Week 6 of the college football season is in the books and Saturday provided everyone with plenty to enjoy. From the Oklahoma Sooners’ big win over the Texas Longhorns to LSU’s comeback victory, the Week 7 college football rankings deliver a lot of changes.
It all starts with a new No. 1 team atop the college football rankings after Texas suffered its first loss of the season. With the Longhorns plummeting, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Florida State Seminoles are among the best teams in college football climbing up the rankings.
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Dropped: (25) Maryland Terrapins, (19) Missouri Tigers
Let’s dive into our college football rankings after Week 6.
Week 7 college football rankings
25. UCLA Bruins
- Previously: Unranked
- Next Opponent: UCLA vs Oregon State
After losing to Utah to close out September, the UCLA Bruins responded by coming off their bye with a much-needed victory over Washington State. Dante Moore (1-2 TD-INT) was not sharp in this one, but Carson Steele (140 rushing yards) and the Bruins’ defense carried this team to victory. Up next, another daunting challenge against Oregon State.
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24. Air Force Falcons
- Previously: Unranked
- Next Opponent: Wyoming vs Air Force
The Air Force Falcons are 5-0 for the first time since 2003. Led by head coach Trey Calhoun, there seems to be nothing in the path that will prevent Air Force from achieving double-digit wins for the third consecutive season. It will come as no surprise to learn that would be the first time ever in Falcons’ history. There are some tough matchups ahead, but after blowing the doors off San Jose State (45-20) and San Diego State (49-10), perhaps this could be one of the best seasons ever by the Air Force.
23. Miami Hurricanes
- Previously: No. 17 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Miami vs North Carolina
The results from the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night are inexcusable, but it also tracks with Mario Cristobal’s brief history with the Oregon Ducks. Tyler Van Dyke decimated any remote shot he had of making it to New York City for the Heisman ceremony and the Hurricanes’ team itself provided no reason to believe it can hang with North Carolina next Saturday. Other than that, Week 6 was fine for the Hurricanes.
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22. Kentucky Wildcats
- Previously: No. 20 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Missouri vs Kentucky
There’s a reason Georgia is a college football dynasty and the Kentucky Wildcats experienced that on Saturday night. Devin Leary wasn’t bad, but UK’s penalties and a defense that had no answer for Carson Beck put the Wildcats in a hole they never had a chance to recover from. With several undefeated teams losing in Week 6, though, Kentucky stays in the top 25.
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21. Washington State Cougars
- Previously: No. 11 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Arizona vs Washington State
Just like that, whatever remote dreams the Washington State Huskies had of being in the playoff hunt have vanished. After scoring 30-plus points in four consecutive weeks, including vs Wisconsin and Oregon State, the Cougars’ offense failed to show up on Saturday. It doesn’t drop Washington State out of the rankings completely, but that will likely come after the Cougars face Oregon on Oct. 21.
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20. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Previously: No. 10 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: USC vs Notre Dame
It might just be time to accept reality at this point. After Saturday’s loss, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have just one season with one or fewer losses since 2013. Two head coaches, endless quarterbacks and the results are the same. Notre Dame’s glory years are gone, this former football powerhouse is now like every other mid-tier big-name school that isn’t anywhere close to reaching the mountaintop.
19. Tennessee Volunteers
- Previously: No. 22 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Texas A&M vs Tennessee
The Week 6 bye provided the Tennessee Volunteers with an opportunity to scout the Texas A&M Aggies’ defense versus Alabama. Based on how that went, the Vols should be excited to return to the field at Neyland Stadium to take on Texas A&M. Just keep in mind, quarterback Joe Milton has already demonstrated he can’t come anywhere close to replicating what Hendon Hooker did in 2022. That may not matter in Week 7, but it will against Alabama and Kentucky later this month.
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18. LSU Tigers
- Previously: No. 23 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Auburn vs LSU
Safe to say the LSU Tigers needed that one. While defensive coordinator Matt House has largely been a disaster as play-caller this year, with Missouri erupting for 527 total yards in Week 6, quarterback Jayden Daniels played the hero once again. Two losses already mean the Tigers aren’t in the playoff picture, but at least Daniels is proving he can overcome a bad defense to win most weeks.
Related: Heisman Watch 2023
17. Utah Utes
- Previously: No. 21 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: California vs Utah (Oct. 14)
Utah Utes quarterback Cam Rising shed light on his injury during the bye, revealing that he tore multiple ligaments in his knee during the Rose Bowl last season. It explains why, despite the program trying to provide hope, he’s missed the entire 2023 season so far. Utah won’t need Rising in Week 7 vs California, but any absence beyond that means guaranteed losses versus USC (Oct. 21) and Oregon (Oct. 28).
Related: College Football Standings
16. Duke Blue Devils
- Previously: No. 18 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: NC State vs Duke
The one-score loss to Notre Dame still stings, but the Duke Blue Devils still have an impressive blowout win over the Clemson Tigers on their resume. Hovering inside the edge of the top-20 rankings, Duke now rolls into an October schedule (NC State, @ Florida State, @ Louisville) that could change how the Blue Devils’ football program is viewed both now and in the future.
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15. Ole Miss Rebels
- Previously: No. 14 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Ole Miss vs Auburn (Week 8)
The Ole Miss Rebels had a few things go wrong on Saturday, beginning with a 7-0 deficit midway through the first quarter, an awful first half on third downs (0-for-6) and a missed field goal. Yet, Lane Kiffin’s squad came away with the victory and it was necessary with many of the SEC teams around Ole Miss picking up wins in Week 6.
14. Oregon State Beavers
- Previously: No. 15 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: UCLA vs Oregon State
The Oregon State Beavers have a golden opportunity right in front of them. With Washington State losing in Week 6 and USC’s defense remaining a problem, a competitive Pac-12 Conference remains fairly wide open. UCLA won’t be easy, especially if the Beavers look like they did early vs California.
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13. Louisville Cardinals
- Previously: 24th in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Louisville vs Pittsburgh
Talk about a statement victory. Not only did the Louisville Cardinals’ defense build a wall that prevented Notre Dame from doing anything on the ground, quarterback Jack Plummer outplayed Sam Hartman and Louisville running back Jawhar Jordan put on a show. Buckle up, the Cardinals are 6-0 for the first time since 2013, when Teddy Bridgewater led this team to a 12-1 record including a 36-9 victory over Miami in their bowl game.
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12. North Carolina Tar Heels
- Previously: No. 16 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Miami (FL) vs North Carolina
A little time off did great things for Drake Maye and the North Carolina Tar Heels offense. Facing a previously 4-1 Syracuse team, Maye lit them up for 442 passing yards and four total touchdowns. Coming out of Week 6 with a crisp 5-0 record, the Tar Heels vs Hurricanes matchup looks even better for Maye and UNC after what Miami just put on the field against Georgia Tech.
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11. Alabama Crimson Tide
- Previously: No. 13 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Arkansas vs Alabama
It wasn’t the prettiest win for the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, but those are becoming hard to come by. Jalen Milroe played fairly well, eclipsing the 300-yard mark. The real standout, of course, was wideout Jermaine Burton. While Nick Saban will like the defensive effort, double-digit penalties are often a killer and will prove costly against teams like Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky.
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10. Texas Longhorns
- Previously: 1st in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Texas vs Houston
Quinn Ewers wasn’t perfect in Week 6, but he shouldn’t have to be for the Texas Longhorns to win. In one of the best rivalry games in a few years, Ewers had nearly 250 passing yards with only six completions on 37 attempts. Unfortunately, it was three takeaways (one interception off a receiver’s hands) and a porous offensive line that doomed the Longhorns.
Related: Texas Football schedule
9. USC Trojans
- Previously: No. 6 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: USC @ Notre Dame
This is what happens when you have one of the worst defenses in college football. Inexplicably, head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t cut ties with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch when he needed to after last season. To no one’s surprise, nothing with the Trojans’ defense has changed. If that’s what happens at home against Arizona, the Trojans don’t stand a chance against Michael Penix Jr (Nov. 4) and Bo Nix (Nov. 11). Then, Caleb Williams leaves for the NFL and it all falls apart for the Trojans in 2024.
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8. Washington Huskies
- Previously: 9th in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Oregon vs Washington
The Washington Huskies are riding a 12-game winning streak and an undefeated 2023 season (5-0) into their must-see matchup against the Oregon Ducks. Michael Penix Jr. has showcased starting-caliber NFL talent in the last calendar year, leading a Huskies’ offense that oftentimes looks flawless. Home-field advantage will be huge for the Huskies this upcoming Saturday, but the defense that can record stops against a high-powered aerial attack will decide this one.
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7. Penn State Nittany Lions
- Previously: No. 7 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Massachusetts vs Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions essentially have three weeks to prepare for Ohio State. After enjoying a Week 6 bye, the Nittany Lions offense will use UMass on Saturday as a tune-up game. That will set the stage for a Penn State vs Ohio State battle that could very likely decide a playoff spot. Get the popcorn ready for Oct. 21.
6. Oregon Ducks
- Previously: No. 4 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Oregon @ Washington
The stage is set for Week 7. On Saturday afternoon, two of the best offenses in the nation take the field for a potential shootout. Michael Penix Jr. has better Heisman odds than Bo Nix right now, but that could change quickly. Whereas we would’ve had doubts about Oregon’s chance on the road in Washington, the Ducks’ defense in 2023 puts this team in a much better position.
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5. Oklahoma Sooners
- Previously: 12th in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Central Florida vs Oklahoma (Week 8)
Brent Venables finally has a defense he can be proud of and the Oklahoma Sooners are rolling because of it. Facing one of the best quarterbacks in college football, the Sooners’ pass rush kept Ewers under constant duress and it resulted in Oklahoma allowing just a 35.7% third-down conversion rate. With Dillon Gabriel playing at a Heisman-caliber level, the Sooners have thrust themselves into the CFP picture.
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4. Georgia Bulldogs
- Previously: No. 8 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Georgia @ Vanderbilt
That’s more like it for the Georgia Bulldogs. It feels reminiscent of the 2022 season, where the Bulldogs play with their proverbial food for a week and then step things up against quality competition. Carson Back is really starting to come into his own, helping this Bulldogs’ aerial attack really take off. If we keep seeing performances like this, Georgia will be right back in the top three.
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3. Michigan Wolverines
- Previously: 5th in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Indiana vs Michigan
A slow start for the Michigan Wolverines offense didn’t matter, not with the defense recording a pick-six and holding Minnesota to 122 total yards and 14.2% third-down conversion rate in the first half on Saturday. We still haven’t seen enough from the Wolverines to move them to the top of the rankings, but Michigan would be in the College Football Playoff if it kicked off tomorrow.
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2. Florida State Seminoles
- Previously: No. 3 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Syracuse vs Florida State
It wasn’t all pretty for the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday afternoon. After jumping out to a 22-0 lead, the Seminoles’ offense seemed to take its foot off the break with Virginia Tech (2-4) delivering 17 unanswered points. Still, Florida State’s defense was outstanding and running back Trey Benson stepped up with All-American candidate Keon Coleman limited.
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1. Ohio State Buckeyes
- Previously: No. 2 in college football rankings
- Next Opponent: Purdue vs Ohio State
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the best team in college football after Week 6. On Saturday, Kyle McCord had a career-best performance, carving up the Maryland Terrapins for 320 passing yards. What makes this win more impressive are the facts that Ohio State faced a two-score deficit in the second quarter and the Buckeyes’ ground game (1.9 yards per carry) never got going. Despite all of that, McCord stepped up and the Buckeyes kept rolling.