Miami claims No. 1 spot after chaotic Week 7 upsets

Key points

• Miami (Fla.) is the new No. 1 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll, receiving 50 of 73 first-place votes.
• BYU is No. 3 in the Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the AP Poll, after defeating No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24.
• Ohio State is No. 2 in the Coaches Poll and No. 3 in the AP Poll, after beating previously unbeaten Indiana 19-15.
• Georgia, the previous No. 1, fell to No. 4 in the Coaches Poll and No. 4 in the AP Poll after losing to Auburn 27-24.
• Texas dropped 12 places to No. 18 in the Coaches Poll and No. 19 in the AP Poll after losing to Florida 27-24.
• Five top-10 teams lost in Week 7, including Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama, and Texas.

Background

College football rankings have been volatile in recent weeks, with multiple teams changing the No. 1 spot. Miami's last No. 1 ranking was in December 2002. BYU's last No. 1 ranking was in the final AP Poll of 1984. Ohio State was No. 1 in September 2026. Georgia was No. 1 in Week 6. Texas was No. 1 two weeks ago. The US LBM Coaches Poll has been administered by USA TODAY since 1991.

How outlets are covering it

USA TODAY emphasizes the chaos of Week 7, noting that five top-10 teams lost, and highlights Miami's return to No. 1 for the first time since 2002. Fox News focuses on the complete reshuffle of the AP Poll, with no team retaining its previous rank, and highlights the debate over who deserves the No. 1 spot, noting that BYU received 20 first-place votes compared to Miami's 40. NCAA.com provides a detailed breakdown of the cases for each of the top three teams, noting that Miami has zero ranked wins, Ohio State has two ranked wins but one loss, and BYU has the best win but entered the weekend ranked lowest. All three sources agree on the major upsets and the new top three, but differ in their emphasis on the debate over the No. 1 spot.

Why it matters

The Week 7 results have significantly altered the college football landscape, with multiple top teams losing and new contenders emerging. The debate over the No. 1 spot will likely continue, with Miami, BYU, and Ohio State all having strong cases. The upsets also have implications for the College Football Playoff, as several teams have dropped in the rankings. The chaos of Week 7 highlights the unpredictability of college football and the importance of every game in the season.

What to watch

The next week will likely see further changes in the rankings, as teams continue to play. The debate over the No. 1 spot will likely continue, with Miami, BYU, and Ohio State all having strong cases. The College Football Playoff will also be affected by the Week 7 results, as several teams have dropped in the rankings. The next week will also see several key matchups, including Houston vs. Utah, which could have playoff implications.