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 will break 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 (10-0)
Columbus has been an impenetrable place to play in 2025. The Buckeyes continue to find another gear every week. When UCLA came to town this week, it was no different. They dominated the Bruins 48-10 behind four rushing scores
Ohio State did not walk away from this weekend unscathed. It was already without wide receiver Carnell Tate and lost its superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith in the first half, meaning the running game needed to take over, and it supplied. The Buckeyes ran for 222 yards on the day and had three different running backs score in the blowout win, but these injuries could linger and cost them another run at the national title.
2. Indiana (11-0)
There were four more touchdowns for the Heisman favorite Fernando Mendoza in Indiana’s 31-7 win over Wisconsin on Saturday. He has dazzled the Hoosiers fans and the college football world all season, and another strong performance may have just sealed his Heisman case. Indiana heads into the bye this week, but it still needs to have its head up for a win over Purdue in two weeks, which would their spot in the Big 10 title game.
3. Texas A&M (10-0)
The Aggies were down 30-3 at halftime to South Carolina at home, and their undefeated season looked to be in jeopardy, but thankfully for them, someone fell asleep at the wheel for the Gamecocks, and they roared back, scoring 28 unanswered points. This comeback was behind the arm of quarterback Marcel Reed and his 439 passing yards and three passing scores.
4. Georgia (9-1)
After a slow start, Gunner Stockton came to play. The junior quarterback had a slow start with his arm in the first number of weeks in 2025, but when the lights came on in Athens on Saturday, he turned into a machine. He threw four touchdown passes, plus one on the ground to outduel Texas quarterback Arch Manning and won 35-10 to put the Bulldogs back into the top five.
5. Oregon (9-1)
Friday night games can be a little wild as teams lose a day of prep, but the Ducks looked polished as ever in their 42-13 routing of Minnesota. They leaned on the run game for four touchdowns but quarterback Dante Moore also did his part, throwing for two scores in this well-rounded defeat of the Golden Gophers. The next game on the schedule is a big one as they host CFP hopeful USC in what could be an elimination game.
Who I Added: 21 North Texas, 22 Illinois, 24 Missouri and 25 James Madison
The best scoring offense in the country did it again on Saturday. The Mean Green average about 45 points per game to be the best in the nation, but also only allow about 24. This means, on average, they have been winning by three scores. This team looks poised to represent the Group of Five in the CFP this season with a strong finish to the year, and it starts this week at Rice.
There was so much energy around both Illinois and Missouri in 2025. They both brought in such strong classes of players and had the returning talent to be in the lens of national title contention. Unfortunately, they both have struggled in big games, so they will not be competing in the CFP, but in recent weeks have become bowl eligible and will look to play spoiler in the next two weeks.
James Madison has lost once this year and is hot on the tail of North Texas. Unfortunately for them, Duke lost to Virginia last week, meaning more than likely only one Group of Five school will be represented in the CFP bracket. The committee likes James Madison, but not by much, and any slip-up by either program meand their hopes to make the big dance will be dashed.
The Rest of the Top 25
6. Texas Tech (10-1)
7. Ole Miss (10-1)
8. Oklahoma (8-2)
9. BYU (9-1)
10. Alabama (8-2)
11. Miami (FL) (8-2)
12. Vanderbilt (8-2)
13. Notre Dame (8-2)
14. Utah (8-2)
15. Georgia Tech (9-1)
16. USC (8-2)
17. Virginia (9-2)
18. Michigan (8-2)
19. Texas (7-3)
20. Arizona State (7-3)
21. North Texas (9-1)
22. Illinois (7-3)
23. SMU (7-3)
24. Missouri (7-3)
25. James Madison (9-1)
Who I Dropped: Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and USF
The ACC saw two contenders lose tough home games this week. Louisville lost Friday night against a struggling Clemson team after missing an extra point and two fourth-quarter field goals in the 20-19 loss. The Panthers were just severely outplayed by a super-talented Notre Dame team that blew them out in front of the College Game Day crowd 37-15.
It appeared Cincinnati controlled its own fate in the Big 12 title race, but after a crushing 30-24 home loss against Arizona, it now needs to win out and get help from some conference rivals.
USF started this season with what appeared to be the upset of the year. In hindsight, the Bulls' down-to-the-wire win against 3-7 Florida looks weak and their third loss most likely eliminates them from a playoff opportunity. They lost in a high-scoring battle with Navy, 41-38, and allowed 338 yards on the ground to the Midshipmen in the process
