Week 3 AP Top 25: Ohio State Holds Steady at No. 1, Florida State and Tennessee Surge

The AP Top 25 college football rankings for Week 3 are out, and while the top remains largely unchanged, a few notable shakeups and surges highlight an early season that’s already showing its volatility.

Ohio State (2-0) retains its firm grip on the No. 1 spot after dismantling Grambling State 70–0, earning 57 first-place votes. The Buckeyes’ dominant showing leaves little doubt about their early-season form as they continue to headline the Big Ten.

Penn State (2-0) and LSU (2-0) hold steady at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, both delivering comfortable wins against non-conference opponents. Oregon (2-0) makes one of the week’s biggest jumps, climbing two spots to No. 4 after a statement 69–3 rout of Oklahoma State.

Meanwhile, the Georgia Bulldogs (2-0) slip two spots to No. 6 despite defeating Austin Peay 28–6, as their offensive performance left voters unconvinced compared to the explosive displays from their top-tier rivals.

The biggest movers this week included:

• Tennessee (No. 15), vaulting seven spots after a 72–17 demolition of East Tennessee State.

• Florida State (No. 10), climbing four spots behind a 77–3 thrashing of East Texas A&M.

• Oklahoma (No. 13), rising five spots after a pivotal 24–13 victory over Michigan, sending the Wolverines tumbling eight spots to No. 23.

Notre Dame (0-1) remains a top-10 team at No. 8 despite a narrow loss at Miami (FL), a decision that is sure to spark debate among fans and analysts alike.

The SEC remains the dominant force, placing eight teams in the rankings, including Alabama rebounding to No. 19 after a 73–0 rout of Louisiana-Monroe. The Big Ten and SEC now share the lion’s share of the Top 10, while the Big 12 continues to make noise with Iowa State (No. 14) and Texas Tech (No. 21) staying unbeaten.

Notable drops and exits: Clemson slipped to No. 12 after a lackluster 27–16 win over Troy, while Michigan’s loss to Oklahoma marked the most significant top-10 fall of the week. Florida, despite a 0-2 start, is among the “others receiving votes” but faces increasing pressure after a 16–18 upset loss to South Florida.

Week 3 Highlights to Watch

• Ohio State looks to maintain its stranglehold on No. 1 with a challenging conference opener next week.

• Tennessee’s resurgence raises questions about whether the Volunteers are legitimate contenders in the SEC East.

• Can Notre Dame justify its top-10 ranking despite being winless?

The AP poll, released September 7, shows that while the early season has had its predictable blowouts, the race for the College Football Playoff remains wide open with several traditional powers still finding their rhythm.