Texas Tech and Notre Dame Surge into AP Top 10 Ahead of CFP Rankings

The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll unveiled on Sunday features both Texas Tech and Notre Dame in the top 10, marking a notable moment for the Big 12 and the Irish. This is the first time in two years that two teams from the Big 12 have achieved this ranking. The upcoming release of the College Football Playoff (CFP) committee’s first rankings on November 7, 2023, adds to the anticipation surrounding the season as teams position themselves for the playoff bracket announcement on December 7, 2023.

Ohio State remains firmly at the top of the AP poll for a tenth consecutive week after a decisive victory over Penn State. The Buckeyes pulled away in the second half to secure their place at No. 1, followed closely by Indiana at No. 2. Indiana’s impressive performance against Maryland, where they scored over 50 points, solidifies their status near the top. The remaining spots in the top seven remain unchanged, with Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Ole Miss rounding out the rankings.

The reshuffling of teams occurred in the eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, with BYU, Texas Tech, and Notre Dame making their appearances following a series of losses by Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, and Miami. Miami’s downturn has been particularly stark, as the team fell from No. 2 to No. 18 after consecutive losses to previously unranked opponents. The distribution of first-place votes remained stable: Ohio State received 54, Indiana garnered 11, and Texas A&M received one.

Texas Tech re-entered the top 10 after a victory against Kansas State and now sits at No. 9. This marks their first appearance in the top 10 in three weeks. The Red Raiders’ ascent is mirrored by BYU, who climbed to No. 8, their highest ranking of the season. This past weekend, BYU maintained their momentum after a week off, marking six consecutive weeks of improvement since their debut in the poll at No. 25.

Notre Dame, back in the top 10 for the first time since Week 3, achieved their position after a solid win against Boston College, moving up two spots to No. 10. The Irish have now won six straight games, a streak that has allowed them to recover from an earlier slump that saw them drop to No. 24 after a loss to Texas A&M.

Oklahoma and Texas both made significant gains in the rankings, jumping seven spots to No. 11 and No. 13, respectively. Oklahoma secured their rise with a convincing win over Tennessee, while Texas triumphed over Vanderbilt. Tennessee faced the steepest decline, dropping nine spots to No. 23 following their defeat.

Washington also made headlines by re-entering the poll at No. 24 for the first time since their last appearance at the end of the previous season. The Huskies’ only losses this season have come at the hands of No. 1 Ohio State and a then-unranked Michigan.

As the season unfolds, the Big 12 prepares for a critical matchup this weekend, featuring No. 8 BYU against No. 9 Texas Tech. This game holds significant implications as the Red Raiders aim to break a 16-game losing streak against top-10 teams. Meanwhile, No. 3 Texas A&M will face No. 19 Missouri, continuing their pursuit of a top position within the SEC.

The upcoming rankings from the College Football Playoff committee will certainly influence the trajectory of these programs as they aim for postseason glory. With the intensity of college football at its peak, teams are poised to showcase their skills in the final stretch of the season.