AP Top 25: SEC grabs six of top seven spots, Notre Dame falls to No. 18

After the primary shake-up of the school soccer season, the Southeastern Convention grabbed six of the highest seven spots within the AP High 25 — a primary within the 88-year historical past of the rankings — and Notre Dame tumbled all the best way to No. 18 on Sunday after being shocked at house.

Georgia obtained 54 out of a potential 63 first-place votes to maintain a agency maintain on No. 1. No. 2 Texas jumped a spot after dominating defending nationwide champion Michigan on the highway and obtained 4 first-place votes. The Longhorns have their greatest rating since ending second in 2009.

The Wolverines have been right down to No. 17.

No. 3 Ohio State from the Massive Ten Convention slipped a spot. Then it was 4 extra SEC groups. Alabama held regular at No. 4 and Mississippi moved up a spot to No. 5.

Missouri moved up three spots to No. 6 and Tennessee made an enormous bounce from No. 14 to No. 7 after routing North Carolina State in Charlotte.

With the SEC larger (16 groups) — and seemingly higher — than ever given the additions of Texas and Oklahoma — the circumstances have been proper for an early season takeover like by no means earlier than.

Not solely is six of the highest seven groups from one convention a document for a ballot, however by no means earlier than had a single league held as many as 5 of the highest seven locations.

These groups will begin enjoying one another within the coming weeks so it’s unlikely the SEC can preserve this up, but it surely’s a stark instance of what’s potential within the superconference period.

Particularly after the primary enormous upset of the school soccer season. Notre Dame’s 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois marked the primary time a top-five group misplaced to an unranked group because the 2022 season, when Purdue knocked off then-No. 2 Iowa on Nov. 5, 2022.

The Huskies’ victory, the primary top-five win for a Mid-American Convention group in league historical past, landed Northern Illinois at No. 25 within the rankings. NIU is ranked for the primary time since 2013 and is the primary group from non-Energy 4 convention to be ranked this season.

Rounding out the highest 10 have been No. 8 Penn State and No. 9 Oregon of the Massive Ten and No. 10 Miami. The Geese slip two spots after a wild, comeback victory towards Boise State.

Ballot factors

Northern Illinois is considered one of 4 groups to maneuver into the rankings this week for the primary time this season, most notably Nebraska at No. 23.

The Cornhuskers are ranked for the primary time since 2019 after simply dealing with Colorado at house. That was a quick keep. After beginning that season ranked No. 24, the Huskers misplaced in Week 2, fell out the rankings and have been gone ever since.

The final sustained season within the rankings for Nebraska was 2016, although even that season ended with the Huskers unranked. They haven’t completed a season ranked since 2012. That’s what second-year coach Matt Rhule and freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola are aiming for.

Only a reminder: Nebraska nonetheless owns the document for the longest streak of ballot appearances with 348 underneath coach Tom Osborne from 1981-2002. The second-best streak is Alabama’s energetic 264 straight weeks ranked.

Out and in

The turnover got here from the underside of the rankings, the place Kansas, Iowa, Georgia Tech and North Carolina State all fell out after losses.

No. 21 Iowa State basically switched locations with its Cy-Hawk rivals by beating Iowa.

Final week, Georgia Tech made its first look within the AP High 25 since 2015, snapping one of many longest energetic droughts amongst energy convention groups. The Yellow Jackets lasted solely per week after dropping at Syracuse, however one other Atlantic Coast Convention group snapped its personal prolonged drought.

No. 24 Boston Faculty is ranked for the primary time since 2018.

Convention name

The one different time a convention had 4 of the highest 5 groups was the SEC on Oct. 19, 2014, when Mississippi State was No. 1, Ole Miss was third, Alabama was fourth and Auburn was fifth.

SEC — 8 (Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16).

Massive Ten — 6 (Nos. 3, 8, 9, 11, 17, 23).

Massive 12 — 5 (Nos. 12, 13, 14, 20, 21).

ACC — 4 (Nos. 10, 19, 22, 24).

MAC — 1 (No. 25).

Impartial — 1 (No. 18).

Ranked vs. ranked

No. 20 Arizona at No. 14 Kansas State, Thursday. A Massive 12 recreation that’s not truly a Massive 12 recreation. This can be a nonconference matchup that already was set earlier than realignment.

No. 24 Boston Faculty at No. 6 Missouri, Saturday. An unexpectedly ranked ACC-SEC matchup.

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Comply with Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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