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Zak Drapeau's Top-25 College Football Rankings Post Week 2

  • Writer: Zak Drapeau
    Zak Drapeau
  • Sep 8
  • 4 min read

Updated: Sep 17

by Zak Drapeau 9/9/2025 Sportz Nation


AP Top-25 (9/7) Zak's Top-25

1. Ohio St. 1. Ohio St.

2. Penn St. 2. Penn St.

3. LSU 3. LSU

4. Oregon 4. Georgia

5. Miami 5. Oregon

6. Georgia 6. Texas

7. Texas 7. Miami

8. Notre Dame 8. Notre Dame

9. Illinois 9. Illinois

10. Florida St. 10. Oklahoma

11. S. Carolina 11. Clemson

12. Clemson 12. S. Carolina

13. Oklahoma 13. Iowa St.

14. Iowa St. 14. Florida St.

15. Tennessee 15. Texas A&M

16. Texas A&M 16. S. Florida

17. Ole Miss 17. Alabama

18. S. Florida 18. Michigan

19. Alabama 19. Indiana

20. Utah 20. Utah

21. Texas Tech 21. Tennessee

22. Indiana 22. Florida

23. Michigan 23. Auburn

24. Auburn 24. Texas Tech

25. Missouri 25. Ole Miss


Notable Differences

Photo by Brett Davis/Imagn Images
Photo by Brett Davis/Imagn Images

Georgia

Georgia beat FCS school Austin Peay 28-6 over the weekend and fell 2 spots to #6 in the AP Poll. In my rankings, from the #3 ranking they would fall 1 spot to #4, still ahead of Oregon and Texas. This week's struggles on offense were noticeable but Georgia's defense and prowess as a bonafide Top-5 school is solid. In 2 games against lowly opponents they average less than 7 points against and only 123 rush yards on 59 carries or 2.08 yards per carry. Oregon hasn't beaten any great teams yet either and Texas hasn't proven they earned their preseason #1 ranking. For now, Georgia stays at #4 for me heading into their huge game in Knoxville this weekend.


Florida State

I have Florida State 4 spots lower on my list than Associated Press' at #14. Florida State has shocked the world this year by beating Alabama yes but beating East Texas A&M doesn't impress me that much and certainly doesn't make me put them in my top-10. Mike Norvell finally found his Quarterback in Boston College transfer Tommy Castellanos who has been balling out but I will need to see FSU beat another decent to good team before I'm ready to put them any higher.


Oklahoma

I basically switched Oklahoma and Florida State from the AP Poll to mine as I have the Sooners at #10. Their Game of the Week win at home versus Michigan was impressive and showed two things. The first was that their defense is legit and wasn't just good versus Illinois State; the Sooners kept Bryce Underwood and Justice Haynes in check most of the game. The second and most important is that they can rely on John Mateer in big moments and to take them far into the playoffs this season. Mateer not only can throw the rock but was instrumental in running the football.


Photo by Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS
Photo by Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Florida and USF

The AP Poll dropped Florida from #13 out of their Week 3 rankings after their home loss to South Florida. I have them still on my list at #22 though as I think they, along with almost everyone else is severely underrating USF. #16 in my new rankings, South Florida played a great game with no mistakes and was just barely better than Florida on that day. Does that mean Florida should be off this list? I don't think so but I'm not surprised they aren't. Plus for their upcoming schedule, I don't see them staying this high for much longer.


Tennessee and Ole Miss

With the amount of high profile teams losing between spots 10-25 in the first two weeks, it's not surprising to see the new AP Poll rocket Tennessee and Ole Miss to #15 and #17 respectively but it is too soon. Tennessee did beat East Tennessee State 72-17 this weekend but they better have at home. Ole Miss barely survived Kentucky by a touchdown this week and their Quarterback Austin Simmons looked lost at times. I have Tennessee at #21 and Ole Miss at #25 in my rankings and frankly I could have kept them lower. Tennessee will host Georgia this week so we'll get to really see them tested and Ole Miss will face Arkansas, not a Top-25 matchup but a 2-0 team that has an average margin of victory of 43.5 points this season.


My Picks for Next Week

The Top Games of the Week are

- Florida at #3 LSU Zak: LSU

- #18 USF at #5 Miami Zak: Miami

- #6 Georgia at #15 Tennessee Zak: Georgia

- #16 Texas A&M at #8 Notre Dame Zak: Notre Dame

- Arkansas at #17 Ole Miss Zak: Arkansas

- Wisconsin at #19 Alabama Zak: Alabama


Other notable predictions and bets I have for Top-25 teams is...

- Clemson returns to form and dominates Georgia Tech (Clem -4)

- Wisconsin makes their game in Alabama a close loss (Wis +20.5)

- Arkansas wins or loses at the very end in Mississippi (Ark +9.5)

- Iowa State bears Arkansas State but continues their defense first approach (ISUvARST U/55.5)

- Michigan continues to have defensive woes in a win (CMU +27.5)

- South Carolina covers the spread at home vs Vandy (SCU -5.5)


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Make sure to stay tuned as we continue coverage of the 2025 College Football Season. Zak's Top-25 Poll Every Monday Afternoon and Game of the Week Every Thursday Afternoon.


-Z.D.


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