College Football Top 25: Projections for Week 11

**College Football Polls Set for Minor Shifts Ahead of Crucial CFP Rankings Release**

College football observers are bracing for the release of the latest AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Polls this Sunday, October 22nd, and Monday, October 23rd, respectively. While minor adjustments are expected, the top four teams are widely projected to hold their ground after a weekend where the nation’s elite largely handled their competition.

The consensus anticipates no movement among the current top-ranked squads. No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 4 Florida State are all projected to maintain their positions. Each team delivered convincing victories, reaffirming their status as playoff contenders. Georgia dispatched Vanderbilt with relative ease, Michigan continued its dominant run over Michigan State, Ohio State secured a comfortable win against Penn State, and Florida State overcame a tenacious Duke squad.

Similarly, the next tier of contenders is also expected to remain largely unchanged. No. 5 Washington, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Texas, and No. 8 Alabama are all forecast to hold steady. No. 9 Penn State, despite its loss to Ohio State, is not expected to fall significantly given the strength of its opponent, while No. 10 Oklahoma is projected to stay put after narrowly avoiding an upset against UCF.

Further down the rankings, some positive movement is anticipated. No. 11 Ole Miss is expected to maintain its position, and No. 12 LSU should climb after a strong performance against Auburn in an SEC West matchup. Utah is projected to keep its No. 13 spot. Notre Dame, following a significant prime-time victory over USC, is likely to rise to No. 14, and Louisville is also expected to move up to No. 15 after defeating Pittsburgh.

The most notable tumbles are reserved for teams that suffered significant losses. No. 10 USC, after a challenging defeat at the hands of Notre Dame, is slated for a substantial drop, likely exiting the top 10 entirely. No. 17 Miami is projected for an even more dramatic fall, potentially out of the top 20, following its second consecutive loss, this time to North Carolina, marked by late-game miscues. Duke, currently No. 16, is also expected to fall several spots after its loss to Florida State, though its competitive showing may soften the impact.

The shuffling will also open doors for new entrants and re-entries into the Top 25. Missouri, after a decisive win over South Carolina, is a strong candidate to break into the rankings. Kentucky is also expected to re-enter following its victory against Mississippi State, while Iowa, buoyed by a win over Minnesota and its strong defensive identity, is a firm projection to re-join the poll. As a result of their respective losses, Wyoming, Washington State, and Maryland are all likely to fall out of the Top 25.

These weekly poll updates are largely setting the stage for the season’s most anticipated rankings release: the first College Football Playoff (CFP) committee rankings, which will be unveiled on Tuesday, October 31st. Those rankings will offer the first concrete glimpse into the committee’s perspective on the playoff picture, igniting discussions and debates that will shape the remainder of the 2023 college football season.