Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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NORMAN — Tulsa World OU beat writer Mason Young, the Associated Press Top 25 poll voter for the state of Oklahoma, breaks down his ballot after Week 6 of the 2025 college football season.
1. Miami
With wins over Notre Dame, South Florida, Florida and now Florida State, the Hurricanes have an exceptional resume, vaulting them to the top spot.
2. Ohio State
The Buckeyes’ best win is still the Week 1 defeat of Texas, and that’s looking less and less impressive. Of course they rolled Minnesota 42-3. I’m eager to see them against Illinois next.
3. Oregon
I had the Ducks at No. 1 last week but now the Penn State win looks unimpressive after the Nittany Lions fell to UCLA. There’s a chance for Oregon to get a boost, though, versus Indiana.
4. Ole Miss
The Rebels stand pat as the top Southeastern Conference team during their bye week.
5. Oklahoma
The Sooners handled business against Kent State, winning 44-0. We’ll see what they can do against Texas at the Cotton Bowl.
6. Texas A&M
The Aggies continue to impress after throttling Mississippi State 31-9.
7. Texas Tech
The Red Raiders convincingly beat Houston 35-11. With Iowa State’s loss, Tech looks like the best of the Big 12.
8. Indiana
The Hoosiers were on bye last Saturday. Now they have their biggest test yet in Oregon.
9. Alabama
One year after losing to Vanderbilt in a serious letdown from a big Georgia win, the Crimson Tide didn’t stumble a second time. They handled Vandy 30-14.
10. Georgia
The Bulldogs responded from their home loss to Bama by dismantling Kentucky 35-14.
11. Tennessee
After narrowly surviving Mississippi State, the Vols caught their breath before hosting Arkansas.
12. LSU
For Brian Kelly’s sake, hopefully Garrett Nussmeier had a healing bye week. LSU has South Carolina next and should be favored, but not a lock.
13. Missouri
We’ll learn a lot about Eli Drinkwitz’s team as the Tigers come off a bye to host Alabama.
14. Michigan
The Wolverines weren’t overly impressive in a 28-10 win over Wisconsin. It wouldn’t surprise if USC gives them some trouble.
15. Georgia Tech
The Yellowjackets’ remaining schedule is very favorable. Duke and Syracuse look like the only tests. Tech could be undefeated when it faces Georgia to end the regular season.
16. Illinois
Giving up significant points in a 43-27 win over Purdue was not uber inspiring. The Fighting Illini might have real trouble with Ohio State.
17. Notre Dame
With a 28-7 takedown of Boise State, the Fighting Irish continued their climb back from an 0-2 start.
18. BYU
Bear Bachmeier and the Cougars shredded former OU coordinator Zac Alley’s West Virginia defense on Saturday, prevailing 38-24.
19. Vanderbilt
The Commodores didn’t knock off Alabama, but they’ll have the chance to upset LSU two weeks from now.
20. Arizona State
The Sun Devils have a tough late-night matchup with Utah on tap.
21. Memphis
Ryan Silverfield’s squad eviscerated Tulsa 45-7 and improved to 6-0 on the year.
22. Virginia
I didn’t rank the Cavaliers after they upset Florida State but I have to now that they’ve backed it up with a 30-27 victory at Louisville.
23. Cincinnati
The Bearcats lost to Nebraska in Week 1, but since, they’ve been hot, and knocked off Iowa State 38-30.
24. Iowa State
I heralded the Cyclones as the top Big 12 team for quite a while, but they let me down in Cincy.
25. Florida State
Thanks to their Week 1 win over Alabama, the Seminoles are hanging on by a thread in my poll following their 28-22 loss to Miami.
Dropped out by me
Texas
Arch Manning and the Longhorns’ shortcomings have been stunning, the lowest low thus far a 29-21 loss at Florida on Saturday.
Penn State
In two weeks, the Nittany Lions have gone from my No. 1 to unranked. A 42-37 loss to UCLA says James Franklin truly may not be a good enough coach to get PSU over the hump.
Not ranked by me
South Florida
Since falling to Miami, the Bulls have manhandled South Carolina State and Charlotte. They have a chance to add to their resume at North Texas on Friday night. A win would likely push them back into my Top 25.
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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