AP Football Rankings Shakeup: Alabama, Texas Tumble as Florida State, LSU Rise

The Week 2 AP football rankings delivered big shifts. Alabama and Texas dropped sharply after losses. Florida State and LSU made the biggest climbs.

Texas fell from No. 1 after a stunning 14-7 loss to Ohio State. Alabama dropped out of the top 10 after losing to Florida State. LSU and Oklahoma took advantage of key wins to jump up the list.

Biggest Movers in Week 2 AP Football Rankings

Texas started the season at No. 1. The Longhorns lost to No. 3 Ohio State. Arch Manning struggled in the game. Texas still gained more yards but failed to score.

Alabama started the season at No. 8. They were heavily favored over Florida State. Instead, they lost 31-17. The Crimson Tide dropped to No. 21. Some voters removed them from the top 25 completely.

Clemson also slipped from No. 4 to No. 8. They lost to LSU at home. Clemson’s running game was almost non-existent, with just 31 rushing yards.

On the other side, Florida State jumped into the top 15. They beat Alabama by two touchdowns. It was a strong comeback after a bad 2024 season.

LSU jumped from No. 9 to No. 3. Their win at Clemson was dominant. Garrett Nussmeier’s performance boosted his Heisman chances.

Oklahoma entered the rankings at No. 18. They defeated FCS opponent Illinois State easily. Quarterback John Mateer impressed the voters.

Why These Changes Matter for the Playoff Race

These early rankings set the tone for the playoff race. A drop in Week 2 can haunt teams for the rest of the season. Texas and Alabama must now win out to stay in playoff talks.

Florida State and LSU gained key ground. Both teams proved they can beat top-tier opponents. This boosts their playoff hopes significantly.

The rankings also shake up the ACC and SEC picture. Clemson must bounce back quickly. Florida State now controls its destiny in the ACC. LSU is now the SEC frontrunner.

The new AP football rankings show how quickly momentum shifts. A single loss can derail title hopes. A single win can rewrite a season.

Thought you’d like to know-

Q1: What caused Texas to fall in the AP football rankings?

Texas lost 14-7 to Ohio State. Arch Manning had a poor game. They dropped from No. 1 to No. 7.

Q2: Why did Alabama fall to No. 21?

Alabama lost 31-17 to Florida State. They were outgained and outplayed. It was their third loss to an unranked team under Kalen DeBoer.

Q3: Which teams had the biggest rise in Week 2 rankings?

Florida State went from unranked to No. 14. LSU jumped from No. 9 to No. 3. Oklahoma entered at No. 18.

Q4: What does this mean for the college football playoff race?

Teams like Florida State and LSU now look like strong playoff contenders. Texas and Alabama must recover fast to stay in the hunt.

Q5: Who is the biggest Heisman riser?

Garrett Nussmeier of LSU boosted his Heisman stock. His performance against Clemson impressed many voters.