season-defining showdown with Alabama in Death Valley. That game brings a moment of truth for Will Campbell and LSU’s leaders coming off a humbling road loss. The 6-foot-6, 323-pound left tackle has solidified his reputation as an early first-round pick during his junior season and hasn’t allowed a sack, but this offense did not handle pressure well during their second-half collapse in College Station.
They’ll have a strong plan to set up Garrett Nussmeier for success against Kane Wommack’s Tide defense, but can Campbell and the Tigers’ talent O-line bring the fight for four quarters and take control of this game? Their CFP ambitions depend on it. — Olson
Previous ranking: 21
All eyes will be on Bryson Daily this week, the Black Knights’ star quarterback and main cog in an offense that leads the country in rushing. He missed Saturday’s 20-3 win over Air Force with an undisclosed injury after not being able to practice all week. Junior Dewayne Coleman filled in for Daily and made his first career start in a game the Army defense dominated. The Black Knights forced as many turnovers (three) as they gave up points. Coleman was solid and didn’t turn it over, but Army needs to get Daily back to be a real factor in the playoff chase. Coach Jeff Monken said he fully expects to get Daily back this season and hopes to have him back in the lineup for the trip to North Texas this coming weekend. Army (8-0, 6-0) is off to its best start in nearly 30 years but was clearly not as explosive offensively without Daily. The Black Knights were held to a season low in points (20) and total yards (255). — Low
Previous ranking: 12
The Cyclones found themselves in need of another fourth-quarter comeback to stay undefeated. Rocco Becht delivered a 44-yard touchdown pass in the clutch to pull ahead of Texas Tech with 2 minutes left, but their defense could not find a way to get one more stop. The Red Raiders’ 23-22 upset win on a rainy, sloppy day in Ames was a stunner, but don’t count this team out yet. Becht has been far from perfect as a redshirt sophomore but has played with poise in big moments and has two All-Big-12-caliber wideouts in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel whom he can always count on. They’re going to have to play their best ball yet if this team hopes to win out and play for a conference title. — Olson
Previous ranking: 22
Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter was limited against Kansas State and Arizona last month, but roared back into form last week against Cincinnati with nine catches for 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The two-way threat should be at — or at least close to — full health after this week’s bye to be ready to lead the Buffaloes down the stretch as they compete for the Big 12 title. If Hunter keeps making an impact on both sides of the ball and the Buffs keep winning, it would be a shock if he doesn’t get, at minimum, an invitation to New York City. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: 10
Just when it appeared the Clemson offense had turned a corner, reality hit in a 33-21 loss to Louisville. The same issues that Georgia exposed came back to the surface, after the Tigers had reeled off six wins over average teams at best. Cade Klubnik was off, throwing for 228 yards without any real explosive plays to get the offense going. Barrett Carter, normally reliable, was relatively quiet as the defense often looked out of position and had a tough time tackling.
The most impactful player from a consistency standpoint might just be running back Phil Mafah, who is averaging 6.3 yards per carry this season, with 853 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. What is particularly perplexing is the way Clemson could not get its running game going against Louisville early in the game, again trying to rely on an inconsistent passing game to win. Mafah scored two touchdowns late, but the game was already out of reach. — Adelson
Previous ranking: 23
Cougars quarterback John Mateer entered the weekend as one of five FBS quarterbacks with at least 2,000 yards passing, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions or fewer — a select group that includes former teammate Cam Ward (Miami), Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Louisville’s Tyler Shough. On top of that, Mateer has rushed for 575 yards and 10 touchdowns. With four winnable games left on the schedule, the Cougars have a chance to equal their single-season wins record (11) before the postseason. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: 14
Eli Holstein has been a game-changer for Pitt this season, elevating last year’s 77th-ranked passing offense into one of the best in the ACC, coming into the SMU game with 1,805 yards and 17 TDs to five interceptions. But in a blowout loss in Dallas, the Mustangs held the Pitt offense in check, with Holstein going 29-of-47 for 248 yards with one touchdown and one lost fumble on a sack. But the bigger concern for a Pat Narduzzi-led team were the big plays given up by the defense, including two 43-yarders and an 80-yarder, along with a 71-yard touchdown run. — Wilson
Previous ranking: 17
It’s not a coincidence that Kansas State’s deflating loss to Houston on Saturday came after running back DJ Giddens‘ least effective performance of the season. He ran for just 50 yards on 17 carries. Giddens’ consistency all year was a big reason for the Wildcats’ 7-1 start, but after this loss, their hopes of reaching the Big 12 title game — and the playoff — took a major hit. Even if Kansas State wins out, it wouldn’t be guaranteed a spot in the title game and would need help elsewhere. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: NR
Shane Beamer believed his South Carolina team was ready to play its best football down the stretch and make this a November to remember. Their 44-20 rout of No. 10 Texas A&M certainly made that statement. The Gamecocks’ 530 yards of total offense was their most against an SEC foe since their stunning 63-38 upset of Tennessee in 2022. This game felt awfully similar, a November night game at Williams-Brice Stadium that they controlled from start to finish. When Raheim Sanders plays like he did Saturday night — 144 rushing yards, 92 receiving yards and two TDs on 25 touches — this team becomes hard to stop. South Carolina’s defense deserves plenty of credit as well for slowing down Marcel Reed and never letting the Aggies rally in a second-half shutout. — Olson
Previous ranking: NR
Diego Pavia has been the motor to Clark Lea’s most successful season in charge of the Commodores, and the transfer quarterback has Vanderbilt bowl eligible for the first time since 2018 after Saturday’s 17-7 win at Auburn. The element of grit Pavia injected into Vanderbilt upon his offseason arrival from New Mexico State has been present in the program’s best performances this fall — most of all in the Commodores’ Oct. 5 upset of then-No. 1 Alabama — and the fifth-year passer enters the final weeks of the regular season on pace for the program’s most accurate passing season since 2020. His 563 rushing yards rank first among SEC quarterbacks. Vanderbilt’s Week 10 trip to Auburn marked Pavia’s tamest showing of the season (9-of-22 for 143 yards), but he was still responsible for both of Vanderbilt’s touchdowns in the 10-point win as Pavia improved to 3-0 against Hugh Freeze all-time. Powered by Pavia’s energy, Vanderbilt has victories over Alabama and Auburn in the same season for the first time since 1955 and sits on the verge of its highest win total since 2013. — Lederman
