Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
AP College Football Top 25: Florida Rises to No. 8 on September 27, 2026
Florida is back in the top 10 for the first time in five years, while Oklahoma State, Boise State, UCLA and Kentucky enter a reshuffled poll.
Florida made the largest move in the September 27 AP Top 25, climbing 13 places to No. 8 after beating then-No. 4 Ole Miss. The Gators are in the top 10 for the first time in five years, while Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame kept the first three positions.
The poll also added four teams and dropped four after seven ranked teams lost in Week 4. Oklahoma State, Boise State, UCLA and Kentucky entered; Penn State, Michigan, Louisville and Texas A&M fell out.
Florida turned one ranked win into the poll’s biggest jump
Florida’s 24-point win over Ole Miss moved the Gators 13 places, from No. 21 to No. 8. AP reported that the rise was the program’s highest ranking since 2020 and its first top-10 placement since 2021.
Ole Miss fell five places to No. 9. The movement shows how one weekend reshaped the middle of the top 10 even though the first three teams did not change.
Four teams entered after seven ranked teams lost
Oklahoma State arrived at No. 19, Boise State at No. 22, UCLA at No. 23 and Kentucky at No. 24. AP noted that Boise State became the first Group of Six team ranked this season.
Penn State took the sharpest fall, dropping from No. 13 to unranked after losing at home to Wisconsin. Michigan, Louisville and Texas A&M also left the poll.
The new rankings set three ranked matchups next
No. 5 Ohio State visits No. 14 Iowa, No. 7 Alabama visits No. 16 Mississippi State, and No. 8 Florida travels to No. 25 Missouri. Those pairings give the next poll immediate pressure points.
Texas still leads after receiving 62 first-place votes, followed by Georgia and Notre Dame. Miami reached a season-high No. 4, and Ohio State moved to No. 5.
