The Week 8 Associated Press Top 25 is here, and there is a new team on top. Miami (FL) is the new No. 1 at 6-0 after top-ranked Georgia took its first loss, and the shake-up rippled through the whole poll. Below you will find the full Week 8 rankings, the biggest risers and fallers, a quick explainer on how the AP poll is built, and a free printable ballot so you can rank your own Top 25 before the next slate kicks off.
Printable Week 8 Top 25 ballot (free PDF)
Start here. Our free printable Week 8 ballot puts the official AP Top 25 on the left and 25 blank lines on the right, so you can fill in your own rankings and compare them side by side. It prints clean on a single page and links back to this article, which makes it easy to share at a watch party or drop into the group chat. Click below to open it in a new tab.
2026 AP Top 25: Week 8 rankings (full poll)
Here is the complete Week 8 AP Top 25, with each team record and where it sat a week ago.
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 6-0 | 3 |
| 2 | BYU | 6-0 | 8 |
| 3 | Ohio State | 6-1 | 4 |
| 4 | Notre Dame | 6-1 | 2 |
| 5 | Georgia | 6-1 | 1 |
| 6 | Indiana | 6-1 | 5 |
| 7 | Ole Miss | 5-1 | 9 |
| 8 | Texas Tech | 6-0 | 10 |
| 9 | UCLA | 6-0 | 12 |
| 10 | Utah | 6-0 | 11 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 6-1 | 14 |
| 12 | Kentucky | 6-1 | 15 |
| 13 | Alabama | 5-2 | 6 |
| 14 | Houston | 6-1 | 20 |
| 15 | Iowa | 5-1 | 17 |
| 16 | USC | 6-1 | 19 |
| 17 | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 21 |
| 18 | LSU | 5-2 | 22 |
| 19 | Texas | 4-2 | 7 |
| 20 | Florida | 5-2 | NR |
| 21 | Boise State | 5-1 | 23 |
| 22 | Missouri | 5-2 | 13 |
| 23 | SMU | 5-1 | 24 |
| 24 | Northwestern | 5-1 | 25 |
| 25 | Arizona | 5-1 | NR |
Biggest movers in the Week 8 AP Top 25
Risers: BYU made the loudest jump, climbing six spots from No. 8 to No. 2. Houston matched it, rising from No. 20 to No. 14. Wake Forest (No. 21 to No. 17) and LSU (No. 22 to No. 18) each gained four spots.
Fallers: Texas took the hardest fall, sliding 12 spots from No. 7 to No. 19 after a second loss. Missouri dropped nine to No. 22, and Alabama slipped seven to No. 13. Former No. 1 Georgia settled at No. 5 following its first defeat of the year.
New in the poll: Florida enters at No. 20 and Arizona joins at No. 25. Dropped out: Mississippi State (previously No. 16) and Oklahoma State (previously No. 18).
How the AP Top 25 works
The Associated Press Top 25 is a weekly ranking of the best teams in college football, chosen by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Each voter submits a personal ballot of 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. The AP adds up every ballot, and the 25 teams with the most points make the poll. A fresh ranking comes out each Sunday during the regular season, reflecting that week results. The AP poll is separate from the College Football Playoff rankings, which a selection committee releases later in the year to seed the postseason.
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- Last week: 2026 AP Top 25 Week 7 rankings and movers
Week 8 AP Top 25 FAQ
Who is No. 1 in the Week 8 AP Top 25?
Miami (FL) is the new No. 1 at 6-0, taking over the top spot after previous No. 1 Georgia lost for the first time this season.
Who were the biggest movers in the Week 8 poll?
BYU and Houston each jumped six spots, the largest climbs of the week. Texas had the sharpest drop, falling 12 spots to No. 19 after a second loss.
Which teams are new in the Week 8 AP Top 25?
Florida re-entered at No. 20 and Arizona came in at No. 25. Mississippi State and Oklahoma State dropped out of the poll.
When does the next AP Top 25 come out?
The AP releases a new Top 25 every Sunday during the regular season, with rankings updated to reflect that weekend games.
Is the AP Top 25 the same as the College Football Playoff ranking?
No. The AP poll is voted on by media members each week, while the College Football Playoff rankings are set by a selection committee later in the season and determine the playoff field.
