Copyright Athlon Sports
Key Points Major upsets and key wins reshaped ACC and Big 12 conference standings in Week 10. Ohio State leads Athlon’s new top 25 after Week 10. Biggest risers include Utah, USC, Texas, Oklahoma; major drops for Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Miami. Weekly college football top 25 rankings are a big part of every season, and Athlon Sports will update its top 25 following the games each weekend. The 10th weekend of the 2025 season was headlined by upsets in the ACC with Georgia Tech (NC State) and Miami (SMU) both losing on the road to shake up the conference title race. In the Big 12, Texas Tech (Kansas State) and Utah (Cincinnati) scored key wins to keep pace with BYU atop the conference. Additionally, USC (Nebraska), Texas (Vanderbilt), and Oklahoma (Tennessee) rise in the rankings after Week 10 due to huge victories on Saturday. Ohio State takes the No. 1 spot in the post-Week 10 top 25 rankings, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. Here are Athlon Sports’ top 25 college football teams after Week 10: Biggest Risers in Athlon’s CFB Rankings Utah, USC, Texas, and Oklahoma Biggest Drops in Athlon’s CFB Rankings Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Miami, Tennessee, and Cincinnati 1. Ohio State (8-0) Last Week: 1 Week 10 Result: Defeated Penn State The Buckeyes continued to roll against Big Ten competition this season with a 38-14 victory over Penn State on Saturday. Quarterback Julian Sayin (20 of 23 for 316 yards and four scores) and receivers Jeremiah Smith (123 yards) and Carnell Tate (124) torched the Nittany Lions’ defense. 2. Indiana (9-0) Last Week: 2 Week 10 Result: Defeated Maryland Another week, another blowout victory for Indiana in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers ran for 367 yards, while the defense forced five takeaways and allowed less than 300 yards (293) in a 55-10 win over Maryland. 3. Texas A&M (8-0) Last Week: 3 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Aggies were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday at Missouri. 4. Alabama (7-1) Last Week: 4 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Crimson Tide were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday against LSU. Alabama won 42-13 over the Tigers last year in Baton Rouge. 5. Georgia (7-1) Last Week: 5 Week 10 Result: Defeated Florida Coach Kirby Smart’s team found another way to win a close game edging rival Florida 24-20 in Jacksonville. Trailing 20-17 late in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs stuffed the Gators on fourth down, and then proceeded to get the game-winning score on a 36-yard touchdown run by Chauncey Bowens on the next drive. Four of Georgia’s SEC wins this year have been by 10 points or less. 6. Oregon (7-1) Last Week: 6 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Ducks were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday at Iowa. 7. Ole Miss (8-1) Last Week: 8 Week 10 Result: Defeated South Carolina Saturday night’s win over South Carolina moved Ole Miss one step closer to the College Football Playoff. Running back Kewan Lacy ran for 167 yards and a touchdown to guide an offense that averaged 6.3 yards per play. The Rebels’ defense limited the Gamecocks to just 230 yards. 8. BYU (8-0) Last Week: 12 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Cougars were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday at Texas Tech. The showdown in Lubbock will have major Big 12 title implications. 9. Notre Dame (6-2) Last Week: 11 Week 10 Result: Defeated Boston College Notre Dame didn’t play its best or cleanest game, but coach Marcus Freeman’s team pulled away for a 25-10 win at Boston College for its sixth consecutive victory. Running back Jeremiyah Love scored on a 94-yard touchdown run, and the Fighting Irish defense stepped up with five sacks and 12 tackles for a loss to limit the Eagles to 3.6 yards per play. 10. Texas Tech (8-1) Last Week: 13 Week 10 Result: Defeated Kansas State Texas Tech snapped an eight-game losing streak to Kansas State with a 43-20 victory in Manhattan on Saturday afternoon. Defense led the way for the Red Raiders, as coach Joey McGuire’s group forced five turnovers, scored on a fumble return, and limited the Wildcats to 325 yards. Up next for Texas Tech is a massive Big 12 showdown against BYU. 11. Texas (7-2) Last Week: 18 Week 10 Result: Defeated Vanderbilt Vanderbilt made things interesting late, but Texas largely controlled Saturday’s game for a 34-31 victory. Quarterback Arch Manning (25 of 33 for 328 yards and three scores) was outstanding, and the Longhorns’ defense dominated the line of scrimmage with 10 tackles for a loss and limited Vanderbilt to just 58 rushing yards. 12. Oklahoma (7-2) Last Week: 19 Week 10 Result: Defeated Tennessee The Sooners rebounded from last week’s loss to Ole Miss with a crucial 33-27 victory at Tennessee. Oklahoma took advantage of three turnovers by the Volunteers, with defensive lineman R Mason Thomas returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Quarterback John Mateer also made a handful of clutch plays, throwing for 159 yards and adding 80 yards and a touchdown on the ground. 13. Virginia (8-1) Last Week: 14 Week 10 Result: Defeated California The Cavaliers survived a long road trip for a 31-21 victory over California. Coach Tony Elliott’s team is the only unbeaten in ACC play following Georgia Tech’s loss to NC State on Saturday night. 14. Louisville (7-1) Last Week: 15 Week 10 Result: Defeated Virginia Tech Virginia Tech gave Louisville all it could handle, but coach Jeff Brohm’s team rallied with 21 points in the second half to escape Blacksburg with a 28-16 win. Running backs Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown combined for 220 rushing yards and three scores to lead the way, while the defense allowed less than 100 yards in the second half. 15. Vanderbilt (7-2) Last Week: 7 Week 10 Result: Lost to Texas The Commodores made a late rally to make things interesting, but coach Clark Lea’s team suffered a 34-31 loss at Texas on Saturday. Quarterback Diego Pavia threw for 365 yards and three touchdowns, but Vanderbilt’s offense wasn’t able to establish the run (58 yards) and struggled to block the Longhorns’ pass rush. Additionally, the Commodores were torched for 7.1 yards per play by the Texas’ offense. 16. Georgia Tech (8-1) Last Week: 9 Week 10 Result: Lost to NC State The Yellow Jackets’ undefeated season ended on Saturday night with a 48-36 loss at NC State. Georgia Tech’s defense had no answers, as the Wolfpack gashed this group for 583 yards (8.7 yards a snap) and scored on eight of 10 possessions. Coach Brent Key’s team still has a chance to play for the ACC Championship and the College Football Playoff. However, the margin for error is a lot smaller after Week 10. 17. Miami (6-2) Last Week: 10 Week 10 Result: Lost to SMU Miami’s hopes of making the College Football Playoff took a massive hit after Saturday’s 26-20 overtime loss at SMU. Quarterback Carson Beck tossed two picks, and the ‘Canes defense allowed three scores on five drives in the second half. Miami is 4-11 in games played in November or later under coach Mario Cristobal. 18. Utah (7-2) Last Week: 22 Week 10 Result: Defeated Cincinnati The Utes turned in a complete team effort in Saturday night’s dominant 45-14 victory over Cincinnati. Coach Kyle Whittingham’s team scored on a punt return, pounded the Bearcats for 480 total yards, and the defense allowed only 14 points to one of the Big 12’s top offenses. 19. Missouri (6-2) Last Week: 20 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Tigers were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday against Texas A&M. The off week came at a good time for Missouri with starting quarterback Beau Pribula on the mend from an injury suffered in the loss to Vanderbilt. The extra time to prepare should help true freshman Matt Zollers prepare for a tough Aggies’ defense. 20. USC (6-2) Last Week: Not Ranked Week 10 Result: Defeated Nebraska The Trojans scored 15 points in the second half to escape Lincoln with a 21-17 victory over Nebraska. USC’s passing attack struggled against a tough Cornhuskers’ secondary, but the rushing attack managed 202 yards to jumpstart the offense. Also, the Trojans’ defense stepped up in the second half. 21. Michigan (7-2) Last Week: 21 Week 10 Result: Defeated Purdue The Wolverines were sloppy at times, but coach Sherrone Moore’s team held on for a 21-16 victory over Purdue. Running back Jordan Marshall powered a rushing attack that overpowered the Boilermakers for 253 yards. With Northwestern and Maryland up next, Michigan has an excellent chance to be 9-2 going into the annual showdown against Ohio State. 22. Tennessee (6-3) Last Week: 16 Week 10 Result: Lost to Oklahoma The Volunteers were essentially eliminated from the College Football Playoff mix after Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma. Tennessee outgained the Sooners 456 to 351 but was unable to overcome three turnovers, including a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter. 23. Washington (6-2) Last Week: 24 Week 10 Result: Off Week The Huskies were off in Week 10 and will return to action next Saturday at Wisconsin. With the Badgers, Purdue, and UCLA up next, there’s a good chance Washington is 9-2 going into the season finale against Oregon. 24. Memphis (8-1) Last Week: 25 Week 10 Result: Defeated Rice The Tigers jumped out to a 28-0 lead in the first half to end any hopes Rice had of an upset, with coach Ryan Silverfield’s team finishing with a 38-14 victory on Friday night. Coming off last week’s win over South Florida, Memphis showed no letdown with a fast start, led by quarterback Brendon Lewis throwing for 225 yards and rushing for 87 yards. 25. Cincinnati (7-2) Last Week: 17 Week 10 Result: Lost to Utah The Bearcats’ Big 12 title hopes suffered a significant setback with a 45-14 loss at Utah on Saturday night. Cincinnati’s offense struggled to reach the end zone despite recording 427 total yards. Also, the defense has work to do after allowing 45 points and 480 yards to the Utes.
