Last week's ranked matchups produced fireworks. Ole Miss won a close one against Lane Kiffin and LSU in primetime while Texas Tech and Louisville notched wins over Houston and SMU, respectively. Florida and Mississippi State are newcomers to this week's poll after getting big wins against SEC opponents. Oklahoma, after scoring its fewest points in a win in decades against New Mexico, dropped from the rankings.
Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.
All times ET.
1. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 1
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated UTSA 30-6
Stat to know: Texas is now 3-0 all time against UTSA
What's next: Saturday at Tennessee, noon, ABC
2. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 2
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Arkansas 45-17
Stat to know: Georgia is 3-0 for the 12th straight season, the longest streak by an FBS team in the AP poll era.
What's next: Saturday vs. Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 3
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Michigan State 27-10
Stat to know: Notre Dame has won 13 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the FBS.
What's next: Saturday at Purdue, 2 p.m., Peacock
4. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 8
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated LSU 32-24
Stat to know: This is the first season in which Ole Miss has defeated two AP top 10 teams in its first three games.
What's next: Saturday at Florida, 3:30 p.m., ABC
5. Indiana Hoosiers
Previous ranking: 4
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Western Kentucky 38-0
Stat to know: Indiana has posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since 1993.
What's next: Friday vs. Northwestern, 8 p.m., Fox
6. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 5
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Wake Forest 33-20
Stat to know: Darian Mensah completed 35 consecutive passes across his past two games, setting an ACC record.
What's next: Friday vs. Central Michigan, 6:30 p.m., The CW
7. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 6
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Defeated Kent State 59-3
Stat to know: Against Kent State, Jeremiah Smith moved into the lead in career receiving yards at Ohio State.
What's next: Saturday vs. Illinois, noon, Fox
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 10
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Florida State 50-36
Stat to know: Alabama's 50 points were its most against a power-conference opponent since 2022.
What's next: Saturday vs. South Carolina, 7 p.m., ESPN
9. BYU Cougars
Previous ranking: 11
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Colorado State 41-23
Stat to know: BYU has started 3-0 in four consecutive seasons.
What's next: Oct. 3 at TCU
10. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 7
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Lost to Ole Miss 32-24
Stat to know: LSU has now lost four straight games against AP top 10 opponents.
What's next: Saturday vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., ABC
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Previous ranking: 13
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Houston 28-26
Stat to know: This is Texas Tech's second 3-0 start in five seasons under Joey McGuire.
What's next: Saturday vs. Sam Houston, noon, TNT
12. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 12
2026 record: 4-0
Last week's result: Defeated Rutgers 42-35
Stat to know: USC has now started 4-0 four times under Lincoln Riley
What's next: Saturday vs. Oregon, 7:30 p.m., NBC
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous ranking: 14
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Buffalo 55-13
Stat to know: Penn State has won 31 straight home games against unranked nonconference opponents.
What's next: Saturday vs. Wisconsin, 5 p.m., Peacock
14. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 15
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Kennesaw State 42-9
Stat to know: Tennessee has started 3-0 in three of six seasons under Josh Heupel.
What's next: Saturday vs. Texas, noon, ABC
15. Utah Utes
Previous ranking: 17
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Utah State 33-0
Stat to know: Utah has won 16 of its past 17 games against Utah State dating back to 1998.
What's next: Saturday at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., Fox
16. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: 23
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Defeated SMU 41-31
Stat to know: This is the third time in program history Louisville has opened the season with three consecutive games scoring 38 points.
What's next: Saturday vs. Wake Forest, noon, ESPN
17. Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous ranking: 18
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Northern Iowa 55-0
Stat to know: Iowa's win over Northern Iowa is its largest shutout win since 2018.
What's next: Saturday at Michigan, 3:30 p.m., CBS
18. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: 19
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated UTEP 52-17
Stat to know: Michigan has won 11 straight games against Mountain West opponents.
What's next: Saturday vs. Iowa, 3:30 p.m., CBS
19. Missouri Tigers
Previous ranking: 20
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Troy 27-17
Stat to know: Missouri is 4-1 all-time against Troy.
What's next: Saturday at Mississippi State, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
20. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 21
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Defeated Portland State 84-0
Stat to know: The win over Portland State was Oregon's largest shutout win since 1916.
What's next: Saturday at USC, 7:30 p.m., NBC
21. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: NR
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated Auburn 44-39
Stat to know: Florida is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2019.
What's next: Saturday vs. Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m., ABC
22. SMU Mustangs
Previous ranking: 16
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Lost to Louisville 41-31
Stat to know: SMU was 4-0 against Louisville before this season.
What's next: Saturday vs. Missouri State, 9 p.m., ACC Network
23. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous ranking: 9
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Lost to Kentucky 31-21
Stat to know: The loss to Kentucky snapped a 19-game win streak against unranked opponents at home.
What's next: Saturday at LSU, 7:30 p.m., ABC
24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous ranking: NR
2026 record: 3-0
Last week's result: Defeated South Carolina 41-34
Stat to know: Mississippi State's 41 points against South Carolina on Saturday tied a program record for most points in series history.
What's next: Saturday vs. Missouri, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network
25. Houston Cougars
Previous ranking: 22
2026 record: 2-1
Last week's result: Lost to Texas Tech 28-26
Stat to know: Conner Weigman became the first Houston quarterback with three passing touchdowns in back-to-back games since Donovan Smith.
What's next: Saturday at Georgia Southern, 4 p.m., ESPNU