As the leaves change color and college football rolls on, Ohio State continues to separate itself from the rest of the pack. Sure, the Buckeyes didn’t get a strong test against a Wisconsin team that is struggling, but the shutout win was a dominant performance nonetheless.
We were told Miami was back, but after a loss to Louisville on its home field and four Carson Beck interceptions, are the Hurricanes really all that scary? Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss always seem to have a lot of bark, but when the big dogs come to the yard, there isn’t much bite. Texas A&M is undefeated but has largely been unimpressive in doing so.
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And then there’s the Indiana Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti stalks the sidelines with a smug smile, suggesting that he knows something the rest of us don’t. And it may very well be true. Cignetti has Indiana playing at a high level and has the Hoosiers believing they can play with anyone in the country… even Ohio State.
So, how does Joel Klatt see things stacking up after a week of losses in the Top-10? There’s guaranteed to be a shakeup, and does Klatt still believe the Buckeyes are No. 1 even with Indiana playing at such a high level? Let’s see what the Fox analyst has to say.
No. 10 – Vanderbilt Commodores
Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores running back Makhilyn Young (22) celebrates the first down against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – Unranked
What We Think
Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia has the Commodores flying high. The perennial doormat in the SEC, Vanderbilt, built on a successful 2024 campaign and carried it right into 2025. Its lone blemish came at Alabama. With a manageable remaining schedule, the Commodores could walk themselves right into playoff consideration.
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No. 9 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
A pass flies over Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields (0) in the second half of a NCAA football game against Southern California at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in South Bend.
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 9
What We Think
Apparently, Joel Klatt wasn’t as impressed with Notre Dame’s win over USC as we were. The Fighting Irish will be heavily favored in its remaining games, and with no conference championship to worry about, Notre Dame is as close to a lock to get into the College Football Playoff as there is.
No. 8 – Miami Hurricanes
Oct 17, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Carson Beck (11) looks for a passing option against the Louisville Cardinals during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 3
What We Think
Carson Beck was back to doing Carson Beck things. Talk about feast or famine, Beck is it, and there is no in between. Miami still controls its own destiny in a weak ACC, but this team looks more like pretenders than contenders.
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No. 7 – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws the ball during the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – Unranked
What We Think
On one hand, the Yellow Jackets are undefeated. On the other hand, they really haven’t played a strong schedule. The win over Clemson is looking less impressive by the week, and there isn’t much in the way moving forward. The schedule is what it is. As with Miami, in a weak ACC, Georgia Tech controls its own destiny.
No. 6 – Georgia Bulldogs
Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) runs the ball against the Mississippi Rebels during the second half of the game at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 8
What We Think
The Bulldogs keep finding ways to win. The defense doesn’t seem to be what we’ve come to expect from Kirby Smart-coached teams. And with the talent Georgia has, it probably should be. The team continues to win, but will the lack of enthusiasm on defense eventually bite the Dawgs where it hurts most?
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No. 5 – Texas A&M Aggies
Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Rueben Owens II (4) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 4
What We Think
The Aggies are undefeated but have been far from dominant. A narrow victory over reeling Arkansas this week could spell trouble for Texas A&M going forward. The Aggies now go to Death Valley to face an angry LSU team. Not too many teams come out of Tiger Stadium at night with a win.
No. 4 – Oregon Ducks
Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) carries the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 7
What We Think
Oregon recovered nicely after a home loss to Indiana with a win over Rutgers despite having to travel across the entire country to do so… welcome to the new Big Ten. The Ducks are really good, but they’ll need to hope for the Hoosiers or Ohio State to stumble for them to get a chance to defend their conference crown.
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No. 3 – Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer during the college football game against Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 5
What We Think
The SEC feels a little overrated this year, with name value ranking some teams higher than they maybe they should be. Alabama has been sharp for the most part since a week one loss to Florida State… a loss that looks worse and worse by the week. There’s not much standing in the way of another Alabama run to the SEC championship game.
No. 2 – Indiana Hoosiers
Oct 18, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. (7) celebrates after getting a first down during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 2
What We Think
The Hoosiers got off to a slow start on Saturday, but eventually got things rolling in a 38-13 win over Michigan State. With Penn State in the middle of a dismal season, there is nobody left on the Hoosiers’ schedule that should pose any kind of threat. Indiana is on a collision course with Ohio State for a Big Ten championship.
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No. 1 – Ohio State Buckeyes
Oct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Carnell Tate (17) makes a catch for a touchdown against Wisconsin Badgers safety Austin Brown (9) in the first quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Ranking – No. 1
What We Think
Ohio State continues to impress in just about every facet of the game. If we had to nitpick, we might say the special teams could be a tad better or the running game could be a bit more consistent, but the reality is, the Buckeyes are playing at a higher level than anyone else in the country. Ryan Day has done an outstanding job of keeping this team focused each and every week.
Joel Klatt’s Full Rankings
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Did Ohio State retain the top spot in Joel Klatt’s updated top-10?
