AP Top 25: Georgia is No. 1, Big Ten grabs half of top 10
AUBURN, ALABAMA - OCTOBER 09: Stetson Bennett #13 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers during the first half at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 09, 2021 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Georgia was the new No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll Sunday by a unanimous vote, taking the top spot during the regular season for the first time since November 1982.
The Bulldogs (62 first-place votes) moved up one spot in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, a day after preseason No. 1 Alabama lost at Texas A&M. The defending national champion Crimson Tide slipped four spots to No. 5 after its first loss of the season.
After falling out of the rankings last week for the first time this season, the Aggies are back in at No. 21.
Alabama was one of two top-five teams to lose Saturday, opening the door for several teams to rise to rare heights.
Iowa is No 2, up one spot after winning a top-five matchup with Penn State. The Hawkeyes have their best ranking since they reached No. 1 in 1985.
No. 3 Cincinnati has its best ranking ever.
No. 4 Oklahoma moved up two spots after a come-from-behind victory against Texas in the Red River Rivalry.
No. 5 Alabama had a run of 14 straight polls at No. 1 snapped. It is out of the top three for the first time since 2019.
The Big Ten dominates the back half of the top 10 with Ohio State at No. 6, Penn State at No. 7, Michigan at eighth and Michigan State 10th. The Big Ten has five top-10 teams for the first time in the history of the AP poll, which dates to 1936.
Oregon slipped in at No. 9. Kentucky moved up five spots to No. 11 for the Wildcats’ best ranking since 2011.