Ovi's Top 25 vs. AP Poll: Are We Ranking the Best Teams or the Biggest Names?

Week 9 | October 25, 2026

By Ovi Muniz | All 4 Downs Podcast | The Real Talk Playbook

College football has reached the point in the season when rankings become more than numbers. They become arguments about strength of schedule, quality victories, consistency, and which programs deserve an opportunity to compete for a national championship.

After another weekend of upsets, the Associated Press released its Week 9 Top 25 rankings. Miami remains No. 1, Ohio State moves to No. 2, and Indiana climbs into the top four.

But I see college football differently.

In my Week 9 rankings, Ohio State remains No. 1, Miami is No. 2, Utah rises to No. 3, and Georgia rounds out my top four.

The biggest question isn't necessarily which team has the best record.

It's which team has earned the right to be called one of the best in America.

1. Is Miami Really the Best Team in America?

Miami is undefeated at 7–0, and the AP voters have rewarded the Hurricanes with the No. 1 ranking.

I respect what Miami has accomplished. Winning seven games without a loss is impressive.

However, I question the strength of the ACC.

Is Miami truly the best team in college football, or is it benefiting from a conference that may not provide the same level of competition as the SEC or Big Ten?

Miami's 52–23 victory over Pittsburgh was impressive. But dominating conference opponents doesn't automatically establish that a team is better than every other program in the country.

I have Ohio State at No. 1 because I believe the Buckeyes deserve that position based on my evaluation of their overall quality.

With a new starting quarterback, however, Ohio State has questions to answer.

Will the quarterback elevate the offense? Will the team improve? Or will Ohio State struggle against tougher opponents and eventually fall in my rankings?

Being No. 1 today doesn't guarantee being No. 1 next week.

2. BYU Was Never My No. 2 Team

Last week, BYU was ranked No. 2 in the AP Poll.

I didn't agree with that ranking then, and I certainly don't agree with the idea that BYU had already proven itself to be the second-best team in America.

BYU lost to UCF, 39–31, and dropped to No. 8 in the latest AP Poll.

In my rankings, BYU sits at No. 13.

My argument is simple: Being undefeated doesn't automatically make a team elite.

I want to know who a team defeated, how convincingly it won, and whether it demonstrated the ability to compete against the nation's strongest programs.

BYU's victory over Notre Dame deserves recognition. But its loss to UCF raises questions about consistency.

One big victory doesn't erase a disappointing performance the following week.

3. Is Notre Dame Overrated?

Notre Dame is ranked No. 5 by the AP, while I have the Fighting Irish at No. 7.

My concern is the relationship between Notre Dame's ranking and BYU's performance.

Notre Dame lost to BYU. Then BYU turned around and lost to UCF.

Does that automatically mean Notre Dame isn't a good team? Absolutely not.

But it should make voters reconsider how strong Notre Dame's résumé really is.

Notre Dame is one of the most recognizable programs in college football. Its tradition and history are undeniable.

However, history shouldn't determine today's rankings.

I don't rank the helmet. I rank the performance.

Notre Dame has opportunities to prove it belongs among the elite, but I need to see more before moving the Irish higher.

4. Indiana Finds Ways to Win, But Is It Elite?

This might be one of my biggest disagreements with the AP Poll.

Indiana is ranked No. 4 nationally.

I have Indiana at No. 12.

Indiana defeated Michigan 13–6 in overtime, improving to 7–1.

I'll give the Hoosiers credit. They find ways to win football games, even when things aren't going their way.

That's an important quality.

But there's a difference between being a good team and being an elite championship contender.

When I evaluate Indiana, I question whether its offensive production and overall performances justify a top-four ranking.

The AP rewards Indiana for winning. I understand that perspective.

But my rankings also consider how a team wins.

Can Indiana dominate quality opponents? Can it consistently execute offensively? Can it compete against the very best teams in the country?

Until those questions are answered, I don't see Indiana as a top-four team.

Winning games earns respect. Dominating strong competition earns elite status.

5. Texas Defeated Ole Miss, So Why Isn't Texas Ranked?

This is a question I expect people to challenge me about.

Texas defeated Ole Miss 34–27, yet the Longhorns are outside my Top 25 while Ole Miss remains No. 21.

Here's my explanation.

Texas deserves credit for defeating Ole Miss. But one victory doesn't erase the rest of its season.

Texas also lost to Oklahoma.

Looking at conference performance:

• Texas: 2–2 in SEC play

• Oklahoma: 2–2 in SEC play

• Ole Miss: 3–2 in SEC play

Ole Miss has more conference victories, although it has also played one additional SEC game.

The head-to-head victory favors Texas. That matters, and I won't ignore it.

But I evaluate the complete body of work, including consistency, losses, strength of opponents, and how teams perform throughout the season.

Texas has another opportunity against Mississippi State.

Here's my challenge: Beat Mississippi State by at least 21 points.

I don't want to see Texas barely escape with a victory. I want to see a convincing performance.

If Texas wins by three touchdowns or more, I will seriously consider moving the Longhorns back into my Top 25.

The door isn't closed.

But Texas must earn its way back.

6. Why SMU, LSU, and Kentucky Deserve More Respect

Three teams stand out when comparing my rankings to the AP Poll.

SMU: Ovi No. 10 | AP No. 19

SMU defeated California 59–20 and improved to 6–1.

I have the Mustangs nine positions higher than the AP.

A team capable of producing that type of performance deserves serious consideration. SMU has earned a place in my top 10.

LSU: Ovi No. 8 | AP No. 15

LSU defeated Auburn 38–17.

The Tigers have two losses, but I believe they deserve greater recognition for their overall ability and level of competition.

A team's record is important, but it doesn't tell the entire story.

Kentucky: Ovi No. 5 | AP No. 9

Kentucky defeated Vanderbilt 34–17 and improved to 7–1.

I have the Wildcats inside my top five because I believe their performance deserves more respect.

Kentucky is making a strong case for national recognition.

These are examples of why I don't automatically follow the national rankings.

7. UTSA Deserves a Seat at the Table

One of the biggest differences between my rankings and the AP Poll is UTSA.

I have UTSA at No. 23, while the Roadrunners remain outside the AP Top 25.

UTSA also occupies the No. 12 position in my personal College Football Playoff projection, where I chose to replace Indiana.

That's not an official playoff prediction from the selection committee. It's my own assessment of which teams I want to see competing for a championship.

I believe programs outside the traditional national spotlight deserve serious consideration when their performances justify it.

College football shouldn't be reserved for the same recognizable names every season.

Programs must have opportunities to prove themselves.

8. My College Football Ranking Philosophy

I don't believe the AP Poll is always wrong.

I also don't believe my rankings are beyond criticism.

That's what makes college football discussions interesting.

However, my rankings follow five principles.

Strength of schedule: Who have you played, and how difficult was the competition?

Quality victories: Have you defeated opponents capable of competing at a high level?

Performance: Did you control the game, or did you struggle to survive?

Consistency: Can you perform at a high level every week?

Accountability: When you lose or underperform, should your ranking change?

Some fans believe a win is a win, regardless of the score.

I understand that argument. At the end of the season, victories and losses determine a team's record.

But when evaluating the best 25 teams in America, I believe we must look beyond the final score.

A 7–0 team isn't automatically better than a 6–1 team.

A famous program isn't automatically better than a smaller program.

And a single head-to-head victory doesn't always settle the entire ranking debate.

Final Thoughts: Rankings Are Earned, Not Given

College football is entering the part of the season when every game matters.

Miami must continue proving that it deserves to be No. 1.

Ohio State must demonstrate that its quarterback situation can sustain championship-level football.

Notre Dame must show that its reputation matches its performance.

Indiana must prove that it belongs among the elite.

BYU must respond after losing to UCF.

And Texas must demonstrate that defeating Ole Miss wasn't simply one outstanding Saturday.

My rankings will continue to change as teams win, lose, improve, and struggle.

I don't have a problem changing my opinion when the evidence changes.

That's accountability.

The AP Poll has its rankings. The College Football Playoff committee will eventually have its rankings.

And I have mine.

My rankings aren't based on popularity, tradition, or national headlines. They're based on what I believe teams have earned on the football field.

You don't get a Top 25 ranking because of who you were last season.

You earn it because of who you are right now.

The scoreboard tells us who won. The performance tells us who belongs.

This is Ovi Muniz from All 4 Downs, bringing you another week of college football analysis.

Join the Conversation

Do you agree with Ovi's Top 25? Is Miami really the best team in America? Is Indiana overrated? Should Texas be ranked ahead of Ole Miss?

Share your thoughts and challenge the rankings.

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