Indiana Leads as Big Ten Secures Three Top 5 Spots in AP Poll Again
In a historic conclusion to the college football season, Indiana University has secured the No. 1 spot in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Hoosiers finished with an impressive 16-0 record, capping their season with a victory over Miami in the College Football Playoff title game. This marks the third consecutive year that a Big Ten team has topped the final rankings, following Ohio State in 2024 and Michigan in 2023.
Final Rankings Overview
Here’s a quick glance at the final AP Top 25 rankings:
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana | 16-0 |
| 2 | Miami | 13-3 |
| 3 | Mississippi | 13-2 |
| 4 | Oregon | 13-2 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 11-2 |
| 6 | Georgia | 12-2 |
| 7 | Texas Tech | 12-2 |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 11-2 |
| 9 | Alabama | 11-4 |
| 10 | Notre Dame | 10-2 |
Key Highlights
- Indiana’s victory marked its first national championship title.
- Miami made a notable stride, moving up eight spots to finish second.
- Mississippi achieved its highest final ranking since 1962.
- Oregon ranked in the top 10 for the third consecutive year.
- Ohio State maintained a position in the final top 10 for the 12th year running.
Big Ten Teams Dominating the Rankings
The Big Ten Conference once again showcased its strength with three teams in the top five:
- No. 1: Indiana
- No. 5: Ohio State
- No. 4: Oregon (a member of the Pac-12)
Emerging Teams
Several teams made headlines with significant rankings this season:
- No. 17 Iowa achieved its first ranking of the season.
- No. 22 Houston returned to the rankings for the first time in four polls.
- No. 25 TCU made a comeback after several weeks outside the top 25.
The final poll also reflected a strong performance from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which had seven teams ranked, mirroring last year’s performance. Notably, Vanderbilt reached its highest final ranking since 1948.
The long-awaited college football season has concluded, leaving fans excited for what the next season holds.
