The Latest: Notre Dame returns to No. 10 in college football poll

The latest AP Top 25 rankings put two Big 12 teams in the top 10 for the first time in two years and Notre Dame returned to No. 10, reclaiming a playoff-worthy slot.

The Fighting Irish have won six straight, and this weekend’s victory over Boston College boosted them two spots in the poll. They had fallen out of the top 10 after a home loss to Texas A&M.

Losses by Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami made room for BYU at No. 8 and Texas Techat No. 9.

Texas and No. 11 Oklahoma were the biggest climbers in the poll, jumping seven spots. The Sooners beat Tennessee on the road, while the Longhorns knocked off Vanderbilt at home.

No. 1 Ohio State is on top for the 10th straight week, again followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, Oregon and Ole Miss.

Here's the latest:

By KIRK BOHLS

As for Tuesday night’s reveal, I think each of the (top) three teams have a strong case to be No. 1.

My guess is Ohio State will be because the selection committee is always in love with brand names. That’s why TCU got screwed in, what, 2014, when it went from like third to five after bludgeoning an Iowa State team like 56-3.

The Buckeyes are the defending champs, which brings some merit even though it’s a new year; they beat Texas in as challenging a non-conference game as you’ll find, while Indiana played ODU, FCS Indiana State and Kennesaw State, even though the latter is bowl eligible. A&M’s right there, unbeaten, and with a road win over the Irish in their pocket.

My guess is it’ll go OSU, Indiana, A&M, but every committee is different.

Kirk Bohls is a college football reporter and columnist for The Houston Chronicle. He’s been an AP Top 25 voter since 1989. You can follow him on X: @kbohls.

By MAURA CAREY

The first College Football Playoff rankings drop Tuesday night, setting the tone down the stretch and giving an early look at the playoff picture. But several Week 11 matchups could shake up those standings.

No. 8 BYU vs. No. 9 Texas Tech headlines the slate, a showdown between the top two Big 12 teams that could carry postseason implications. No. 3 Texas A&M hopes to keep its undefeated streak alive on a trip to No. 19 Missouri. And No. 6 Oregon faces Iowa, where a Hawkeyes’ win could derail the Ducks’ season and boost Iowa into the rankings.

By KIRK BOHLS

I think the Big 12 might have a better shot than the ACC.

I believe BYU and Texas Tech are both worthy of high CFP seedings, and Utah can be a dominant team at times, as in Saturday when the Utes demolished Cincinnati. Since Tech has a loss, it would serve the Big 12 better if the Red Raiders win the league and the Cougars could get an at-large berth.

I think the ACC is fading because North Carolina State is cutting the legs out from under the league by knocking off Georgia Tech and Virginia.

By MAURA CAREY

Four FBS teams remain unbeaten through Week 10: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Indiana, No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 8 BYU.

Texas A&M and BYU were both idle in Week 10, while No. 1 Ohio State beat Penn State 38-14, and No. 2 Indiana defeated Maryland 55-10

Iowa remains outside the rankings looking in, but received the most votes of any unranked team this week (71).

The Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) have the same conference record as No. 6 Oregon and are on a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating Minnesota 41-3 before a bye week. Two tough challenges await in back-to-back weeks, with Oregon coming to town next weekend and a trip to USC on the schedule for mid-November.

By KIRK BOHLS

There has been a lot of chatter about expanding the CFP from 12 teams to 16 or even more. Various models are seen as a way to ‘guarantee’ more spots for power conference teams. What would you like to see and why?

AP sports editor Dave Zelio

I think 12 is fine, and there’s nothing wrong with using that model for a while and letting it marinate. But I’d be OK with a 16-team format.

One thing that could be done is to eliminate the byes, which are precious, although all four teams with the byes lost their first game last year. But going to 16 would mean more on-campus games, which were a bit hit.

It’s just sad we didn’t have this model decades ago. I do think the public got burnt out on the four-team model and had Alabama and Clemson fatigue and were ready for more of an open field.

Personally, I loved the fact that teams like Indiana, SMU and Arizona State got in last year as new blood. I don’t really think the number of teams should go beyond 16, but I think it inevitably would climb to 24.

I really don’t like guarantees beyond conference champions. I found it outrageous that the SEC and Big Ten wanted guarantees of three or four teams before we even kicked off the season. That’s un-American. Decide it on the field.

By KIRK BOHLS

I wouldn’t say so. Wins are always better than narrow losses, even those to good teams.

That said, I give Texas credit for scheduling Ohio State. Not sure if any other team could beat the Buckeyes in the Shoe. Plus, the Longhorns lost 14-7 in Arch Manning’s first start as the quarterback and he got stuffed at the 1 on two plays and one of OSU’s two touchdowns came on a 45-yard drive helped by two personal foul calls against Texas.

As for Virginia, it’s cornered the market on close wins.

By MAURA CAREY

College football’s Big 12 has two top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 for the first time in two years thanks to No. 8 BYU and No. 9 Texas Tech moving up the rankings. It won’t last long, however. The Cougars and Red Raiders meet in Week 11 in Lubbock in a matchup that will carry postseason implications.

The two other ranked Big 12 teams — Utah and Cincinnati — squared off on Saturday. The Utes rolled past the Bearcats, outscoring their conference foe 45-14. Cincinnati fell from No. 17 to No. 25 as Utah moved up from No. 24 to No. 17.

Houston was knocked out of the rankings after dropping to West Virginia.

Oklahoma kept its playoff hopes afloat on Saturday with a 33-27 road win against Tennessee.

The Sooners held off a fourth-quarter comeback by the Vols, securing a Tennessee-attempted onside kick and promptly responding with a touchdown to pull ahead 33-24.

Oklahoma’s defense held a Tennessee offense averaging over 40 points a game to 27 points and picked off quarterback Joey Aguilar twice.

The Sooners improved to No. 11, their highest ranking since Week 6. The Vols dropped to their lowest ranking since the preseason, coming in at No. 23.

Heating up: BYU (8), Texas Tech (9), Notre Dame (10), Oklahoma (11), Virginia (12), Texas (13), Louisville (14), Utah (17), USC (20), Memphis (22), Washington (24).

Cooling off: Vanderbilt (15), Georgia Tech (16), Miami (18), Tennessee (23), Cincinnati (25).

Steady: Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Texas A&M (3), Alabama (4), Georgia (5), Oregon (6), Ole Miss (7), Missouri (19), Michigan (21).

By KIRK BOHLS

It makes no sense to me that Oklahoma is ranked two spots ahead of Texas.

The Longhorns crushed the Sooners in mid-October and have won four straight games while OU not only lost to Texas but also to Ole Miss. I’ll give OU credit for surviving at Tennessee, too, but the Volunteers were their own worst enemy for much of the game with more than 100 yards more offense than the crimson and cream.

OU does, however, have a great kicker with a bionic leg.

By KIRK BOHLS

I dropped the Irish from my Top 25 after they fell to 0-2. I don’t care if you’re the Kansas City Chiefs, if you go 0-2, you’re out.

Obviously, ND had plenty of time and opportunity to jump back into the rankings as it has. As a rule, I always keep a very fluid ballot, especially in September. I remember putting Appalachian State in my top 5 after they knocked off Michigan that year because they proved it on the field.

Now I’m ready to drop a team that has a huge upset if it doesn’t follow that up with more wins, but I always try to keep an open mind. Back to Notre Dame, I think they could stumble against Pitt, which I have at No. 24 after being the only voter to have Pitt in my poll last week.

The highest changes in this week’s college football AP Top 25 came at spot Nos. 8 through 10.

BYU moved up to No. 8 despite having the week off. Texas Tech improved to No. 9 after a convincing 43-20 win against Kansas State paired with losses by Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and Miami.

Notre Dame moved up to No. 10, its highest ranking since Week 2, following a 25-10 win over Boston College.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Alabama

5. Georgia

6. Oregon

7. Ole Miss

8. BYU

9. Texas Tech

10. Notre Dame

11. Oklahoma

12. Virginia

13. Texas

14. Louisville

15. Vanderbilt

16. Georgia Tech

17. Utah

18. Miami (Fla.)

19. Missouri

20. USC

21. Michigan

22. Memphis

23. Tennessee

24. Washington

25. Cincinnati

Arch Manning earned his highest passer rating of the season (189.2) in the Longhorns’ 34-31 win against Vanderbilt.

Manning looked sharp after spending much of the week in concussion protocol. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns.

Saturday’s win marked the fourth straight SEC victory for the Longhorns and improved their record to 7-2 on the season, poising them to jump in this week’s rankings.

No. 1 Ohio State’s defense rose to the occasion during the second half against Penn State. The Buckeyes kept the Nittany Lions scoreless in the third and fourth quarters, while putting up 21 points of their own to win it 38-14.

No. 2 Indiana improved to 9-0 on the season after cruising past Maryland in a 55-10 rout.

No. 5 Georgia narrowly came out on top in a historic rivalry game against Florida. No. 4 Alabama was idle this week, and has a head-to-head win against Georgia already in the books, likely keeping the Bulldogs at No. 5 for another week.

No. 3 Texas A&M had the week off.

Four top 10 teams came out on top of their matchups this week, but three lost games.

Ohio State (1), Indiana (2), Georgia (5) and Ole Miss (7) notched conference wins on Saturday.

The remaining top 10 teams weren’t as fortunate. NC State outscored No. 8 Georgia Tech 48-36, handing the Yellow Jackets their first loss of the season. No. 9 Vanderbilt dropped 34-31 to No. 20 Texas. And No. 10 Miami suffered its second defeat in the past three games, falling 26-20 to SMU in overtime.

Texas (3), Alabama (4), Oregon (6) and BYU (T-10) were idle.

No organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than The Associated Press, which has done the job since 1936.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they do choose the voters. AP Top 25 voters comprise around 60 writers and broadcasters who cover college football for AP members and other select outlets. The goal is to have every state with a Football Bowl Subdivision school represented by at least one voter.

Voting is a straight points system: A first-place vote is worth 25 points, a second-place vote is worth 24 points, down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote.

Then it’s just a summary of which teams are 1-25 based on the totals. Others receiving votes are also noted.

Voting is done online, and the tabulation is automated.

Ohio State running back Bo Jackson, top, is tackled by Penn State defensive back Antoine Belgrave-Shorter during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A state appeals court is being asked to dismiss felony voter misconduct charges against an Alaska resident born in American Samoa, one of numerous cases that have drawn attention to the complex citizenship status of people born in the U.S. territory.

In arguments Thursday, attorneys for Tupe Smith plan to ask the Alaska Court of Appeals in Anchorage to reverse a lower court's decision that let stand the indictment brought against her. Her supporters say she made an innocent mistake that does not merit charges, but the state contends Smith falsely and deliberately claimed citizenship.

Prosecutors also have brought charges against 10 other people from American Samoa in the small Alaska community of Whittier, including Smith’s husband and her mother-in-law. American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where residents are not automatically granted citizenship by being born on American soil and instead are considered U.S. nationals. Paths to citizenship exist, such as naturalization, though that process can be expensive and cumbersome.

American Samoans can serve in the military, obtain U.S. passports and vote in elections in American Samoa, but they cannot hold public office in the U.S. or participate in most U.S. elections.

About 25 people gathered on a snowy street outside the courthouse before Thursday's hearing to support Smith. One woman, Fran Seager of Palmer, held a sign that said, “Support our Samoans. They are US nationals.”

Smith's husband, Michael Pese, thanked the American Samoa community in the Anchorage area. “If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be strong enough to face this head on,” he said.

State Sen. Forrest Dunbar, a Democrat who attended the rally, said the Alaska Department of Law has limited resources.

“We should be going after people who are genuine criminals, who are violent criminals, or at least have the intent to deceive,” he said. “I do not think it is a good use of our limited state resources to go after these hardworking, taxpaying Alaskans who are not criminals.”

Smith was arrested after winning election to a regional school board in 2023. She said she relied on erroneous information from local election officials when she identified herself as a U.S. citizen on voter registration forms.

In a court filing in 2024, one of her previous attorneys said that when Smith answered questions from the Alaska state trooper who arrested her, she said she was aware that she could not vote in presidential elections but was “unaware of any other restrictions on her ability to vote.”

Smith said she marks herself as a U.S. national on paperwork. But when there was no such option on voter registration forms, she was told by city representatives that it was appropriate to mark U.S. citizen, according to the filing.

Smith “exercised what she believed was her right to vote in a local election. She did so without any intent to mislead or deceive anyone,” her current attorneys said in a filing in September. “Her belief that U.S. nationals may vote in local elections, which was supported by advice from City of Whittier election officials, was simply mistaken.”

The state has said Smith falsely and deliberately claimed citizenship. Prosecutors pointed to the language on the voter application forms she filled out in 2020 and 2022, which explicitly said that if the applicant was not at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, “do not complete this form, as you are not eligible to vote.”

The counts Smith was indicted on “did not have anything to do with her belief in her ability to vote in certain elections; rather they concerned the straightforward question of whether or not Smith intentionally and falsely swore she was a United States citizen,” Kayla Doyle, an assistant attorney general, said in court filings last year.

One of Smith's attorneys, Neil Weare, co-founder of the Washington-based Right to Democracy Project, said by email last week that if the appeals court lets stand the indictment, Alaska will be “the only state to our knowledge with such a low bar for felony voter fraud.”

Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.

Michael Pese and his wife, Tupe Smith, stand outside the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, ahead of the Alaska Court of Appeals hearing a challenge to the voter fraud case brought against her by the state. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Michael Pese, left, his wife, Tupe Smith, and their son Maximus pose for a photo outside the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, ahead of the Alaska Court of Appeals hearing a challenge to the voter fraud case brought against her by the state. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

FILE - Tupe Smith poses for a photo outside the school in Whittier, Alaska, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)