Texas returned to the top 10 in The Associated Press college football poll released Sunday, moving up three spots to No. 10 after a week off.
Now Arkansas will have to wait, but if the Longhorns can pull off a road against No. 5 Georgia on Saturday the Razorbacks will be playing yet another Top 10 team in two weeks.
The Longhorns began the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll and are back among the elite for at least a week.
Ohio State remained the unanimous No. 1 team, receiving 55 of 65 first-place votes. Indiana stayed second with six first-place votes, and Texas A&M held at No. 3 with four first-place votes. Alabama and Georgia rounded out the top five.
Ole Miss climbed one spot to No. 6 after improving to 9-1. Oregon, Texas Tech, and Notre Dame filled out the next three positions, followed by Texas at No. 10.
Expanded conference showing
The Atlantic Coast Conference placed five teams in the Top 25 for the first time this season — the most of any league this week.
Georgia Tech leads the ACC contingent at No. 14, followed by Miami at No. 16, Louisville at No. 19, Virginia at No. 20, and Pittsburgh entering at No. 23.
Two Group of Five programs also made the rankings. James Madison, from the Sun Belt Conference, checked in at No. 24. South Florida, of the American Athletic Conference, earned the No. 25 spot.
It marked the first week this season that two non-Power Five conferences were represented.
Texas regains momentum
Texas’ return follows a four-game winning streak that steadied its season after a midyear loss at Florida dropped it from the Top 25. The Longhorns’ surge gives them another chance to strengthen their College Football Playoff résumé with a trip to Georgia next weekend.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team has leaned on balance in recent weeks, combining a consistent running game with improved defensive play. Their rise back into the top 10 matches the expectations that surrounded them when they opened the season atop the poll.
Top 10 snapshot
| Rank | Team | Record | First-place votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State | 9-0 | 55 |
| 2 | Indiana | 10-0 | 6 |
| 3 | Texas A&M | 9-0 | 4 |
| 4 | Alabama | 8-1 | — |
| 5 | Georgia | 8-1 | — |
| 6 | Ole Miss | 9-1 | — |
| 7 | Oregon | 8-1 | — |
| 8 | Texas Tech | 9-1 | — |
| 9 | Notre Dame | 7-2 | — |
| 10 | Texas | 7-2 | — |
Ohio State’s long hold on the top spot continued after a 9-0 start, while Indiana’s undefeated season pushed the Hoosiers to their highest ranking in school history.
Other movement
BYU dropped from No. 8 to No. 12 following its loss to Texas Tech.
Vanderbilt climbed to No. 13, its highest position in more than a decade. USC rose three spots to No. 17, and Tennessee returned to the poll at No. 21 after a win over Missouri.
Cincinnati moved up to No. 22, while Pittsburgh, James Madison, and South Florida rounded out the final three spots.
What’s next
Several key games next weekend could reshape the top 10.
Texas visits Georgia in a matchup that will have major playoff implications. Ole Miss hosts Florida, while Alabama hosts Oklahoma. The results could further shift both the SEC hierarchy and the playoff picture heading into the final stretch of November.
