RANKINGS: Georgia Takes Over At No. 1, Texas Drops While UCLA And Kentucky Climb In The JPWest Media Week 7 Top 25

Georgia went into Tuscaloosa and left with the top spot. Texas lost in Dallas, and the board treated both results like they counted.

This is the JPWest Media Week 7 Top 25, compiled from five reporter ballots on a 25-to-1 scale. Georgia received all five first-place votes and 125 of a possible 125 points. Notre Dame finished second with 119. Miami was right behind at 116.

Housekeeping first: out — Oregon (was 13), Florida (was 17). in — Oklahoma, Northwestern. also receiving votes — Oregon 7, Wake Forest 7, Florida 2, Arizona 1.

Biggest movers: ↑ UCLA +5, Kentucky +8, Houston +4, Oklahoma State +5 ↓ Texas −6, LSU −13, Oregon −13 (out), Florida −8 (out). Texas walked out of the top five after a loss. Oregon and Florida walked out entirely.

---

1. Georgia Bulldogs (6-0) Previous ranking: 2 ↑1 Week 6: W 20–17 at No. 6 Alabama Week 7: vs. Auburn

20 to 17 in Tuscaloosa, and it was enough. Five ballots, five No. 1s, 125 points. The defense held and Gunner Stockton made the plays that mattered. Voters moved them past a Texas team that lost. Auburn is next. A 6-0 team that just won at Alabama does not need to prove it belongs here.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-0) Previous ranking: 3 ↑1 Week 6: W 58–7 vs. Stanford Week 7: at BYU

58 to 7, and Stanford never made it a game. The Irish stay perfect and climb one spot because Texas and Alabama both lost. Zero first-place votes. The résumé is still waiting on a brand name that sticks. BYU on the road is the first one that can.

3. Miami Hurricanes (5-0) Previous ranking: 4 ↑1 Week 6: bye Week 7: vs. Florida State

The bye kept them exactly where they were, one spot up only because the teams above them moved. A 5-0 team with a road win in Death Valley sits third while Georgia and Alabama already played. Florida State is the next line. One ballot had them higher last week. The rest have not moved them yet.

4. Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) Previous ranking: 5 ↑1 Week 6: W 45–16 vs. Maryland Week 7: at Indiana

45 to 16, and Maryland never threatened. Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith did what they do. Ohio State climbs one because Alabama lost and Texas lost. The scar from Austin is still there. Indiana is the next test. A top-five team that just handled its business gets the benefit until it does not.

5. Indiana Hoosiers (6-0) Previous ranking: 7 ↑2 Week 6: W 20–17 at Nebraska Week 7: vs. Ohio State

Twenty to 17 in Lincoln, and it was enough to stay perfect. Two spots up. Alabama lost a top-six game and Texas fell out of the top five, so Indiana fills the space. Nebraska is no longer undefeated. Ohio State is next. A 6-0 defending champ that keeps winning does not need an apology for the ranking.

6. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1) Previous ranking: 6 Week 6: L 20–17 vs. No. 2 Georgia Week 7: at Tennessee

A one-score home loss to Georgia, and they hold. The Tide stayed sixth because the teams below them did not do enough to pass them. Keelon Russell’s group is still the one that put 56 on Mississippi State. Tennessee is next. A top-six team that loses a close one to the new No. 1 does not drop on that alone.

7. Texas Longhorns (4-1) Previous ranking: 1 ↓6 Week 6: L 27–24 vs. Oklahoma Week 7: vs. Florida

27 to 24 in Dallas, and the top spot is gone. Six spots is the drop. Arch Manning’s two fourth-quarter interceptions are the tape. Oklahoma is 3-2 and still receiving votes. The Knoxville win is still on the résumé. Florida is the next one. A team that was unanimous at No. 1 a week ago does not stay there after a loss.

8. Ole Miss Rebels (4-1) Previous ranking: 10 ↑2 Week 6: W 52–17 at Vanderbilt Week 7: vs. Missouri

52 to 17 on the road, and Vanderbilt was done early. Two spots up. The loss to Florida is still the one that hangs. Trinidad Chambliss had the week. Missouri is next. A 4-1 team that just handled a road SEC game stays in the top 10 until the next one says otherwise.

9. Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-0) Previous ranking: 11 ↑2 Week 6: idle Week 7: vs. Arizona State

Still 5-0, and still sitting where the résumé put them. Two spots up because the teams around them lost or sat. The Houston escape is still the game this poll remembers. Arizona State is the next Saturday that has to look like more than a clean sheet.

10. BYU Cougars (5-0) Previous ranking: 9 ↓1 Week 6: W 24–10 vs. Iowa State Week 7: vs. Notre Dame

24 to 10, and it was enough to stay perfect. One spot down. The Fort Worth grind is still the one that looks thin. Notre Dame is next. A 5-0 team that keeps winning ugly stays in the top 15 until a brand name shows up.

11. Utah Utes (5-0) Previous ranking: 12 ↑1 Week 6: W 41–24 vs. Kansas Week 7: at Colorado

41 to 24, and Kansas never made it competitive. One spot up. Wayshawn Parker’s big day is still the best win on the sheet. Colorado is next. A 5-0 team that just handled a Big 12 game at home does not need to explain the ranking yet.

12. Missouri Tigers (5-1) Previous ranking: 14 ↑2 Week 6: W 27–6 vs. Texas A&M Week 7: at Ole Miss

27 to 6, and Texas A&M never got going. Two spots up. The 45–17 win over Florida is still the one that bought the climb. Ole Miss is next. A 5-1 team that just handled an SEC game at home does not drop for sitting behind undefeated teams.

13. UCLA Bruins (5-0) Previous ranking: 18 ↑5 Week 6: W 17–15 at No. 13 Oregon Week 7: vs. Wisconsin

17 to 15 in Autzen, and the Bruins forced the turnovers that mattered. Five spots is the jump. Oregon falls out. Wisconsin is next. A 5-0 team that just won a road game against a ranked opponent does not need a longer explanation.

14. Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) Previous ranking: 15 ↑1 Week 6: W 24–17 at Arkansas Week 7: vs. Alabama

24 to 17 in Fayetteville, and it was enough. One spot up. The near-miss against Texas is still the one that keeps them from climbing higher. Alabama is next. A 5-1 team that just won a road SEC game stays where the résumé put it.

15. USC Trojans (6-1) Previous ranking: 16 ↑1 Week 6: W 31–23 at Penn State Week 7: bye week

31 to 23 in Beaver Stadium, and it was the recovery the poll wanted to see. One spot up. The loss to Oregon is still the scar. A bye week follows the road win. A 6-1 team that just won on the road against a team that fell out of this poll does not drop for it.

16. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1) Previous ranking: 21 ↑5 Week 6: W 42–28 vs. UCF Week 7: at Houston

42 to 28, and it was enough to climb. Five spots up. The bottom of the board opened, and they walked through it. Houston is the next one that has to keep justifying the chair.

17. Kentucky Wildcats (5-1) Previous ranking: 25 ↑8 Week 6: W 35–34 (OT) vs. No. 8 LSU Week 7: at Oklahoma

35 to 34 in overtime, and it was the result that moved them. Eight spots is the climb. LSU drops. Oklahoma is next. A 5-1 team that just beat a top-10 team at home does not stay at the bottom of this poll.

18. Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-1) Previous ranking: 20 ↑2 Week 6: idle Week 7: at LSU

Still 4-1, and still sitting where the Alabama loss left them. Two spots up because the teams below them did not do more. Starkville found out 4-0 was early. LSU is the next Saturday that has to look like a response.

19. Houston Cougars (5-1) Previous ranking: 23 ↑4 Week 6: W 35–16 at Kansas State Week 7: vs. Oklahoma State

35 to 16 on the road, and it was enough. Four spots up. The two-point loss in Lubbock is still the best game they have played. Oklahoma State is the next one that can make the ranking stick.

20. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1) Previous ranking: 23 ↑3 Week 6: W 41–24 at Washington Week 7: bye week

41 to 24 in Seattle, and it was the response the poll wanted. Three spots up. The loss to Ohio State is still the one that dropped them. A bye follows the road win. A 5-1 team that just won on the road does not stay at the bottom after that.

21. LSU Tigers (4-2) Previous ranking: 8 ↓13 Week 6: L 35–34 (OT) at No. 25 Kentucky Week 7: vs. Mississippi State

Thirty-five to 34 in overtime in Lexington, and the ranking paid for it. Thirteen spots is the drop. Oxford is still the scar. Kentucky made it stick. Mississippi State is the next Saturday that has to look like a team that still belongs in the top 25.

22. SMU Mustangs (4-1) Previous ranking: 22 Week 6: idle Week 7: vs. Virginia

Same rank, another bye last week. The Boston College win kept them in. Oklahoma State climbed past them on points. Virginia is the return that has to look like an ACC team that belongs here.

23. Boise State Broncos (5-1) Previous ranking: 24 ↑1 Week 6: W 38–31 at Fresno State Week 7: bye week

38 to 31 on the road, and it was enough to stay. One spot up. Maddux Madsen did what he does. Fresno State was the first game that decided whether this was a stay. A bye follows. The next one has to keep it that way.

24. Oklahoma Sooners (3-2) Previous ranking: NR Week 6: W 27–24 vs. No. 1 Texas Week 7: vs. Kentucky

In. The Red River win is the whole case. Texas was No. 1. Oklahoma took the last chair on eight points. Kentucky is next. A 3-2 team that just beat the former No. 1 does not need a longer résumé to be here this week.

25. Northwestern Wildcats (5-1) Previous ranking: NR Week 6: W 45–14 vs. Ball State Week 7: at Michigan State

In on the same eight points as Oklahoma. Ball State was not a statement. It was enough when the bottom opened and Oregon and Florida fell out. Michigan State is the next Saturday that has to look like more than a MAC win if the chair is going to stick.

Also receiving votes: Oregon 7, Wake Forest 7, Florida 2, Arizona 1.

Oregon is the one that stings. Three-and-two after a home loss to UCLA, and seven points. Wake Forest is right there with them. Florida and Arizona are the leftovers. The cut line was 8. Oklahoma and Northwestern had it. Nobody else did.