Each week, the Sports' editorial team selects its Top 25 FBS college football teams for the Student Media Poll.
The SMP is a nationwide poll featuring 97 student journalists from schools nationwide.
The Post Sports will break down its ballots each week. Here are the top five, those dropped from the top 25 and those added.
Logan Adams, sports editor
Top Five
Oregon
Penn State
Ohio State
Georgia
LSU
There was a lot of drama at the top of college football Saturday, and it created a headache for me trying to figure out which team goes where. Ultimately, Oregon earned the No. 1 spot on my list as the nation’s most consistent power-four team, with another undefeated Penn State right behind at No. 2.
The reason a switch was needed is simultaneously the reason Texas is no longer in the top five, replaced by LSU at No. 5; Georgia forced the best QB room in the country to make a substitution at halftime. Alabama’s loss knocked it out of my top 15, while LSU’s consistency to start the season has garnered a deserving top-five selection.
Who I dropped: Michigan, Vanderbilt
At this point, I’m done including Michigan in my top 25, as it has been a weekly in and out in my section of the poll. That inconsistency is undeserving of a top-25 spot, most recently losing to Illinois.
Vanderbilt, after two strong wins, including dethroning No. 1 Alabama, has started to look a bit fraudulent with the fall of the Tide. Vandy struggled to secure a win, just 24-14 against 2-5 Ball State.
Who I added: Illinois, Navy
Illinois has had a great season, aside from a single loss to No. 2 Penn State. Most recently, the Illini dismantled the Wolverines, establishing itself as one of the best and most consistent teams in the Big Ten, outside of what has become the obvious top four: Oregon, Penn State, Ohio State and Indiana.
Navy and Army both find themselves in the top 25, preparing the college football world for what could be the most anticipated matchup between the two teams in a while. Army coach Jeff Monken took to “The Pat McAfee Show” to talk down to his opponent, setting a fire under the ranked rivalry.
Robert Keegan III, sports editor
Top Five
Oregon
Penn State
Georgia
LSU
Indiana
It was a wild week of college football, with top-five losses everywhere. Most notably, my former No. 1, Texas, fell to one-loss Georgia. Additionally, Alabama fell in another game to Tennessee. Both of these teams fall out of my top 5.
Indiana is the most notable new addition to the list. The Big Ten feels like the best conference in college football right now, so Indianna’s 6-0 record ranks among the most impressive in the nation.
Who I dropped: Michigan, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt had a fun run, but that run is now over. Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense did just enough to get the win against a terrible Ball State team. A poor performance from the Commodores against the Cardinals is enough to fall from the list of top 25 teams.
Michigan has been up and down all year. A loss to Illinois marks the end of any potential national championship repeat for the Wolverines. Now, with three losses, it will take a lot for Michigan to return to the top 25.
Who I added: Illinois, Navy
I was skeptical about Illinois for too long. The 6-1 fighting Illini are undoubtedly a contender in the Big 10, and its most recent win over Michigan proves that.
Navy has been one of the most fun mid-major teams in the nation so far this season. Now sitting at 6-0, Navy slides into the No. 25 spot after a week full of ranked losses.
Charlie Fadel, staff writer
Top Five
Oregon
Penn State
Georgia
Ohio State
Texas
After yet another wild week of college football, there is more movement in my top five, specifically from the Texas-Georgia game Saturday night that saw Georgia pull off a huge upset over No. 1 Texas. As a result, Oregon moves to No. 1 after demolishing Purdue and Texas drops to five.
Penn State moves up to two and Georgia goes to three after its huge win in Austin against Texas, and Ohio State stays put at four after its bye week.
Who I dropped: Michigan
The 2024 Michigan Wolverines are continuing on one of the worst title defenses ever. This team has no sense of offense whatsoever. Jack Tuttle is their best quarterback yet played awful against Illinois, leading the offense to a whopping 7 points.
I’m ready to say that Michigan is a genuinely bad football team. Its best win is a 27-24 victory at home against an unranked USC team. If a couple of bounces went the wrong way against Minnesota and USC, this team could be 2-5 at this point in the season.
Who I added: Navy
What a year for the military academy schools. Both Army and Navy are currently ranked in my top 25, making for what should be an incredible matchup in the Army-Navy game this year.
The 6-0 Midshipmen could see their first loss of the season against Notre Dame this week, but if they can pull off that upset, they could be aiming for the group of five playoff bids come selection season.
