The second week of the 2025 college football season brought fireworks, upsets, statement wins, and some painful wake-up calls, and the AP Top 25 poll that followed perfectly captured the chaos. College football has always been about momentum, narrative, and execution in high-pressure moments, and the newest rankings show who has capitalized on those opportunities and who has squandered them. At the center of it all sits Ohio State, still unmoved from their throne at No. 1, thanks to a performance so dominant it left little room for doubt. Led by quarterback Julian Sayin, who continues to live up to the immense hype placed on him since his arrival, the Buckeyes dismantled Grambling 70-0, and in doing so, proved once again why they are the team to beat in the national landscape. What makes this run even more impressive is the balance the team is playing with. It’s not just Sayin’s arm or the loaded wide receiver corps that makes them scary; it’s the fact that new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has completely rejuvenated a unit that at times looked shaky in past seasons. Holding any opponent to zero points is a feat, but the discipline, communication, and swarming tackling shown by the Buckeye defense suggests they are no longer just about putting up video game numbers offensively. They now appear to have the backbone that championship teams require. For those who doubted Patricia’s fit after his stints in the NFL, the early returns in Columbus are silencing that skepticism.
But as the Buckeyes hold steady, the rest of the poll shifted dramatically, creating clear winners and losers. One of the biggest risers has to be Tennessee, who jumped to No. 15 after obliterating ETSU 72-17. This wasn’t just a win; it was a statement from a program desperate to prove it belongs in the national conversation again. Tennessee fans have long been searching for a return to the days when the Vols were feared across the country, and performances like this are exactly what fuels that hope. What stood out wasn’t just the scoreline but the offensive fluidity and explosiveness they displayed, showcasing multiple playmakers who can hurt defenses in different ways. It’s true that ETSU wasn’t the toughest of tests, but style points matter in college football, especially early in the season when resumes are being built brick by brick. Poll voters clearly rewarded Tennessee for not just taking care of business, but doing so in overwhelming fashion. For the Vols, the challenge now becomes consistency, because while fans are thrilled with the leap, staying power in the Top 15 requires proving it against stiffer SEC competition.
Another massive winner was Oklahoma, now sitting at No. 13, thanks to a victory that turned plenty of heads. Beating Michigan is always headline-worthy, but doing it in convincing fashion has to feel particularly sweet for a program that has been criticized in recent years for not always showing up in big games. Oklahoma’s win wasn’t just about one or two highlight plays—it was about outmuscling a program known for toughness and proving they belong in the same conversations as the sport’s true heavyweights. The Sooners are showing signs of balance and maturity, two traits they’ve sometimes lacked in previous campaigns. Their leap in the poll is as much about perception as it is about performance, and right now the perception is that Oklahoma is once again a serious threat. Fans who had begun to grow frustrated with being stuck in the middle tier of the rankings now have genuine reason to believe a special season might be on the horizon.
Utah also made a significant move, climbing to No. 20 after securing a key win that reestablished them as one of the most resilient programs in the country. The Utes have made a habit of punching above their weight class, thriving on toughness and physicality that often overwhelms opponents who underestimate them. Their ability to claw their way into the Top 20 this early in the season is a testament to their identity as a program that refuses to back down. The Pac-12, or what remains of it, has often been overlooked in playoff discussions, but Utah’s rise ensures that national eyes will be paying closer attention. While some programs crumble after setbacks, the Utes consistently show grit, and their surge in the rankings reflects a belief that they may again play spoiler to some of the more glamorous names in college football.
Perhaps the most surprising new entrant into the poll is South Florida, bursting in at No. 18 after a shocking upset of Florida. Few expected the Bulls to deliver such a blow to one of the SEC’s proudest programs, but college football thrives on unpredictability, and South Florida’s victory was the kind of chaos fans live for. Beating Florida doesn’t just get you headlines—it gets you votes, and now the Bulls are suddenly in the Top 25 spotlight. For a program that has been outside the national conversation for years, this moment marks a potential turning point. The question is whether this is a flash in the pan or the start of a sustained rise. Either way, South Florida’s win was a defining moment of Week 2 and earned them the respect they deserve in the poll.
But with every winner, there must be losers, and this week had no shortage of them. Michigan’s drop to No. 23 after their loss to Oklahoma stung deeply, not just because of the fall in the rankings, but because of what it represented. Michigan has prided itself on being one of the most physical, consistent teams in the nation, and to be manhandled on a big stage leaves voters questioning whether the Wolverines are truly playoff material this year. A drop to No. 23 doesn’t knock them out of the conversation entirely, but it does raise serious doubts about whether this team can climb back into the top tier or whether this season will be remembered as one of disappointment.
Arizona State also took a brutal hit, dropping out of the Top 25 altogether after a deflating loss to Mississippi State. The Sun Devils had been building momentum and optimism among their fanbase, but this kind of setback is devastating. Not only do they lose their place in the rankings, but they lose the confidence that came with it. Being in the Top 25 isn’t just about bragging rights—it’s about legitimacy, recruiting leverage, and the belief that the program is on the right trajectory. Arizona State now finds itself having to regroup quickly if it hopes to salvage its season and reenter the national conversation.
Florida, too, finds itself on the outside looking in after their shocking upset loss to South Florida. The Gators’ drop out of the rankings was swift and unforgiving, reflecting the reality that expectations in Gainesville are always sky-high. For Florida to fall to an in-state program that many considered inferior is the kind of embarrassment that lingers, both in the locker room and in the minds of poll voters. Their absence from the rankings stings not only for the players and coaches but for fans who pride themselves on the program’s prestige. Florida has the talent to bounce back, but the margin for error has shrunk significantly, and their fall from the poll will undoubtedly be used as motivation—or as a harsh reminder of their inconsistency.
Then there’s SMU, another casualty of Week 2’s chaos, tumbling out of the Top 25 after a double-overtime loss to Baylor. These are the kinds of games that define seasons, and unfortunately for SMU, the loss highlighted vulnerabilities that poll voters were quick to punish. The Mustangs had been riding a wave of optimism, but their inability to close out a winnable game in extra time was enough to erase that goodwill. Falling out of the rankings after such a gut-wrenching defeat shows just how unforgiving college football can be.
When you put all these movements together, the Week 2 AP Top 25 reflects the volatility and excitement that makes this sport so beloved. Every game matters, every performance is scrutinized, and every outcome has ripple effects across the nation. Ohio State holding strong at No. 1 behind Julian Sayin’s brilliance and Matt Patricia’s revitalized defense gives fans a clear front-runner to rally around or root against. Programs like Tennessee, Oklahoma, Utah, and South Florida are injecting fresh energy into the rankings, while traditional powers like Michigan, Florida, and Arizona State are left licking their wounds.
The beauty of the AP poll is that it’s not set in stone. Teams that rise today can tumble tomorrow, and those who stumble can find redemption with one big win. Week 2 has already given us a taste of the drama ahead, and if this is any indication, the 2025 season could go down as one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The storylines are building, the stakes are growing, and fans across the country are ready to debate every single ranking, every single rise, and every single fall.
That’s where you come in. Which teams do you think were the biggest winners this week? Were the poll voters too harsh on Michigan or Florida, or did they deserve their demotions? Do you think South Florida’s surge is sustainable, or is it a one-week wonder? And most importantly, can anyone actually challenge Julian Sayin and Ohio State for that No. 1 spot, or are we simply watching the beginning of a dominant run to the playoff? Your voice is part of what makes college football so unique—every fan has a perspective, a prediction, or even a hot take, and the debates are half the fun. Share your thoughts, argue your case, and let’s keep this conversation going, because if Week 2 showed us anything, it’s that nothing in college football is predictable, and everything is up for debate.
