Los Angeles’ college football scene saw a significant shake-up in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, with UCLA cracking the top five for the first time in a quarter-century and USC rejoining the rankings after a statement victory. News from California, across the nation and world - Los Angeles Times reported that the Bruins landed at No. 5, their highest spot since 2001, while the Trojans surged back into the poll at No. 18.
UCLA's ascent to No. 5 marks its best ranking since holding the No. 4 position 25 years ago. The Bruins, under first-year coach Bob Chesney, are off to an 8-0 start, a feat not accomplished by the program since 2005. This perfect run includes a dominant 27-0 shutout victory over Nevada in a non-conference matchup this past weekend. Despite what was described as a shaky first half from the offense, the Bruins' defense recorded four interceptions to secure the win and maintain their unbeaten record.
Meanwhile, just across town, USC made its return to the national spotlight after a pivotal 30-18 upset against then-No. 2 Ohio State. This victory, arguably the Trojans' biggest in years, came after a week of considerable criticism directed at coach Lincoln Riley and his program. It was identified as the largest win of Riley's five seasons at the helm and has pushed the Trojans back into the playoff hunt, landing them at No. 18 in the poll.
The ripple effects of these games were felt nationally. Ohio State, previously No. 2, plummeted to No. 11, marking their first time outside the AP Top 10 since September 26, 2021. This continues a trend of top teams falling, as it was the fourth consecutive week a No. 1 or No. 2 ranked team lost to an unranked opponent. Miami held onto the No. 1 spot for the third straight week following a narrow 38-35 escape against North Carolina, receiving 62 of 70 first-place votes. Georgia moved up to No. 2 with seven first-place votes, followed by Utah, Notre Dame, and then UCLA, which rounded out the top five.
Further down the rankings, New Mexico made program history, earning its first-ever AP ranking at No. 22 after defeating San José State 21-16. The Lobos, who have been playing football since 1892, achieved this breakthrough in Jason Eck’s second season, riding their first 7-1 start since 1982. Other teams entering the poll included No. 21 Iowa, following a 30-0 win over Wisconsin, and No. 23 South Carolina, which secured its first ranking since September 2025 after three straight wins. Exiting the poll were SMU, Northwestern, and Oklahoma State, among others, after losses that impacted their playoff aspirations. Looking ahead, No. 1 Miami is set to visit No. 4 Notre Dame this Saturday for what is anticipated to be a major top-five showdown.
