New Mexico has made history by breaking into the Associated Press Top 25 rankings for the first time, achieving the No. 22 spot in the latest poll released on Sunday, part of Week 10 of the college football season. The Lobos’ surge into the rankings follows a five-game winning streak, following their only loss of the season, which occurred against Oklahoma on September 19, where they fell 14-6.
This week’s rankings reveal comes just days ahead of the College Football Playoff rankings, with New Mexico in a competitive position for the Group of Six auto-bid. They currently sit three spots behind Boise State, the frontrunner in that category.
The AP voters appear to have closely monitored the results of Saturday’s games, leading to a poll that is expected to align closely with the upcoming College Football Playoff rankings.
Notable Movements Among Other Ranked Teams
In other significant developments, the AP rankings have reflected a few key observations from the weekend.
South Carolina emerged as the highest-ranked of the two three-loss teams, climbing back into the conversation after winning three consecutive games. The Gamecocks, currently under the guidance of head coach Shane Beamer, began their Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule with a rough 0-3 start. Their recent performances have drawn comparisons to last season’s team that nearly made the College Football Playoff. Their upcoming schedule includes tough challenges against both Georgia and Clemson.
Missouri also saw a notable rise, moving up four spots to No. 19 following their solid 34-10 victory over Arkansas. This win came after a disappointing loss to Ole Miss earlier in the month. The Tigers rebounded with the return of playmaker Ahmad Hardy and showcased the potential to compete against top teams in the coming weeks, starting with Texas this Saturday.
The rankings serve to reflect the teams’ performances as they head into the final month of the regular season, generating heightened interest in their potential playoff paths. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching the team dynamics and forthcoming games as the postseason approaches.
