4 minSports
LSU jumps in first regular-season AP Top 25 poll, Michigan drops out after narrow win
The first regular-season AP Top 25 college football poll is out, with LSU moving up three spots after a dominant win over Clemson and Michigan falling out entirely following a one-point escape against Western Michigan.
The first regular-season AP Top 25 college football poll is out, and the rankings reflect a Week 1 slate that produced a handful of statement victories and several unexpectedly close calls. Five programs held their preseason positions, but the most notable movement came from LSU, which climbed three spots to No. 8 after a 51-10 rout of Clemson, and Michigan, which dropped out of the rankings entirely after needing a last-second play to beat Western Michigan 13-12.
LSU opened the Lane Kiffin era in Baton Rouge with a commanding performance that caught the attention of voters. The Tigers, who entered the season ranked 11th, delivered the weekend's most decisive result against a Clemson program that had been expected to challenge for a playoff spot. The margin of victory, combined with the quality of the opponent, convinced enough voters to push LSU into the top 10.
Michigan's fall was equally dramatic, though for opposite reasons. The Wolverines began the week ranked 16th but needed a second added to the clock and a Hail Mary attempt from quarterback Bryce Underwood to escape with a one-point victory over Western Michigan. The narrow result against a Mid-American Conference opponent was enough to knock Michigan out of the poll, despite the program still receiving 69 votes from pollsters. Western Michigan, meanwhile, collected 12 votes of its own after the near-upset.
Oregon also slid in the rankings after a tougher-than-expected test against Boise State. The Ducks, who started the season at No. 2, won 34-27 but dropped four spots after being pushed to the final whistle by the Broncos. The four-quarter battle raised questions about Oregon's ceiling, though the team avoided the upset that would have reshaped the national title picture.
SMU moved in the opposite direction, climbing two spots to No. 17 after escaping Tallahassee with a 27-24 win over Florida State on Monday night. The road victory against an ACC opponent helped the Mustangs gain ground, even if the margin was narrower than many expected. Washington, however, suffered a fate similar to Michigan's, slipping in the poll after a sloppy 24-10 win over Washington State in the Apple Cup on Sunday.
Virginia is the only team in the poll that was unranked the previous week, joining the rankings after an impressive opening performance. The Cavaliers' entry marks the sole addition to the top 25, with no other unranked teams making a strong enough case to displace the programs ahead of them.
Despite the movement, the Week 1 poll contains no true surprises, a rarity in an era when voters often overreact to a single game. Most teams around the country have played only one contest, and the rankings largely reflect preseason expectations adjusted for the results that did occur. The SEC's 16-0 record in Week 1 reinforced the conference's standing, even as the poll's biggest fallers came from the Big Ten.
The coming weeks will determine whether the early shifts hold. LSU's jump suggests voters believe the Tigers are legitimate contenders under Kiffin, while Michigan's exit leaves the Wolverines with ground to make up. Oregon's slide, though modest, signals that the Ducks must prove they can dominate opponents rather than merely survive them. For now, the first regular-season poll offers a snapshot of a landscape still settling after an opening weekend full of unexpected drama.
