Overview
- Ohio State, Indiana and Texas A&M stayed 1–3 in both polls, with the Buckeyes taking 57 of 66 AP first-place votes and the Aggies preserving No. 3 with a record 27-point rally at South Carolina.
- Georgia rose to No. 4 after a 35-10 win over Texas, and Ole Miss returned to the AP top five.
- Oklahoma climbed to No. 8 after a 23-21 win at Alabama, which dropped to No. 10 in both the AP and Coaches polls as Notre Dame held No. 9.
- Texas slid to No. 17 in the AP and No. 18 in the Coaches poll following the loss in Athens.
- Group of Five representation grew with James Madison at No. 21, North Texas ranked for the first time since 1959 at No. 22, and Tulane entering at No. 24.