In the final AP Top 25 College Football Poll of the season, Alabama finds itself ranked No. 17, marking a significant drop of six spots. The Crimson Tide, under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer, experienced a tough finish to the season, losing two of their final three games, including a 19-13 bowl defeat to Michigan. This marks Alabama’s lowest final ranking since Gene Stallings’ 1995 team finished at No. 21.
The Ohio State Buckeyes (14-2) claimed the top spot, receiving all 56 first-place votes after securing their first national championship since 2014 with a commanding win over Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish (14-2), who had an outstanding season, finished second—marking their highest end-of-season ranking since 1993.
At No. 3, Oregon (13-1) suffered a setback in the Rose Bowl quarterfinals to Ohio State but still finished strong after holding the top spot in eight consecutive polls. Their final ranking is their highest since 2014, when they finished at No. 2.
Texas (13-3) and Penn State (13-3), both semifinalists, rounded out the top five. Texas finished in the top five for the second straight year, a feat they hadn’t achieved since the 2008-09 seasons. For Penn State, this marks their first top-five finish since 2005. Notably, it’s the first time the Big Ten has placed three teams in the final top five.
Further rankings show Georgia (No. 6) at 13-3, followed by Arizona State (11-3), Boise State (12-2), Tennessee (10-3), and Indiana (11-2). At No. 11, Ole Miss (10-3) capped off a strong season with a notable Gator Bowl win over Duke, while BYU (11-2) also impressed with a dominant Alamo Bowl victory over Colorado.
SMU (11-3) held steady at No. 12, even after falling to Clemson in the ACC Championship and being eliminated in the playoff by Penn State. However, SMU’s final ranking was their highest since 1984, when they finished eighth. Clemson (10-4), ranked No. 14, continued its streak of finishing in the final poll every year since 2011.
Despite Ohio State‘s early loss to Michigan late in the season, the Buckeyes played their best football in the playoffs, defeating Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and Notre Dame to secure their sixth AP national championship.
Here’s the final AP Top 25:
- Ohio State (56 first-place votes)
- Notre Dame
- Oregon
- Texas
- Penn State
- Georgia
- Arizona State
- Boise State
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Ole Miss
- SMU
- BYU
- Clemson
- Iowa State
- Illinois
- Alabama
- Miami
- South Carolina
- Syracuse
- Army
- Missouri
- UNLV
- Memphis
- Colorado
Additional teams receiving votes include: Navy (55), LSU (39), Louisville (38), Michigan (36), Kansas State (11), Marshall (8), Ohio (8), Florida (7), TCU (2), and Texas A&M (1).
Poll Insights
Ohio State’s rise to No. 1 by five spots matched the largest move in the final rankings. Mississippi and Illinois (No. 16, 10-3) also experienced a five-spot jump.
The Southeastern Conference placed seven teams in the final Top 25, marking its most teams in the rankings since 2013.
Arizona State (11-3), the Big 12 champion, earned its highest final ranking since the 1996 Rose Bowl team finished No. 4.
Boise State, the Mountain West champion, finished in the top 10 for the first time since 2011.
UNLV (No. 23, 11-3), which tied its school record for wins, made its debut in the final rankings.
No teams that were ranked in the Dec. 8 poll were dropped from the Top 25.
Conference Breakdown
SEC — 7 teams (Nos. 4, 6, 9, 11, 17, 19, 22)
Big Ten — 5 teams (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 10, 16)
ACC — 4 teams (Nos. 12, 14, 18, 20)
Big 12 — 4 teams (Nos. 7, 13, 15, 25)
AAC — 2 teams (Nos. 21, 24)
Mountain West — 2 teams (Nos. 8, 23)
Independent — 1 team (No. 2)
