Each week, the Sports' editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams for the Student Media Poll.
The SMP is a nationwide poll featuring 25 student journalists from schools nationwide.
The Post sports staff breaks down its ballot each week. Here is a breakdown of the top five, those dropped from the Top 25 and those added.
Top 5
1. Ohio State (9-0)
The Buckeyes are the nation's number one, and they still sit atop my rankings as well. Still led by Heisman candidates wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin, Ohio State powered past Purdue on the road 34-10. Sayin threw for 303 yards and a touchdown. Smith caught that touchdown, adding to his total on the day, which was 10 catches for 137 yards in the win.
2. Indiana (10-0)
In short, we saw the catch of the year, and a quarterback struggle but still pull off a Heisman moment. The Hoosiers led all afternoon in Happy Valley until their fourth-quarter defensive lapse surrendered the lead.
Thankfully for them, quarterback Fernando Mendoza kept his composure, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. made an incredible toe-tap catch in the back of the endzone to help secure the 27-24 win as Indiana remains undefeated
3. Texas A&M (9-0)
Road environments in the SEC can be treacherous, but not for the 2025 Aggies. They went into Missouri off the bye and commanded the game from start to finish against a wounded Tigers team. Quarterback Marcel Reed continued to lead the way, passing for 221 yards and throwing two touchdown passes in the 38-17 win.
4. Alabama (8-1)
Just like Texas A&M, Alabama came into the week off the bye and at first looked a little flat-footed against rival LSU, but that didn’t last long. The Crimson Tide scored back-to-back touchdowns to finish the first half and never looked back, only allowing three field goals on defense in the 20-9 win. This win extended Alabama’s home winning streak to 17 games, the longest in college football, which bodes well as Oklahoma comes to town this week.
5. Oregon (8-1)
The rain is not your friend when you are a pass-first team, and the Ducks knew heading into their matchup with Iowa. Oregon did not worry. Instead, the Ducks buckled down and grinded out a tough 60-minute road win, and they used every bit of those 60 minutes. Trailing late, they marched out kicker Atticus Sappinton, who nailed a 39-yard field goal in the downpour to bring home the 18-16 win.
Who I Added: 23 Arizona State, 24 SMU and 25 USF
The Rest of the Top 25
6. Georgia (8-1)
7. Ole Miss (9-1)
8. Texas Tech (9-1)
9. Georgia Tech (8-1)
10. Texas (7-2)
11. Oklahoma (7-2)
12. BYU (8-1)
13. Vanderbilt (7-2)
14. Miami (FL) (7-2)
15. Notre Dame (7-2)
16. Utah (7-2)
17. USC (7-2)
18. Michigan (7-2)
19. Virginia (8-2)
20. Louisville (7-2)
21. Pittsburgh (7-2)
22. Cincinnati (7-2)
23. Arizona State (6-3)
24. SMU (7-3)
25. USF (7-2)
Who I Dropped: Missouri, Iowa and Washington
The SEC is hard enough to win at full strength, but an injury-depleted Missouri team was overpowered by a star-studded and undefeated Texas A&M squad. The Tigers fell to Alabama at the beginning of the month and that started a slide for them resulting in three losses in the last four. Missouri fell out of the rankings and college football playoff race.
Iowa has made a strong mark on the 2025 season, but it has taken three hard losses. This week against Oregon, the dominant defense and excellent run game of the Hawkeyes were outplayed and outmaneuvered in the final minutes, and fell in the rain at Kinnick Stadium. This third loss likely eliminates them from the Big 10 title race, but Iowa can still play spoiler for USC this week with a road upset.
Washington may have just taken the worst loss of the season. The trip to Wisconsin was supposed to be a boost to a solid resume, but instead turned into the worst-case scenario for a fringe team. The Huskies fell 13-10 against the strong Badger defense. The main cause was two turnovers and strong pressure up front to help close the door on the season for the Huskies.
