Each week, the Sports editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams.
The Post Sports will break down its ballot each week. This week saw the top teams shuffle around with Georgia’s defeat of Alabama not affecting either program, but Texas’s loss to Oklahoma dropped them a couple. The big story has to be the Kentucky Wildcats, who for the second time in two weeks beat a team on a walk off 2-point conversion in overtime and are now in the top 15.
Read on for my Top 25 after week four, plus my top candidates to represent the Group of Six in this year's CFP.
Top 5
1. Georgia (6-0)
Fans are split on the outcome in Tuscaloosa Saturday night, as a late no-call set Georgia up to run out the clock and beat Alabama. I understand the idea, but one play never makes a game, and both the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide looked like title contenders, but Georgia ended up taking the win, which is why it remains at the top.
2. Miami (FL) (5-0)
The Hurricanes were on bye in week six but move up due to the loss by Texas. Miami hosts Florida State, and with two weeks of preparation, I expect Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney to keep the Hurricanes rolling against the Seminoles.
3. Notre Dame (6-0)
Quarterback CJ Carr has it working right now and is certainly in the mix of Heisman conversations. The bigger story for the Fighting Irish is their week seven contest and first true test against BYU. The Cougars are undefeated as well, and this matchup of the first two teams left out of the CFP in 2025 means a lot in terms of implications to this year’s bracket.
4. Texas (4-1)
Last week I called Oklahoma desperate, and despite a deficit to the Longhorns, the Sooners found another gear and won the Red River Rivalry. Texas started its 2026 strong, and one loss to a rival did not feel like it warranted a major drop, plus I wanted to honor the head-to-head victory the Longhorns have over Ohio State.
I expect Arch Manning and Texas to regroup and rebound this week in Austin against Florida and cement themselves as a title contender again.
5. Indiana (5-0)
Another week, another small drop for the Hoosiers. Indiana has done nothing but win since the start of 2025, but this season it looks like there may be a few chinks in the Hoosiers' undefeated armor, and the next team to take a shot at them is the Ohio State Buckeyes.
These two teams met in last year's Big 10 Championship Game. Indiana bested Ohio State, and Saturday in Bloomington, the Buckeyes may look to return the favor behind Heisman favorite Jeremiah Smith and their high-powered offense.
Who I added: 21 Houston, 22 Iowa, 23 Arizona and 25 James Madison
Houston and Iowa are familiar faces in the top 25, only dropping out to early losses but both teams are very talented and have schedules light enough the rest of the way that they will hope to stay put through the rest of 2026.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has the Wildcats in the heart of the Big 12 title race in 2026. Fifita has thrown for nearly 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. An early loss to BYU dropped this group early, but four straight wins put them at 5-1 and looking like a threat heading into the bye.
Two Group of Six programs are in the top 25 after six weeks of college football. The Dukes were one of two CFP representatives for the group last year, but in what appeared to be a rebuilding year, James Madison is undefeated at the halfway point of its year and is one Boise State slip up from back-to-back appearances in the CFP.
The Rest of the Top 25
6. Ohio State (5-1)
7. Alabama (5-1)
8. Texas Tech (5-0)
9. BYU (5-0)
10. Ole Miss (4-1)
11. Utah (5-0)
12. USC (6-1)
13. UCLA (5-0)
14. Kentucky (5-1)
15. Oklahoma State (4-1)
16. Missouri (5-1)
17. LSU (4-2)
18. Tennessee (5-1)
19. SMU (4-1)
20. Boise State (4-1)
21. Houston (5-1)
22. Iowa (5-1)
23. Arizona (5-1)
24. Oregon (3-2)
25. James Madison (6-0)
Who I Dropped: Pittsburgh, Florida, Nebraska and Minnesota
I feel bad for Panther fans. Quarterback Mason Heintschel got hurt after their week five win over Virginia Tech, and prior to his injury, he looked like one of the best quarterbacks in college football. Unfortunately, his absence was too much against North Carolina on Saturday, as Pittsburgh suffered its first loss of 2026. This loss dropped them from the poll and with Heintschel potentially ends their season in terms of CFP aspirations.
Florida won one of the biggest games of the year in week four against Ole Miss but since then has dropped two games. I can excuse one slip-up after a big win, but a 19-point loss at home to unranked South Carolina can not justify them staying in the polls this week.
Nebraska and Minnesota have a similar story in week six. The Big 10 caught up with them on an off week. Nebraska blew a lead to Indiana late, while the Golden Gophers looked horrible against Purdue, falling 41-13.
Best of the Group of Six: 20 Boise State, 25 James Madison, 30 New Mexico, 36 Memphis and 42 UNLV
Boise State’s story has not changed. The Broncos show up and get the job done and did so again against Fresno State. New Mexico was on bye, while Memphis beat a fiery UAB team 38-13. The Tigers, like James Madison need Boise State to lose again in 2026 but are certainly a team to watch out when it is time to build the bracket.
UNLV returns to these ranks after beating North Dakota State 13-7, and replacing them here. The Rebels needed a statement win to get back in CFP conversations and did just that.
