'AP Top 25 poll: Texas surges into top five, Alabama holds inside top 10 of college football rankings'

Texas climbs to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 after defeating Alabama, marking their first top-five ranking since 2010.

The Texas Longhorns have made a significant leap in the AP Top 25 rankings following their impressive victory over Alabama on the road. After defeating the Crimson Tide with a score of 34-24 in Week 2, Texas has climbed to the fourth spot in the rankings. This achievement marks the first time since 2010 that the Longhorns have entered the top five, reflecting their determination to excel under the guidance of their third-year coach, Steve Sarkisian, before transitioning to the SEC next season.

The Longhorns showcased their readiness for the challenges of a new conference as they handed Alabama their first regular season nonconference defeat since 2007, which was also Nick Saban's first season as head coach of the Crimson Tide. However, Alabama's loss resulted in a drop from the third spot to the tenth spot in the rankings.

This is a significant development for Alabama, as it is the first time since 2015 that they have been ranked outside the top five in September. In 2015, the team bounced back from a Week 3 loss against Ole Miss and went on to win the SEC championship and the College Football Playoff National Championship. If the current Alabama team wishes to follow a similar path to success, they must address their struggling passing game and a defense that failed to produce a sack or turnover against the Longhorns.

While Alabama experienced a setback, Florida State rose to the third spot in the rankings, and USC moved up to the fifth spot. The Pac-12 conference also made a strong showing in the rankings, with eight teams earning spots, including UCLA and Washington State, who secured their positions for the first time this season.

Here is a comprehensive look at the AP Top 25 rankings:

1. Georgia (55 first-place votes)
2. Michigan (2 first-place votes)
3. Florida State (3 first-place votes)
4. Texas (2 first-place votes)
5. USC
6. Ohio State
7. Penn State
8. Washington
9. Notre Dame
10. Alabama
11. Tennessee
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. LSU
15. Kansas State
16. Oregon State
17. Ole Miss
18. Colorado
19. Oklahoma
20. North Carolina
21. Duke
22. Miami
23. Washington State
24. UCLA
25. Iowa

Other teams receiving votes include Clemson, Arkansas, TCU, Kansas, Tulane, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Fresno State, Wyoming, Oklahoma State, Maryland, and James Madison.

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