The Oklahoma Sooners were responsible for what will be the biggest shake-up of the week for national rankings after dethroning No. 1 Texas 27-24 in the Red River Rivalry. At 3-2 with losses to Michigan and likely new No. 1 Georgia, that massive of a win should also be enough to put OU back inside the top 25 after being left out the past three weeks.
With a chaotic Week 6 of college football behind us, here's what the next AP Top 25 Poll could look like, including how high the Sooners climb. If OU doesn't end up inside the top 25, then we'll take time on Sunday explaining who the Sooners were more worthy than.
Projecting the AP Top 25 Poll after Week 6
The Bulldogs' 20-17 win over No. 6 Alabama might have impressed voters enough to already have them jump Texas, even if the Longhorns had survived with another ugly performance. Both results, instead, made No. 1 an easy choice, especially considering Georgia hammered OU 41-13 two weeks before the Sooners beat Texas.
Notre Dame still hasn't beaten anyone worth noting, but the Fighting Irish will still keep rising until they lose. They have their toughest challenge yet next, though, with a trip to BYU on Saturday night.
The Hurricanes had a bye, but will still manage to get a bump inside the top three thanks to Texas' loss.
Ohio State's loss to Texas looks worse now, but it still wasn't enough for the Buckeyes to fall behind anyone below them.
The Hoosiers survived a 20-17 road scare to Nebraska. It either revealed that Nebraska is actually pretty good in 2026 or that Indiana really isn't top-5 material this season.
There's a strong case for BYU jumping Indiana, but voters will still stick with the reigning national champions. But if the Cougars beat Notre Dame on Saturday, then they'll seal a spot inside the top 5.
The Longhorns haven't played pretty football and might have just lost to an unranked OU team, but Texas still has a pair of top-15 wins. Voters shouldn't lose too much respect yet.
Alabama is probably better than Texas, but the Crimson Tide's resume still doesn't stack up yet with just one ranked win over Mississippi State.
The Rebels thumped Vanderbilt 52-17. It's nothing impressive, but good enough to stay put at No. 9.
UCLA's 17-15 win over Oregon isn't that impressive, but still better than anything Texas Tech has done to get inside the top 10 over the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech stays right where it was at No. 11 after a bye week.
Utah beat Kansas, but it also remains stagnant at 5-0, still in need of a signature win.
Missouri has been on fraud watch all season, but maybe the Tigers are for real with another win, this time 27-6 over Texas A&M.
The Cowboys aren't the best team in the state, but still somehow the highest-ranked program in the Sooner State while rolling since losing to Tulsa. Oklahoma State handled UCF 42-28, which should be enough to jump Tennessee, which struggled with Arkansas.
The Volunteers narrowly beat Arkansas 24-17. That should barely be looked at as a win.
Mississippi State got a week off after suffering a beatdown from Alabama, which lost to Georgia, so there's no need to move the Bulldogs any higher while sitting dormant, and that's why they get jumped by Oklahoma State.
Iowa took care of business against Washington 41-24 in a cross-country road trip.
Penn State is clearly not any good, but the Nittany Lions looked that way against USC. Eventually, Lincoln Riley's squad will slip again, and maybe voters will realize the Trojans are frauds.
Kentucky has done more than USC has, especially after upsetting No. 10 LSU in overtime on Saturday. For some reason, though, voters aren't bought in yet to the Wildcats, and they even dropped them from the rankings last week after a close encounter with South Carolina.
LSU is in freefall with Lane Kiffin after two losses, but the Tigers are still a top-25 team (for now).
Houston's only loss so far was a close one to Texas Tech, but this week will reveal a lot when the Cougars host Oklahoma State.
That 3-2 record looks ugly, but beating the No. 1 team in the country is enough to prove the Sooners are a top-25 squad. OU has also endured the toughest start of anyone else in college football, with losses to Georgia and Michigan, and still came out above .500. The voters should realize how good OU's resume really is, and it's definitely better than what Oregon has done.
Speaking of Oregon, Boise State's loss to the Ducks keeps looking worse and worse, but the Broncos are still taking advantage of a weak schedule since.
There's no reason to budge SMU after a bye week.
Wake Forest is a top-25 team? Wake Forest is a top-25 team. The Demon Deacons are 5-1 after a 38-14 win against NC State.
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