On November 1, the Associated Press released its live update to the college football Top 25 poll, noting that Ohio State had fallen out of the top 10 for the first time this season as the national playoff picture began to crystallize amid a tightening field. The update also highlighted that UCLA was moving into the upper echelon and that New Mexico had earned its first ever AP ranking of the season.
Sources from the AP’s projection report indicate that Ohio State had been ranked in the Top 10 for most of the season but had now slipped beyond the top 10. However, the same report lists Ohio State at #4 in the projected rankings, revealing a discrepancy within the same outlet’s data about the team’s exact position.
UCLA, fresh off recent conference wins, climbed into the upper section of the projected Top 25, positioning itself as a key candidate in the emerging playoff race. The projected list added further weight to California’s upward momentum by showing the Bruins in the mid‑tier climb.
New Mexico’s inaugural AP ranking marked a notable milestone for the Lobos, a mid‑tier program that had long been outside the national spotlight. The update highlighted that the team’s leap into the Top 25 was tied to strong conference performances and a late‑season surge of talent and momentum.
Beyond the top ten, the AP projection also showcased several mid‑ranked teams earning significant jumps in the standings, indicating how recent conference play and late‑season formulation of the schedule have influenced the rankings. The report made clear that the final portion of the college football calendar was approaching, and the Top 25 result offers fans an early glimpse of how the postseason might shape up.
