AP Top 25: Updated poll ahead of Championship Weekend features 5 SEC teams

The AP Top 25 is out with a new poll ahead following Rivalry Week action, which served as the conclusion to the 2023 regular season. Media members have weighed in on where the teams stand heading into an exciting weekend of conference championship games.

The College Football Playoff selection committee’s rankings will decide the final 4 and the New Year’s Six bowl games. AP voters, though, remain part of college football’s larger conversation of where teams deserve to be ranked as the AP Top 25 is the poll of record for most of the season.

Georgia became the consensus No. 1 (CFP, AP, Coaches) in Week 12. The Bulldogs held onto the top spot in the AP Top 25 after picking up a rivalry win at Georgia Tech. UGA heads into the SEC Championship Game 12-0 as it seeks to lock up a Playoff bid.

All eyes were on the top-5 showdown between Ohio State and Michigan in Week 13. Michigan moved up from No. 3 to No. 2 by handing OSU its first loss of the season. The Buckeyes fell from No. 2 to No. 6. Fans will be watching on Tuesday to see if the committee does the same.

Here’s the AP Top 25 following the completion of the regular season:

1 Georgia

2 Michigan

3 Washington

4 Florida State

5 Oregon

6 Ohio State

7 Texas

8 Alabama

9 Missouri

10 Penn State

11 Ole Miss

12 Oklahoma

13 LSU

14 Arizona

15 Louisville

16 Notre Dame

17 Tulane

18 Iowa

19 Oklahoma State

20 Liberty

21 NC State

21 Oregon State

23 Toledo

24 James Madison

25 SMU

Others receiving votes:

Tennessee 98, Clemson 57, Kansas St. 41, Utah 40, Troy 7, Kansas 6, New Mexico St. 5, Kentucky 4, Memphis 1, North Carolina 1, Miami (Ohio) 1.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.