The AP Poll was released Sunday afternoon, and unlike Week 4, the rankings saw little movement after Week 5. Although only three ranked teams fell, the week’s highlight came from Missouri, as the then-No. 25 Tigers upset the then-No. 8 Florida Gators 45-17.
In the other two games between ranked opponents, then-No. 5 Ohio State defeated then-No. 14 Iowa 31-14, and then-No. 7 Alabama blew out then-No. 16 Mississippi State 56-28. Despite only one upset this week, some teams made huge statements in Week 5 as we near the halfway point of the college football season. Here are my biggest takeaways from the Week 5 AP Poll.
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨
https://t.co/AIyMaXG0Br
— On3 (@On3) October 4, 2026
Week 5 AP Poll Reaction
1. Alabama Emerging As A National Championship Contender
Alabama’s hot start has made this team not just a College Football Playoff favorite, but a national championship contender, as they made a huge statement against Mississippi State.
The Crimson Tide were on upset alert this week as they headed on the road to take on a Mississippi State team coming off one of its biggest wins in a long time last week against Missouri and led by one of the best quarterbacks in the country, Kamario Taylor. However, they not only avoided the upset but dominated on both sides of the ball, beating them by 33 points.
Quarterback Keelon Russell continues to show why he is a Heisman Trophy contender, throwing three touchdowns for 285 yards with a 16-of-22 completion rate and scoring a rushing touchdown. The defense played its best game of the season, shutting down one of the country’s most high-powered offenses, forcing four turnovers, and limiting the Bulldogs to 18 rushing yards. Because of this dominant performance, Alabama moved up one spot to No. 6 and has looked like one of the best teams in the country.
Things won’t get easy for the Crimson Tide as they will face No. 2 Georgia next week. However, a performance like that will give the team confidence and momentum heading into this game, with major implications. With home-field advantage and Georgia getting off to slow starts in the last three weeks, Alabama has every reason to believe it can pull off the win that will put it in the driver’s seat for the SEC Championship game and the College Football Playoff.
2. Florida’s Momentum Cools Off After Huge Letdown
Just one week after the Florida Gators got their signature win over Ole Miss, the team had a huge letdown against Missouri, which will now decrease their chances of making the College Football Playoff.
In a week when few ranked teams lost, the Gators fell to earth as Missouri blew them out 45-17, dropping them from No. 8 to No. 16 in this week’s rankings. The offense struggled to generate anything, finishing with 325 yards, a significant drop from their season average of 532.8 yards. The running game, their strength, was stuffed: they had 42 yards, and running back Jadan Baugh, who had 11 touchdowns heading into this game, finished with 13 yards on 12 carries.
Offensive struggles exposed their vulnerable defense, which gave up 45 points to a Missouri team that hadn’t beaten an AP Top 25 opponent in its last nine games. They gave up 560 yards and were dominated in the run game, allowing 220 yards and three touchdowns. They also didn’t make any difference-making plays like last week, letting Missouri convert 7 of 13 third downs and forcing no turnovers.
This is a crushing loss for Florida; they were exposed, and now SEC teams know the formula to beat them. Because of this loss, they have no margin for error to make the College Football Playoff, and things will get harder as they still have to face No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Georgia on the road. Florida’s first loss of the season couldn’t have come at a worse time, and now they face an uphill climb to make the Playoff.
3. Oregon Is Back In The College Football Playoff Mix
Oregon might have had a bye week this week, but they benefited from this week’s results, moving up two spots in this week’s rankings. Now their College Football Playoff hopes, which were on life support two weeks ago, have significantly increased.
The Ducks, No. 20 heading into Week 4, have completely turned their season around after a disappointing Week 2 loss to Oklahoma State. They got a much-needed win over then-No. 12 USC last week, moving up five spots in last week’s rankings. Despite possibly losing quarterback Dante Moore for some time due to a concussion, Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola stepped up in his absence, throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns on a 76% completion percentage. Their defense also stepped up, limiting USC’s offense to two third-down conversions on 11 attempts and forcing a turnover.
This result, along with last week’s results, wasn’t the only thing that helped Oregon’s playoff hopes. Boise State and Oklahoma State, Oregon’s first two opponents of the season, have worked their way up the rankings over the past two weeks and are ranked No. 23 and No. 18 in this week’s poll. This will give the Ducks some leeway in their resume, with more opportunity to boost it as the season goes on.
This opportunity to boost it will start next week when Oregon takes on No.- UCLA at home, which would give them three ranked victories this season despite still having to play No.5 Ohio State later in the season. Their schedule becomes manageable, as UCLA and Ohio State are the remaining ranked opponents on Oregon’s schedule. The Ducks looked like they were done after Week 2, but now they can inspire again to not only make the College Football Playoff but also be national championship contenders again.
Main Image: William Purnell-Imagn Images
