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Texas Rises to No. 1 in AP Poll, Ohio State and Oregon Tumble and Michigan Returns to the Top 25
Texas’ comeback and upset losses by Ohio State and Oregon set up a likely new No. 1 and major ballot changes, voters said.
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Texas Longhorns claimed the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 poll, defeating the Ohio State Buckeyes 24-23 for their first top ranking since 2024.
Texas overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit, scoring 21 unanswered points to seal the win; tailback Hollywood Smothers secured victory with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with 25 seconds remaining.
After leading 23-3 through three quarters, the Buckeyes defense allowed 21 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes, forcing Ohio State out of the top five for the first time in two seasons.
Oregon plummeted 15 spots following a 39-31 road loss to Oklahoma State, while Michigan returned to the poll rankings after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 17-10 on Saturday.
The Southeastern Conference currently boasts nine ranked teams, including the top two spots in the AP Top 25, reflecting significant volatility as voters respond to Week 2 upsets.