Texas has claimed the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 college football poll after orchestrating a stunning 24-23 comeback victory over previously top-ranked Ohio State, overcoming a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit in one of the season's most dramatic finishes.
The Longhorns' rise to the top represents a massive shakeup in the rankings following Week 2 action. Ohio State, which held 50 of 74 first-place votes in last week's Coaches Poll, has now dropped to sixth place after the crushing defeat.
"I'm so proud of our guys in all three phases," Texas quarterback Arch Manning said after the victory. "It wasn't very pretty, but we found a way to win. That's what good teams do." Manning completed 20 of 37 passes for 196 yards while leading three fourth-quarter touchdown drives to complete the comeback.
The loss continues a troubling trend for Ohio State under coach Ryan Day. The Buckeyes have now lost three straight games against Power Four competition dating back to last season, with their only win in the past four outings coming against Ball State in this season's opener.
"We really played well for three quarters and didn't play well enough in the fourth quarter, that's the bottom line," Day said after the game. "We stalled on some offensive drives, thought we had them on the ropes and didn't finish. We got to go back and figure out why that was."
The rankings upheaval extends beyond the top spot. Oregon suffered a major tumble after Oklahoma State's upset victory over the previously sixth-ranked Ducks. Oregon now sits at No. 18 in the Coaches Poll, marking the first time the program has been ranked outside the top 10 under coach Dan Lanning since September 2023.
Rounding out the new top five behind Texas are Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Miami, according to the Coaches Poll rankings released on September 13.
Michigan also made significant movement in the polls following an impressive victory over Oklahoma, helping the Wolverines regain momentum under first-year coach Kyle Whittingham after a disappointing season opener.
The dramatic reshuffling reflects the unpredictable nature of early-season college football, where established programs can see their championship hopes altered in a single afternoon. For Texas, the victory represents validation of coach Steve Sarkisian's program-building efforts and Manning's emergence as a clutch performer in high-pressure situations.
The new rankings will be officially released on September 20 at 2 p.m. ET, alongside the first regular-season AP Top 25 poll. Fan voting for predictions on the upcoming rankings opened on September 13 and will remain open until September 17 at 7 p.m. ET.
