CT's Top 25
WEEK 5- 2006 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS
CT'S TOP 25
This week’s Top 25 was a real challenge. It seems as if the top six or seven teams in the country are sort of established now, and they are just kind of jockeying for position. Beyond that, we have a small group of four or five teams that feel like they could still play their way into that conversation, and then you have about 20 or so teams that all seem to be equally deserving of the back half of the rankings.
The Big 12 has been anchored by Texas Tech, BYU, and Utah in the early rankings, but Oklahoma State, Baylor, Houston, Arizona, and Cincinnati are all off to strong starts and have started to creep up ballots.
The B1G and SEC both have a solid ten teams each with resumes that fans argue qualify them for consideration of not only a ranking, but a rather strong ranking.
The ACC isn’t just Miami. Pitt, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and SMU all sit either undefeated or with only a single loss.
North Dakota State has begun its transition from FCS power and is now 5-0 with a +119 score differential. Boise State’s only loss is by one score on the road at Oregon. James Madison is one year removed from a playoff berth and is sitting undefeated through five games.
Conference play has just begun, and a large majority of these teams will be squaring off in the coming weeks, with many knocking each other off and paving the way for some clarity. Until then, it’s fun to scream SEC bias, argue for your team, or maybe even get frustrated with the process.
But in the end, we gotta try to sort them out. So here is my best shot:
#1 Texas
4-0 (-)
Do I think Texas is the best team in the country? I would lean no, but they have the best singular win against Ohio State, even if it was a dramatic late comeback and they didn’t look all that impressive for three quarters. Nonetheless, we are five weeks into the season, and resume matters. For that reason, they are sitting in the top spot for the third consecutive week.
#2 miami
5-0 (-)
Pounding Clemson would normally be a signature, calling-card victory, but we just saw LSU do it a few weeks ago, so it packs a little less of a punch. With that being said, this was the first team Miami has faced with a pulse, and they passed with flying colors. Miami vs. Notre Dame might be the only challenging game left for either team.
#3 georgia
5-0 (-)
This might be the most complete team in the country. It feels like the winner of Georgia and Alabama will have a major claim at the top spot and a leg up as the main challenger to Texas in the SEC.
#4 ohio state
4-1 (+2)
If Ohio State had held on in Austin, people would be talking about them as the best team in the country, and it might not even be close. They might still have a real argument for the second spot in the rankings at 4-1. They have two Heisman-capable guys, were impressive on the road at Iowa, and just got Dave Portnoy barred from Fox Big Noon Kickoff. It was a good week to be a Buckeye, but they have a harder-than-usual schedule down the stretch and need to just take it one week at a time.
#5 alabama
5-0 (+2)
Bama continues to roll, and DeBoer seems to have this squad fully built in his image. It’s a shame he won't get any credit for his success in Tuscaloosa because he's done a great job under very difficult circumstances. The Tide get Georgia at home this week, and QB Russell gets to prove he belongs among the very best in college football against an elite defense.
#6 notre dame
5-0 (-1)
How good is Notre Dame? I'm not sure we knew in 2025, and I'm not sure we've found out thus far in 2026. They will be in the playoff whether they defeat Miami or not. We might not find out much about them until December, when it’s too late, or they are steamrolling through playoff competition. With their consistency in recent years, the Irish should be given the benefit of the doubt, and because of this, are firmly at my No. 6 spot.
#7 indiana
5-0 (+1)
In the immortal words of the Nature Boy Ric Flair, “to be the man, you have to BEAT the man!” I am a firm believer in that, and until the champs lose, they still have to be treated as a serious contender. Although not at the top of my rankings, I still feel like they are a strong contender in the B1G. Does Indiana have the staying power to get there again? I'm skeptical and feel they will eventually drop a couple games, but so far they've survived.
I doubted you last year, Indiana. I’m only going to halfway do it again.
#8 BYU
4-0 (+4)
The Cougars won ugly at TCU, but they continue to win. They are an experienced club, and they’ve got a chip on their shoulder from being left out of the playoff conversation last season. I actually had them IN the playoff, and if the season ended today, I would have them in again. The coaching and QB experience give them the slight edge over Utah in the Big 12 in my eyes.
#9 LSU
4-1 (+5)
Lane Kiffin's squad beat a Texas A&M team that hasn't looked very good and McNeese State in a home-cooking night game. I'm excited to learn more about this team's toughness in future conference matchups. Sam Leavitt has been beat up early, so it’ll be interesting to see how he holds up down the stretch.
#10 utah
4-0 (-1)
The Big 12 might not have the strongest bottom half of the conference, but their top is really good. They might slip two teams into the playoffs, and Utah is hoping they are one of them. Their former head coach is struggling at Michigan while the Utes continue to roll.
#11 oregon
3-1 (-)
The Ducks' loss to Oklahoma State doesn't look as bad now, but it's definitely sent them down the B1G pecking order. That might not be so bad for Dan Lanning, who has had a few masterful regular seasons where the team coasts and it costs them in the playoffs. Maybe fighting their way back with a chip on their shoulder will play to their benefit.
#12 Texas tech
5-0 (-2)
Texas Tech has a lot of questions at QB. Barely escaping Houston is still fresh in my mind. Not to mention, I just think BYU and Utah are tougher. TT is the start of a group from 12-32 that are all really, really jumbled up right now.
#13 ole miss
3-1 (-)
The Rebels were off and had a week to lick their wounds from the loss to the Gators. We'll find out more about this squad moving forward. They are still extremely talented and should outscore people. Pete will also improve the defense.
#14 tennessee
4-1 (NR)
An ugly home win vs. Auburn is still an SEC home win. Tennessee is lacking the signature big victory to propel them into the upper echelon, and they will have to fight to stay in this crowded class.
#15 pittsburgh
5-0 (+5)
Pitt got a huge win on the road in a very tough environment where they didn't play their best football. They might be the biggest contender to Miami, but the news of their QB going down kills the enthusiasm a little. But like Texas, this is based on what you've done, not what you might do going forward.
#16 Missouri
4-1 (NR)
#17 florida
4-1 (-13)
#18 ucla
4-0 (-)
#19 iowa
4-1 (-3)
#20 oklahoma state
3-1 (NR)
#21 nebraska
5-0 (NR)
#22 north dakota state
5-0 (-2)
#23 usc
5-1 (-1)
#24 mississippi state
4-1 (-9)
#25 wake forest
4-1 (NR)