The Week 5 Associated Press Top 25 is out, and Texas holds the No. 1 spot again atop the 2026 college football rankings. Below you will find the full poll released September 27, a free printable ballot so you can rank your own Top 25, the biggest risers and fallers from last week, and a plain-English look at how the AP poll is built.
Start with the printable ballot. It puts this week’s official AP poll next to 25 blank lines, so you can fill in your own ranking by hand while you watch the games or debate the order with friends.
Free printable Week 5 AP Top 25 ballot
Our one-page ballot lists the current AP Top 25 on the left with each team’s record, and gives you 25 numbered fill-in lines on the right for your own ballot. It prints clean on a single sheet, and the footer links back to this page so you always have the full rankings handy.
2026 College Football AP Top 25: Week 5 rankings
Here is the full Week 5 AP Top 25, with each team’s record, its ranking last week, and how far it moved. Records and the poll order come straight from our live college football Top 25 scores and AP poll tracker, which updates on game days all season.
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 4-0 | 1 | Even |
| 2 | Georgia | 4-0 | 2 | Even |
| 3 | Notre Dame | 4-0 | 3 | Even |
| 4 | Miami (FL) | 4-0 | 6 | ▲ 2 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 3-1 | 7 | ▲ 2 |
| 6 | Indiana | 4-0 | 5 | ▼ 1 |
| 7 | Alabama | 4-0 | 8 | ▲ 1 |
| 8 | Florida | 4-0 | 21 | ▲ 13 |
| 9 | Ole Miss | 3-1 | 4 | ▼ 5 |
| 10 | BYU | 3-0 | 9 | ▼ 1 |
| 11 | LSU | 3-1 | 10 | ▼ 1 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 4-0 | 11 | ▼ 1 |
| 13 | Utah | 4-0 | 15 | ▲ 2 |
| 14 | Iowa | 4-0 | 17 | ▲ 3 |
| 15 | Oregon | 3-1 | 20 | ▲ 5 |
| 16 | Mississippi State | 4-0 | 24 | ▲ 8 |
| 17 | Tennessee | 3-1 | 14 | ▼ 3 |
| 18 | USC | 4-1 | 12 | ▼ 6 |
| 19 | Oklahoma State | 3-1 | NR | New |
| 20 | Houston | 3-1 | 25 | ▲ 5 |
| 21 | SMU | 3-1 | 22 | ▲ 1 |
| 22 | Boise State | 3-1 | NR | New |
| 23 | UCLA | 4-0 | NR | New |
| 24 | Kentucky | 3-1 | NR | New |
| 25 | Missouri | 3-1 | 19 | ▼ 6 |
Biggest movers in the Week 5 AP Top 25
Florida is the story of the week, jumping 13 spots from No. 21 to No. 8. The Gators stayed unbeaten at 4-0 while several teams ranked ahead of them stumbled, and the voters rewarded them with the largest climb in the poll. Mississippi State made the next-biggest move, rising eight places to No. 16, and both Oregon and Houston climbed five spots to No. 15 and No. 20 after protecting their standing on the ranked slate.
The falls were just as sharp near the top. USC took its first loss and slid six places to No. 18 at 4-1, while Missouri dropped six spots to No. 25 after its first blemish. Ole Miss lost for the first time and fell five places from No. 4 to No. 9. Tennessee slipped three spots to No. 17. At the top, Texas, Georgia and Notre Dame all held their positions and stayed unbeaten, so the top three are unchanged from last week.
Four teams entered the Top 25 this week: Oklahoma State at No. 19, Boise State at No. 22, UCLA at No. 23 and Kentucky at No. 24. To make room, Penn State (previously No. 13), Louisville (No. 16), Michigan (No. 18) and Texas A&M (No. 23) all dropped out of the rankings. For last week’s order and how it compares, see our Week 4 AP Top 25 rankings and movers.
How the AP Top 25 works
The AP Top 25 is a weekly ranking of the top college football teams, voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from around the country. Each voter submits a ballot ranking their top 25 teams, and points are awarded on a sliding scale, 25 points for a first-place vote down to a single point for a 25th-place vote. Teams are then ordered by total points, and the team with the most first-place votes usually, but not always, lands at No. 1.
The poll comes out each week of the regular season, typically on Sunday once Saturday’s games are final, with a preseason edition in August. It is a media poll, separate from the coaches poll, and it carries no official weight in the College Football Playoff, which is decided by its own selection committee. That is part of the fun of filling out your own ballot: your Top 25 is every bit as valid as any voter’s.
More from Sports Brackets
- College Football Top 25 scores and live AP poll tracker: every ranked team’s final scores, updated on game days.
- 2026 College Football Top 25 schedules: every ranked team’s full slate in one printable grid.
- This week’s College Football Week 5 schedule: Top 25 matchups, TV times and kickoffs.
- 2026 College Football Playoff and Top 25 predictions: full projected field with a free printable bracket.
Frequently asked questions
Who is ranked No. 1 in the Week 5 AP Top 25?
Texas is No. 1 in the Week 5 AP Top 25 at 4-0, holding the top spot ahead of Georgia and Notre Dame, who are also unbeaten.
Which team made the biggest jump this week?
Florida made the biggest move, climbing 13 spots from No. 21 to No. 8 after staying unbeaten at 4-0. Mississippi State was next, rising eight places to No. 16.
Who dropped out of the AP Top 25 this week?
Penn State, Louisville, Michigan and Texas A&M all fell out of the Top 25 this week. They were replaced by Oklahoma State, Boise State, UCLA and Kentucky.
When does the AP Top 25 come out each week?
During the regular season the AP Top 25 is released each Sunday, once Saturday’s games are final, with a preseason poll in August. We update our poll here as soon as the new rankings post.
Can I print a blank AP Top 25 ballot?
Yes. Our printable Week 5 Top 25 ballot shows the current AP poll on the left and gives you 25 blank lines to rank your own Top 25 on the right, all on one page.
Does the AP poll decide the College Football Playoff?
No. The AP Top 25 is a media poll with no official role in the College Football Playoff, which is set by a separate selection committee. It is still the most widely followed national ranking in the sport.
