A 21-point fourth-quarter comeback lifted Texas over Ohio State, while Oregon’s upset loss and Michigan’s win over Oklahoma reshaped the national rankings.
Texas has moved to No. 1 in the latest Associated Press college football poll after overcoming a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Ohio State 24-23 in Austin.
The Longhorns trailed 23-3 entering the final period but scored 21 unanswered points to complete their largest comeback victory since 2007. Texas secured the win with a one-yard touchdown late in the game, while Ohio State was unable to respond during the final seconds. The result ended a long-standing trend in which AP No. 1 teams had previously remained unbeaten after holding a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter.espn+1
Texas climbed from fourth to first, replacing Ohio State, which fell to sixth after suffering its first defeat of the season. Despite the loss, the Buckeyes remained among the country’s top teams, reflecting the narrow margin and the strength of the matchup.espn+1
Georgia retained second place, while Notre Dame stayed third. Indiana rose to fourth, and Miami moved up to fifth after a 77-7 victory over Florida A&M. The Hurricanes’ performance included a program-record 856 total yards, according to ESPN’s poll analysis.espn
LSU advanced to seventh, followed by Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Alabama. LSU’s position came despite a less convincing Week 2 performance against Louisiana Tech, but the Tigers’ earlier victory over Clemson continued to strengthen their standing. LSU and Ole Miss will meet in Oxford in the next major top-10 matchup.espn+1
Oregon suffered one of the week’s biggest setbacks. The Ducks dropped from sixth to 21st after losing 39-31 to Oklahoma State, an unranked opponent. The defeat ended Oregon’s 41-game winning streak against unranked teams, while Oklahoma State snapped a 12-game overall losing streak.espn+1
Michigan also made a significant move. After falling out of the previous poll following a disputed victory over Western Michigan, the Wolverines returned at No. 19 after beating then-No. 11 Oklahoma 17-10. Michigan’s defense held Oklahoma to 10 points, but Yahoo Sports noted that the Wolverines still have offensive issues to address despite their 2-0 start.espn+1
Oklahoma fell from 11th to 24th after the loss. Other notable upward moves included BYU to No. 11, USC to No. 12, Tennessee to No. 15, Utah to No. 17, Iowa to No. 18 and Missouri to No. 20. Virginia remained at No. 25.espn
Week 2 also produced several notable results outside the leading poll positions. Iowa defeated Iowa State 16-13 on a late field goal, Illinois State beat Northern Illinois 28-24 for the fourth FCS-over-FBS upset of the season, and top-ranked FCS program Montana State defeated Nevada 20-7.ncaa
The rankings will face another test in the coming week, with LSU scheduled to visit Ole Miss. Texas, meanwhile, will host UTSA, while Ohio State will try to recover against Kent State.espn
KEY FACTS:
● Texas defeated Ohio State 24-23 after scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
● Texas replaced Ohio State at No. 1, while the Buckeyes fell to No. 6.
● Oregon dropped from No. 6 to No. 21 after losing 39-31 to Oklahoma State.
● Michigan returned to the AP Top 25 at No. 19 after beating Oklahoma 17-10.
● LSU and Ole Miss are set for a top-10 clash in the next week.
SOURCES:
● ESPN — AP college football Week 2 poll reaction
● Yahoo Sports — Yahoo Top 10: Big Ten vs. SEC in Week 2
● NCAA.com — College football Week 2 recap, scores and highlights
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