Penn State lost back-to-back games for the first time under James Franklin.
We are halfway through the season for so many teams with the Memphis Tigers (6-0) already clinching a bowl spot. They are one of 15 undefeated teams still in the hunt for a playoff spot, while four teams (Maryland, Louisville, Iowa State, and Houston) were handed their first loss of the season. All of the four teams who suffered their first loss were to formidable opponents (Washington, Virginia, Cincinnati, and Texas Tech respectively), but Penn State and Texas found themselves in unforgiveable territory. The Nittany Lions were fresh off their loss to Oregon and looked for a west coast trip against winless UCLA as a good spot to rebound. Unfortunately, they must have been jet lagged, because they spotted the Bruins a lead they could not overcome and face a long flight home.
Arch Manning struggled again.
In the Swamp, a preseason Heisman favorite, Arch Manning, struggled again in the big moment for Texas. Like the Nittany Lions, the Longhorns spotted their 1-3 opponent a large lead that they could not overcome late in the game. Granted, the Gators had lost to three-straight quality opponents, so it wasn't as shocking as UCLA, but the relentless pressure that Manning faced all game (6 sacks, 2 INT) showed that Texas has more than just QB problems at the moment. There's no rest for the wicked in the SEC as Florida follows up with Texas A&M (5-0), while Texas participates in the Red River Showdown with Oklahoma (5-0).
UNLV stayed undefeated, even in the first snow game of the season in Wyoming.
The SEC to no one's surprise, tops the Conference Power Index early in the season with the Big Ten and Big 12 following close behind. The MAC has crowned itself the worst conference by having only one team with a winning record (Toledo) and the only conference without a team in the Top 50. The Power Index is measured by teams in the Top 50 and teams ranked 100 or lower to show a conference's competitiveness. Here's a look at the first one for this season:
SEC (+8): Top 50: Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, and Mississippi State Rated 100 or Lower: Florida and Arkansas
Big Ten (+7): Top 50: Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Illinois, USC, Washington, Michigan, Nebraska, and Maryland R100: Purdue and UCLA
Big 12 (+6): Top 50: Texas Tech, BYU, Iowa State, Arizona State, TCU, Cincinnati, Utah, Houston, Arizona, and Kansas R100: Kansas State, West Virginia, Colorado, and Oklahoma State
ACC (+5): Top 50: Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Louisville, Duke, Cal, and NCST R100: Virginia Tech and Boston College
AAC (+2): Top 50: North Texas, Memphis, Navy, USF, and Tulane R100: UAB, Tulsa, and Charlotte
Mountain West (0): Top 50: UNLV, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Hawaii R100: Wyoming, Nevada, Air Force, and Colorado State
Sun Belt (-4): Top 50: Old Dominion and James Madison R100: Louisiana, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, Arkansas State, Georgia State, and South Alabama
CUSA (-5): Top 50: WKU and La Tech R100: Jacksonville State, Missouri State, FIU, Middle Tennessee State, UTEP, Liberty, and Sam Houston State
MAC (-6): Top 50: None R100: Miami, Akron, Northern Illinois, Kent State, EMU, and UMass
Now for the (not so) big reveal, the first Top 25 of the regular season. For those new to this circus, teams are ranked based on winning percentage, then the strength of their wins, and finally the strength of their losses. In the event of a tie in all three category, I add my personal bias. Also, I'll include the 10 worst teams and this week a bonus Top 25 to introduce you to the best of the FCS, as I've been tracking that league for the first time this year.
Top 25
The Landsharks are off to prove this is finally their year in the SEC.
1. Ole Miss (5-0, 53.6 Win Opponent Average, 0 Loss Average)
Preseason Rank: 18
2025 So Far: The Rebels were boosted to the top spot after key wins over Tulane and LSU. They'll have to wait another week for an SEC challenge after a bye and a non-conference foe coming up.
Up Next: Washington State (3-2, 66)
2. Ohio State (5-0, 64.6, 0)
Preseason Rank: 1
2025: The Buckeyes got an impressive win over Texas and a solid road win over Washington and have yet to allow double figures this season. If you're wondering why they are not number one, it's their Week 2 opponent, Grambling, that's bringing them down.
3. Oklahoma (5-0, 70.4, 0)
Preseason Rank: 42
2025: The Sooners are boosted by wins over Auburn and Michigan, but the rest of their three wins are less than impressive competition. They have a chance to kick a rival while they are down and after a beatdown of Kent State on Homecoming, they're ready for Arch.
Up Next: Texas (3-2, 55)
4. Texas A&M (5-0, 75, 0)
Preseason Rank: 34
2025: The Aggies got a signature win under Mike Elko when they held on to beat Notre Dame early in the season. They also just added a win over the pesky Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Up Next: Florida (2-3, 100)
The Hurricanes rained on another Top 25 teams parade.
5. Miami (5-0, 83.6, 0)
Preseason Rank: 10
2025: The Hurricanes got a top win over Notre Dame in Week 1 as well, but have shifted their focus to the state of Florida. The Sunshine State victory tour has claimed Bethune Cookman (FCS), USF, Florida, and Florida State. They take a bye week to get ready for a solid Louisville team.
Up Next: Bye
6. Georgia Tech (5-0, 95.2, 0)
Preseason Rank: 46
2025: The Yellow Jackets looked like they had some impressive wins over Colorado and Clemson, but both of those teams have gotten off to rough starts. They rallied to survive an overtime contest with Wake Forest before taking a week off.
Up Next: Virginia Tech (2-4, 117)
7. Oregon (5-0, 99.8, 0)
Preseason Rank: 5
2025: That win over Penn State looks less impressive after UCLA did the same thing. They'll have a tough task that both teams had an extra week to prepare for.
Up Next: Indiana (5-0, 9)
8. North Texas (5-0, 105.4, 0)
Preseason Rank: 96
2025: The Mean Green have survived two overtime scares and will be rewarded with their first major challenge in USF.
Up Next: USF (4-1, 29)
9. Indiana (5-0, 107.6, 0)
Preseason Rank: 17
2025: The Hoosiers hadn't really played anyone and it looked like they might be tested against Illinois. Instead, they pummeled the Fighting Illini by 53 points and then in true Big Ten fashion, struggled the next week at Iowa.
Up Next: Oregon (5-0, 7)
10. Missouri (5-0, 108.6, 0)
Preseason Rank: 22
2025: The Tigers took down rival Kansas and then knocked off South Carolina, in an otherwise pedestrian non conference schedule.
Up Next: Alabama (4-1, 22)
The Tigers are the first team to clinch a bowl spot.
11. Memphis (6-0, 109.3, 0)
Preseason Rank: 24
2025: They've stockpiled 6 wins and the most impressive was surviving a late push at Arkansas. That win was so good that it ended up with the Razorbacks firing Sam Pittman the next day.
Up Next: Bye
12. Texas Tech (5-0, 111.8, 0)
Preseason Rank: 29
2025: The Red Raiders best wins are over Houston and Utah.
Up Next: Kansas (4-2, 46)
13. UNLV (5-0, 112, 0)
Preseason Rank: 36
2025: Well the Rebels had no issue beating UCLA, so I'm not sure what Penn State's problem was.
Up Next: Air Force (1-4, 126)
14. BYU (5-0, 120.8, 0)
Preseason Rank: 9
2025: The Cougars will get a good challenge this week in Big 12 play.
Up Next: Arizona (4-1, 42)
Navy claimed the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
15. Navy (5-0, 123.8, 0)
Preseason Rank: 30
2025: The Midshipmen won a hard-fought battle with Air Force and now set their sights on AAC play.
Up Next: Temple (3-2, 77)
16. Iowa State (5-1, 60.8, 53)
Preseason Rank: 14
2025: The season started with a crazy win over Kansas State in Ireland and they've been tight roping all season long before falling off Saturday at Cincinnati.
Up Next: Colorado (2-4, 115)
17. Virginia (5-1, 83, 57)
Preseason Rank: 83
2025: The Cavaliers are some cardiac kids after coming away with back-to-back overtime wins over Florida State and Louisville.
Up Next: Bye
18. Illinois (5-1, 95.6, 36)
Preseason Rank: 13
2025: The Illini have a blowout win over Duke and a gutsy win over USC, but that 53-point beatdown by Indiana still lingers.
Up Next: Ohio State (5-0, 2)
19. Fresno State (5-1, 95.6, 54)
Preseason Rank: 85
2025: After an opening week loss to Kansas, it's been five straight wins for the Bulldogs.
Up Next: Colorado State (1-4, 129)
The Hilltoppers are poised to take CUSA this season.
20. Western Kentucky (5-1, 97.4, 51)
Preseason Rank: 79
2025: WKU's lone loss is to Toledo, but they remain undefeated in conference play, which is good enough for them.
Up Next: Bye
21. Vanderbilt (5-1, 102.4, 34)
Preseason Rank: 60
2025: They took South Carolina and Virginia Tech down, but they couldn't make it back-to-back wins over Alabama.
Up Next: Bye
22. Alabama (4-1, 40, 86)
Preseason Rank: 16
2025: That early season loss to FSU has lost its luster a little but wins over ranked opponents Georgia and Vanderbilt have reestablished the Tide. Now they get a chance for three straight.
Up Next: Missouri (5-0, 10)
23. Arizona State (4-1, 62.5, 106)
Preseason Rank: 7
2025: It's been a season of close calls for the Sun Devils with them coming up on the plus side against TCU and Baylor and falling just short to Mississippi State.
Up Next: Utah (4-1, 39)
24. Tennessee (4-1, 65.8, 40)
Preseason Rank: 23
2025: It's a tale of two overtimes. They fell short against Georgia and then pulled it out late against Mississippi State.
Up Next: Arkansas (2-3, 101)
Jayden Maiava has been an impact player for USC.
25. USC (4-1, 66.5, 50)
Preseason Rank: 41
2025: They were a late-second field goal against Illinois from being undefeated. Now they get three straight tests in Michigan, Notre Dame, and Nebraska.
Up Next: Michigan (4-1, 27)
Dropped Off: Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame, Georgia, SMU, Clemson, Boise State, LSU, South Carolina, Kansas State, Louisville, and Army
Watchlist: Washington, Michigan, Louisville, USF, Tulane, TCU, La Tech, Georgia, LSU, Cincinnati, San Diego St, Nebraska, Maryland, Utah, and Houston
Bottom 10:
UMass is bringing down the MAC to lower standards then they already were.
127. Liberty (1-4)
128. Kent State (1-4)
129. Colorado State (1-4)
130. Boston College (1-4)
131. Georgia State (1-4)
132. Eastern Michigan (1-5)
133. South Alabama (1-5)
135. Sam Houston State (0-5)
136. UMass (0-5)
Lehigh holds the top spot on the inaugural FCS Pool Poll.
1. Lehigh (6-0)
2. South Dakota State (5-0)
3. North Dakota State (5-0)
4. Montana (5-0)
5. Harvard (3-0)
6. Tennessee Tech (5-0)
7. Tarleton State (6-0)
8. Presbyterian (5-0)
9. West Georgia (5-1)
10. UTRGV (5-1)
11. Lamar (4-1)
12. UC Davis (4-1)
13. SIU (4-1)
14. Jackson State (4-1)
15. Alabama State (4-1)
16. Mercer (4-1)
17. Monmouth (4-1)
18. Furman (4-1)
19. Dayton (4-1)
20. Brown (2-1)
21. Austin Peay (4-2)
22. Princeton (2-1)
23. Penn (2-1)
24. Dartmouth (2-1)
25. Montana State (4-2)
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