For the second straight week, Ohio State sits atop both the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll. After throttling Grambling State 70–0, the Buckeyes showed the kind of explosiveness Ryan Day demanded following the hard-fought win over Texas. Julian Sayin’s record-setting first half only reinforced why Ohio State deserves the bullseye that comes with being No. 1.

But around the country — and especially in the Big Ten — there were plenty of other storylines shaping this week’s rankings.

Big Ten Flexes Its Muscles

It was another strong weekend for the Big Ten’s upper tier.

• Penn State kept its No. 2 spot in both polls with a dominant 34–0 win over FIU, flashing a stifling defense and a balanced attack behind Drew Allar.

• Oregon, now officially a Big Ten member, hammered Oklahoma State 69–3, vaulting up to No. 4 in the AP and holding steady at No. 5 in the Coaches Poll. Dante Moore continues to look the part of a star.

• Illinois impressed with a 45–19 win at Duke behind Darian Mensah’s 334 passing yards. The Illini are now No. 9 in both polls, their highest ranking in decades.

• Michigan fell at Oklahoma 24–13, and the Wolverines slid to No. 23 AP / No. 22 Coaches. Bryce Underwood and Justice Haynes look like future stars, but growing pains are real.

• Indiana quietly moved to 2–0 with a 27–14 win over Old Dominion and sits in the top 25 of both polls (#22 AP, #19 Coaches).

The conference now boasts six ranked teams: Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, Illinois, and Michigan/Indiana.

Around the Country

• LSU continues to make noise, knocking off Louisiana Tech 23–7 and holding the No. 3 spot in both polls. Garrett Nussmeier looks poised.

• Miami rolled past Bethune-Cookman 45–3, and while they stayed at No. 5 AP, they sit at No. 6 in the Coaches Poll. That Week 1 win over Notre Dame already feels like a playoff resume booster.

• Florida State erupted for 77 points against East Texas A&M, jumping to No. 10 AP and No. 12 Coaches. Duce Robinson is quickly becoming a star.

• South Florida pulled off the upset of the weekend, taking down Florida 18–16. The Bulls are now ranked for the first time in years (#18 AP, #23 Coaches).

• Alabama responded to its Week 1 loss with a 73–0 drubbing of ULM, holding serve in the polls but still sitting outside the top 15.

• Texas bounced back with a 38–7 win over San Jose State, keeping them at No. 7 in the AP and No. 7 in Coaches. Arch Manning is finding his rhythm.

AP Top 25 Highlights (Week 3)

• Biggest Risers: Florida State (+4), Oklahoma (+5), South Florida (NR → 18).

• Biggest Fallers: Clemson (-4), Michigan (-8), Arizona State (12 → dropped).

• New Entrants: South Florida (#18), Auburn (#24), Missouri (#25).

Coaches Poll Highlights (Week 3)

• Biggest Risers: Florida State (+7), Oklahoma (+8), Iowa State (+4).

• Biggest Fallers: Michigan (-9), SMU (dropped from #16), Florida (dropped from #15).

• New Entrants: Utah (#21), South Florida (#23).

AP Top 25 – Week 3 (2025)

Coaches Poll – Week 3 (2025)

Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch