Canes to No. 2; OU, Indiana, Texas Tech surge

Miami’s dominant win over Florida vaulted the Hurricanes to No. 2 in this week’s Top 25, with Ohio State holding No. 1. Oklahoma re-entered the top 10 while Indiana and Texas Tech surged. Betting impact: expect Miami’s lines and CFP futures to shorten, while Indiana and Texas Tech could offer underdog value for smart bettors in coming weeks.

Miami Surges to No. 2 as Top 25 Shifts After Week 4

Miami climbed to No. 2 in this week’s Top 25 after a decisive home win over Florida, earning the Hurricanes their highest ranking since 2017. Ohio State remained No. 1 with the bulk of first-place support, while Penn State slipped to No. 3 after an idle week. LSU dropped to No. 4 following a routine win over a lower-division opponent.

Top 10 Snapshot

1. Ohio State 2. Miami 3. Penn State 4. LSU 5. Georgia 6. Oregon 7. Oklahoma 8. Florida State 9. Texas A&M 10. Texas

Big Movers: Indiana, Texas Tech and Oklahoma

Indiana vaulted eight spots to No. 11 after a 63-7 dismantling of then-No. 9 Illinois, handing the Illini their most lopsided loss of the Bret Bielema era and sending Illinois tumbling to No. 23. Texas Tech climbed to No. 12 after a strong road win at Utah despite playing backup quarterback for much of the second half. Oklahoma’s home victory over ranked Auburn returned the Sooners to the top 10 for the first time since early 2023.

New Entrants and Dropped Teams

TCU reappeared in the rankings at No. 24 after beating SMU and starting 3-0, while BYU returned at No. 25 following a road win. Utah and Auburn fell out of the Top 25 this week.

First-Place Votes and Poll Notes

The top spot remained largely intact, with Ohio State receiving the majority of first-place votes. Miami picked up increased first-place support after its strong performance, and Penn State’s idle week contributed to its slide to No. 3. One first-place vote went to a lower-ranked team, underscoring the occasional volatility in voter sentiment.

Ranked vs. Ranked Matchups to Watch

Key showdowns on the horizon

LSU at Ole Miss — Recent meetings have been split; expect a tight contest. Oregon at Penn State — A rematch of last season’s Big Ten title game, with heavy offensive firepower on display. Alabama at Georgia — A marquee SEC clash featuring Georgia’s dominant home streak against a potent Alabama program. USC at Illinois — Two programs on divergent paths meet in a matchup with upset potential.

What the Poll Means for Bettors

Miami’s leap and Oklahoma’s return to the top 10 are likely to affect betting markets immediately: expect point spreads and futures (including playoff and championship odds) to shorten for teams moving up. Conversely, Indiana and Texas Tech’s sudden climbs create potential underdog value for bettors who believe those wins reflect sustained improvement rather than one-off performances. Monitor injury reports and matchup lines closely—teams that rose on statement wins can be overvalued the following week, offering contrarian opportunities.

Conference Representation

The rankings continue to be dominated by the major conferences, with multiple teams from the SEC and Big Ten represented among the Top 25, while the Big 12, ACC and Independents also maintain spots in the poll.

Miami jumped LSU and Penn State into the No. 2 spot behind Ohio State in the AP Top 25, while Oklahoma climbed into top 10 for the first time in two years.

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