Week 3 AP Top 25 poll reflects just how deep the SEC is this season with 10 teams represented
Week 3 of the college football season is in the books, and as we head into a monster week of matchups around the sport, we’ve got a brand-new AP Poll to dive into.
Ole Miss getting its revenge on Lane Kiffin and his LSU team in Oxford on Saturday night not only lived up to every expectation imaginable as one of the most highly anticipated games in recent history, but it also resulted in the unbeaten Rebels getting a boost into the Top 5 of the AP Poll.
Mississippi State technically took the biggest leap of teams inside the Top 25, going from unranked a week ago to No. 24 after its road win over South Carolina. As for the biggest fall, that belongs to Texas A&M after the Aggies suffered what most would categorize as a shocking home upset against Kentucky.
Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) scrambles past South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Kelvin Hunter (3) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images (Jeff Blake-Imagn Images)
The Top 3 teams remained unchanged from a week ago, with Texas maintaining the top spot as the Longhorns continue to own the most impressive win of the young season after taking down Ohio State in Week 2.
Week 3 AP Top 25 Poll
- Texas
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Ole Miss
- Indiana
- Miami (FL)
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- BYU
- LSU
- Texas Tech
- USC
- Penn State
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Louisville
- Iowa
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Oregon
- Florida
- SMU
- Texas A&M
- Mississippi State
- Houston
Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Louisiana State Tigers takes the field before the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 19, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
The glaring takeaway from this week’s AP Poll is just how well represented the SEC is.
Even with their loss on the road at Ole Miss, the LSU Tigers still occupy the No. 10 spot to round out a Top 10 featuring five teams from the Southeastern Conference. With Florida and Mississippi State also joining the Top 25 party, a grand total of 10 SEC teams are represented.
The Big Ten, meanwhile, has seven teams ranked inside the Top 25 heading into Week 4.
Head Coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Ducks prepares for a play as his team takes the field during the second half of the game against the Boise State Broncos at Autzen Stadium on September 5, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images) (Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)
OUTKICK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE FOX NEWS APP: CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
Speaking of Week 4, it featured a loaded docket of must-see games that will surely have quite an impact on College Football Playoff dreams for programs around the country.
It’s a long list of marquee matchups: No. 14 Tennessee plays host to No. 1 Texas, No. 4 Ole Miss travels to No. 21 Florida, No. 10 LSU hosts No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 24 Mississippi State hosts No. 19 Missouri, No. 17 Iowa travels to No. 18 Michigan, and No. 12 USC plays host to No. 20 Oregon, just to name a handful.
While there were quite a number of moving pieces in the Week 3 poll, next week’s poll has the makings of being a real doozy.
