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Chaos Reigns as BYU and Georgia Lead Volatile AP Poll After Week 7 Upsets

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Source: Sports Illustrated
Chaos Reigns as BYU and Georgia Lead Volatile AP Poll After Week 7 Upsets
Photo: Sports Illustrated
TL;DR

Week 7 brought historic volatility to college football, with five of the top seven ranked teams losing. BYU and Georgia are projected to lead the AP Poll, while Texas, Alabama, and Notre Dame suffered significant drops. The rankings feature new entries like Florida and Northwestern, reflecting a chaotic shift in power.

Key points

  • BYU is projected to take the No. 1 spot after defeating No. 2 Notre Dame, while Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the official AP Poll after beating Alabama.
  • Texas dropped to No. 7 in the AP Poll after losing to unranked Florida, following a previous loss to Oklahoma.
  • Alabama fell to No. 6 in the AP Poll after losing to Tennessee, while Notre Dame dropped to No. 6 in projections after a loss to BYU.
  • Florida, Northwestern, and Oklahoma State are projected to enter or remain in the top 25 despite recent losses or inconsistent play.
  • UCLA is the last undefeated team in the Big Ten, rising to No. 12 in the AP Poll after defeating Oregon.

Background

The 2026 season has been marked by significant ranking volatility, with Texas holding the No. 1 spot through Week 4 before Georgia took over in Week 6. The current chaos follows a trend of upsets, including Florida’s surge in Week 4 and multiple ranked team losses in previous weeks.

How outlets are covering it

CFB-HQ On SI projects BYU at No. 1 and Georgia at No. 4, emphasizing the chaos of the weekend. NCAA.com reports Georgia at No. 1 in the official AP Poll, highlighting the 66 first-place votes. FanSided projects Georgia at No. 1 but notes the difficulty in predicting rankings due to the number of upsets. All sources agree on the historic nature of the weekend, with CFB-HQ noting five of the top seven ranked teams lost, while FanSided describes the week as 'complete chaos.'

Why it matters

The volatility of the AP Poll reflects the competitive nature of the 2026 season, with multiple teams vying for playoff spots. The losses of top-ranked teams like Texas, Alabama, and Notre Dame indicate that no team is safe, and the College Football Playoff format will likely feature a diverse group of contenders.

What to watch

Week 8 will feature seven ranked-vs-ranked matchups, including Ohio State at Indiana, Alabama at Tennessee, and Notre Dame at BYU. The results of these games will further shape the AP Poll and College Football Playoff rankings.

Topics:sports#ap-poll#byu-cougars#college-football#georgia-bulldogs#sports#upsets
Share this article
  1. College Football Rankings: Projecting the New AP Top 25 Poll After Week 7  Sports Illustrated
  2. AP Top 25 predictions: Who will rise, fall and enter the new college football rankings?  The New York Times
  3. AP Top 25 Poll Prediction After Historically Chaotic College Football Saturday  Sports Illustrated
  4. Georgia rises to No. 1, LSU and Oregon fall in latest AP Top 25 college football rankings  NCAA.com
  5. College football rankings: Projected AP Top 25 after Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas all upset, Ohio State downs Indiana  FanSided

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