Georgia Reclaims No. 1 After Dominating Ole Miss in AP Poll

Georgia reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll on November 8, 2026, following a 42-7 victory over Ole Miss and Miami’s defeat at Notre Dame.

The Bulldogs gathered 53 out of 70 first-place votes after dominating the contest in Oxford, where they surged to a 35-0 lead late in the third quarter. The Hurricanes, who fell to No. 5, suffered their first loss of the season in the marquee Saturday night matchup.

Georgia Rout and Miami Defeat Shake Up Polls

The team previously held the top spot before dropping following an upset loss to Auburn. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who secured his first win in three attempts at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, noted that the performance was a step forward for the program. It was good to get that out of the way, Smart said.

Because there’s been some whoopings in here, man. Georgia safety KJ Bolden added, We could’ve put up 60, I feel like. I feel like we kind of got a little relaxed with them, could’ve got a shutout. Our standard’s high at Georgia.

Miami’s loss was compounded by the absence of their top player, wide receiver Malachi Toney. While the Hurricanes showed championship mettle by battling back after trailing 24-3 early in the third quarter, the team’s pass rush failed to record a sack.

Defensive players Damon Wilson II and Armondo Blount were held without a tackle, leaving the defense unable to contain Notre Dame down the stretch. UCLA climbed to No. 4 with a 9-0 record after defeating Minnesota 34-20, marking the program’s best start since 1998, as quarterback Ty Diffenbach connected with Aidan Mizell for two 75-yard touchdowns.

Risers and Fallers Across Top 25

Indiana remained at No. 6 during a Week 10 bye week, while Alabama rose to No. 7 following a victory at LSU. The win over the Tigers marked LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s 0-6 career record against the Crimson Tide.

Texas moved up to No. 8 after defeating Missouri 34-20, and Tennessee jumped to No. 9 following a 34-6 win over Kentucky. Tennessee fans have expressed frustration over Alabama being ranked ahead of them, noting the Volunteers beat the Crimson Tide by 16 points earlier this season.

Ohio State experienced the steepest fall of the week, sliding 10 spots to No. 21 after a 41-28 home loss to Oregon. The Buckeyes, who are now 6-3, face a potential playoff-less path after giving up 41 points. Missouri and Florida were dropped from the rankings entirely after their respective losses.

Playoff Implications and Schedule Impact

The College Football Playoff committee will release its second set of rankings on Tuesday, showing how the committee currently ranks the teams. USC is currently 7-2 but faces scrutiny over a resume that includes a notable win against a three-loss Ohio State team and losses to Oregon and Wisconsin. Georgia prepares to host Missouri, while No. 2 Utah travels to face No. 22 Arizona, and No. 8 Texas heads to No. 24 LSU.

AP Top 25 Rankings for Week 11

Earlier coverage: CFP Committee Names Miami No. 1 in First 2026 Rankings

More on this story: College Football Power Index Week 8: Ohio State Returns to No. 1 · CFP Committee Names Miami No. 1 in First 2026 Rankings · College Football AP Poll Week 9: New Mexico Enters Top 25 As Miami Leads New Top Five