Zak Drapeau's Top-25 College Football Power Ranking Post-Week 6

Zak Drapeau
Oct 7
4 min read

by Zak Drapeau 10/7/2025 Sportz Nation

AP Poll (10/5) Zak's Poll

1. Ohio St 1. Ohio St

2. Miami 2. Miami

3. Oregon 3. Oregon

4. Ole Miss 4. Texas A&M

5. Texas A&M 5. Alabama

6. Oklahoma 6. Oklahoma

7. Indiana 7. Indiana

8. Alabama 8. Ole Miss

9. Texas Tech 9. Texas Tech

10. Georgia 10. Georgia

11. LSU 11. LSU

12. Tennessee 12. Notre Dame

13. Georgia Tech 13. Tennessee

14. Missouri 14.Georgia Tech

15. Michigan 15. Michigan

16. Notre Dame 16. Illinois

17. Illinois 17. Arizona St

18. BYU 18. Virginia

19. Virginia 19. BYU

20. Vanderbilt 20. Vanderbilt

21. Arizona St 21. Texas

22. Iowa St 22. Missouri

23. Memphis 23. Utah

24. USF 24. Florida St

25. Florida St 25. Memphis

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Zak's Changes From Last Week

Alabama Enters Top-5

Alabama is ranked #8 for AP but #5 for me and the offense is why. One of the best passing attacks in the game thanks to Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams, Alabama has been cruising since their Week 1 loss to Florida St and deserves their flowers.

Texas Tech and Georgia Enter Top-10

This move is right alongside of the AP's but it makes sense. Even though Georgia just lost to Alabama, their defense is among the elites, Gunner Stockton is a great game manager and Sanford Stadium is hollowed grounds.

Texas Tech still has one of the best defenses in the country and maybe the #1 defensive line. They have won every game this year so far by 3+ scores and don't look to slow down any time soon.

Michigan, Arizona St and BYU Have Big Jumps

Michigan's win vs Wisconsin combined with the ever improving "Good Loss" in Oklahoma has them moving up the polls every week. Not to mention how fast Bryce Underwood is improving.

ASU may have left the polls earlier this year but the Sam Leavitt-to-Jordyn Tyson connection is only second in the country to Ohio States.

BYU continues to have one of the best defenses in the country but remain lower on my list than the AP's just because I'm holding judgement until they face better opponents.

Virginia and Memphis Enter the Poll

AP had Virginia in their poll last week and I gave them grief for it and I was wrong. After back-to-back ACC wins against great opponents including in Louisville, Virginia is now ranked #1 in the ACC and firmly on my board.

Memphis has been on my short list for weeks now and finally debuts in my Top-25 as well as AP's this week. Being 5-0 is great, but they still need to face good opponents to go much higher than where they are now.

Photo by Alan Youngblood/Imagn Images/ Gainesville Sun/USA Today Network via Imagn Images

Texas Stays In Top-25, Penn St Doesn't

After the biggest upset of the year in Happy Valley, it's no surprise that Penn State is not on AP's list or mine but some may be upset with Texas staying on my list and as high as #21. Texas has one of the best rosters in the nation and their only losses are at Ohio State and in the Swamp. Are we really saying that Memphis and USF are BETTER football teams than the Longhorns?

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Differences Between AP and Zak's Top-25

Ole Miss

I have Ole Miss at #8 and AP has them at #4. After their huge win vs LSU in Mississippi, AP brought them from 13-to-4 real quick and I just want to take my time. Plus, I have to say Bama, TAMU and even Oklahoma look like better teams to me.

Missouri

My biggest problem with Missouri is they have not had to go on the road yet this season. 5-0 is great but they have faced only 1 legit team in South Carolina so far. Even their upcoming game with Alabama is at home.

Texas

I talked about this a bit in the last section so check that out again. Texas' defense and coaching is among the elite and they've only lost games in 1 possession deficits at INCREDIBLY tough stadiums to win at.

Notre Dame

I never had Notre Dame fall below 15 and now I have them at #12 with AP having them at #16. Marcus Freeman's team has only lost to Miami (#2 in AP) and Texas A&M (#5 in AP) and they were by 3 points and 1 point respectively. Notre Dame has then crushed every other team they've faced like a Top-15 team should.

Iowa St, USF and Utah

Were splitting hairs here but they last few teams on my polls are a bit different. I don't have Iowa State or USF in my Top-25 like AP but they are in my Top-30. Contrastingly, I do have Utah in my Top-25 for a 2nd week, now at #23 and I have to assume they are in the AP's Top-30 likewise.

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Big Games Next Week

1Ohio St at Illinois17

8Alabama at Missouri14

6Oklahoma at Texas

7Indiana at Oregon3

Florida at Texas A&M5

10Georgia at Auburn

15Michigan at USC

South Carolina at LSU11

21Arizona St at Utah

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