The AP Poll was released Sunday afternoon, and unlike Week 5, the rankings saw many changes, including a new No. 1 team after the Week 6 upsets. In a week when six ranked teams lost, the highlight came from Dallas, Texas, as then-No. 1 Texas fell to unranked Oklahoma on a game-winning field goal, 27-24, in the Red River Rivalry.
Meanwhile, then-No. 2 Georgia defeated then-No. 6 Alabama 20-17 in a heavyweight SEC battle despite refereeing controversy. Other notable Week 6 upsets included then-No. 10 LSU and then-No. 13 Oregon. As we reached the second half of the college football season, some teams boosted their chances of making the College Football Playoff, while others’ hopes took a big hit. Here are my biggest takeaways from the Week 6 AP Poll.
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨
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— On3 (@On3) October 11, 2026
Week 6 AP Poll Reaction
1. UCLA Becomes College Football Playoff Contender
In a chaotic week, UCLA emerged as the biggest winner, pulling off a big statement road win over Oregon and positioning themselves as a contender for this year’s College Football Playoff.
The Bruins were big underdogs heading into the game, facing an Oregon team that hadn’t lost at home since last year and seemed to have found a rhythm after a slow start to the season. UCLA rattled Oregon’s offense as quarterback Dylan Raiola threw for 43 yards on six of 19 passes, threw two interceptions, and lost a fumble in one of his worst games. The team benched him in the fourth quarter for third-string quarterback Brock Thomas, but it was too late, as UCLA won 17-15.
With the defense forcing seven turnovers, UCLA’s running back Wayne Knight carried the offense in a game in which the team lost its starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, to a lower-body injury. Knight rushed for 103 yards on 22 carries and scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown. Despite three turnovers, the offense did enough to win, and backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach filled in admirably, throwing a 43-yard touchdown pass on six attempts.
Despite losing Iamaleava, this win puts the Bruins on a strong path to the Playoff and moves them up to No. 12 in the AP Poll. What a turnaround it’s been for this program under first-year head coach Bob Chesney, going from one of the worst teams in the Big Ten last season to one of the best. They have only one more ranked game this season, so their path to the Playoff is set.
2. Ohio State-Indiana Winner Will Move One Step Closer To The College Football Playoff
Ohio State and Indiana took care of business this week, setting up a huge showdown next week, with the winner moving one step closer to the College Football Playoff.
Despite moving up to No. 5 in the rankings, Indiana survived an upset scare from Nebraska, trailing 17-6 with 12 minutes left before it scored 14 unanswered points to win. The defending champions didn’t play well: they went 1-for-10 on third down, scored six points in the first three quarters, and were held to 65 rushing yards. However, quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Nick Marsh were instrumental in the comeback, as their connection led to both fourth-quarter touchdowns. Hoover finished with 263 yards and two touchdowns, while Marsh caught six passes for 187 yards.
Ohio State dominated, defeating Maryland 45-16 to move up to No. 4 in the AP Poll. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith continued to show he’s among the Heisman favorites, scoring two touchdowns on four receptions for 93 yards. Running back Bo Jackson led the running game with 207 yards, including 107 on the ground, and scored two touchdowns. Despite two turnovers, quarterback Julian Sayin threw four touchdowns for 242 yards, giving the team good rhythm heading into the Indiana game.
Now, this game sets up a pivotal top-5 showdown with implications for the Big Ten race and the College Football Playoff. For Ohio State, it provides a resume boost despite the Texas loss and keeps them from a second critical loss that could put them in danger of missing the Playoff. For Indiana, it put them in a prime position to clinch a Playoff spot, as they have only one ranked opponent left to play after Ohio State. The stakes couldn’t be higher in next week’s Big Ten championship rematch, and it will have a huge impact on the College Football Playoff.
3. Georgia In Prime Position To Make SEC Championship Game After Conference Chaos
In a week that saw six ranked teams lose, four came from the SEC, including Alabama. With Georgia’s pivotal win over Alabama, which put them at No. 1 in the country, they are in prime position to make the SEC Championship Game once again.
The Bulldogs had to fight hard to win against the Crimson Tide despite refereeing controversy. Despite an interception, quarterback Gunner Stockton was very effective, throwing for 249 yards on 18-of-22 completions while scoring a touchdown and rushing for one. Stockton’s performance was matched by the running game, which ran all over Alabama’s defense, totaling 206 yards on 39 carries, with Dwight Phillips Jr. accounting for 120 of those yards. The defense also did its job, holding Alabama to 17 points and limiting quarterback Keelon Russell to under 200 passing yards.
Georgia’s win also benefited from upset losses by then-No. 1 Texas and then-No. 10 LSU. Now, it is the conference’s only remaining undefeated team. Texas suffered a shocking Red River Rivalry loss to Oklahoma, blowing a 17-7 halftime lead before losing on a game-winning field goal and dropping to No.7. As for LSU, it suffered a crushing overtime loss to a now-ranked No. 15 Kentucky team and failed to stop the Wildcats from scoring a game-winning two-point conversion. As a result, the Tigers now have two losses and have fallen to No. 22 in the rankings. Week 6 couldn’t have gone any better for Georgia, and now they are in prime position to make the SEC Championship game.
Main Image: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
