The top of the Coaches Poll had to be shuffled after Week 6, and the fallout started with Texas tumbling from No. 1.
The Longhorns couldn’t get past Oklahoma, and Arch Manning’s two interceptions directly set up the Sooners’ game-winning points. That left the coaches with the week’s biggest call: who should take over the top spot heading into Week 7. One team stands out above the rest.
Texas fell five spots to No. 6, a drop that was not nearly as severe as the loss itself might have suggested. Still, the defeat to unranked Oklahoma left fresh questions hanging over Manning’s development and whether this offense is ready to truly contend.
There was even more movement just behind the Longhorns. LSU slid 11 spots after Lane Kiffin walked off a road field as a loser for the second time, and the result has left his playoff ambitions in tatters. The coach is now 13-13 on the road at both LSU and Ole Miss.
Oregon took the harshest hit of the week among the major names, falling 12 places after a second loss. The Ducks are still in the poll, but the margin for error is shrinking fast, especially with a road trip to Ohio State looming in a few weeks.
The biggest jump came from UCLA, which moved up 10 spots after edging Oregon 17-15 on the road in a messy game that could have been more one-sided if the Bruins had cleaned up their mistakes. Even so, a win is a win, and the schedule ahead gives them a workable path in the playoff race.
Boise State also moved into the rankings, finally earning the coaches’ attention after a strong road showing at Fresno State, powered in particular by a solid rushing attack.
Wake Forest is back in the national rankings as well, thanks to a 5-1 start that includes a dominant win at NC State. The Deacons also gave Miami its toughest test of the season.
Several teams fell out after short stays in the poll. Florida, which has bounced all over the rankings in recent weeks, is now unranked after a second straight blowout loss that is prompting a sudden reassessment of the Jon Sumrall regime.
Duke dropped out after a three-point loss to Georgia Tech, with a missed field goal proving costly. Pittsburgh also disappeared from the rankings after losing to North Carolina, a defeat that came with the absence of quarterback Mason Heintschel proving too much to overcome.
Among the teams receiving votes, Northwestern led the way with 107. Arizona followed with 92, Nebraska had 74, Oklahoma 50, Wisconsin 39, Duke 35, James Madison 33, Florida 32, Pittsburgh 25, New Mexico 16, UTSA 10, Baylor 9, Memphis 6, Oregon State 2 and North Carolina 1.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Faces A Big 12 Test With More History Than Fans Realize
Oklahoma States trip to Houston comes with more history than a typical Big 12 matchup, and for longtime followers of either program, it is a reminder that these teams have crossed paths in different eras and different leagues. The connection stretches back through old conference affiliations and a series that has produced plenty of familiar names, including standout moments from players like Dez Bryant and Case Keenum.
Now both programs are conference mates again after joining the Big 12 together in 2023, which gives the meeting a little extra texture beyond the usual October or November stakes. The series has been tight enough to matter for both sides over the years, and Oklahoma State will have no trouble finding reminders that this is one of those matchups where the past still hangs around the present. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Faces A Familiar Wrinkle In This Washington State Rivalry
Washington State and Oregon State are getting ready for the 111th meeting in a series that has taken on a very different feel this season, with both programs now working under first-year head coaches and largely rebuilt assistant staffs. For a rivalry that already has plenty of history, the coaching overlap adds another layer, from the familiarity between offensive coordinators Mitch Dahlen and Kirby Moore to the route JaMarcus Shephard once took through Pullman before landing on the current staff.
There is also a storyline on the defensive side that gives this matchup an especially familiar edge, since one of the more recognizable names on the opposite sideline knows Oregon States recent personnel and program habits as well as anyone. Games like this often come down to details, and when staffs have spent time around each other, even small edges can matter in a matchup that carries both tradition and a little extra inside information. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Defense Faces Its Biggest Third-Down Test Yet
Oklahoma State is about to get a clear read on how sturdy its defense really is when it lines up against Houston, the nations most efficient third-down offense. The Cowboys have done solid work in that area so far, allowing conversions on 33.9% of opponent third downs, which ranks fourth in the Big 12, but Houston brings a different level of stress with an offense built to stay on schedule and keep drives alive.
Coach Eric Morris said the matchup puts a premium on first-down defense, because getting the Cougars behind the sticks is the best way to make things uncomfortable. Even with Oklahoma States respectable numbers, this is the kind of game that can expose whether those stops have been about consistency or simply opponents not forcing enough pressure situations. [Read more 🡒]