Notre Dame Climbs to No. 11 in AP Poll as Indiana Ranks 18th Amid Top 25 Reshuffling

Photo byAP Photo/Michael Caterina

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — As Notre Dame prepares to host Stanford this Saturday, the Fighting Irish find themselves moving up three spots to No. 11 in the latest AP Poll. After taking a bye week, the Irish benefitted from a shakeup in the rankings following a week of surprises across college football.

The biggest headline from the reshuffled poll was Texas reclaiming the No. 1 spot after a one-week absence, thanks to Vanderbilt's shocking upset of Alabama. The Commodores' monumental victory sent the Crimson Tide tumbling from No. 1 to No. 7, the steepest drop for a top-ranked team since Ohio State fell to No. 11 in 2010 after losing to Wisconsin.

Irish Back in the Spotlight

Notre Dame shares the No. 11 ranking with Iowa State as they prepare to host Stanford in South Bend. Their upward climb is notable, especially in a season of such volatility in the Top 25. Indiana also made headlines by securing a No. 18 spot after an impressive 6-0 start to the season, a testament to the state's rising prominence in college football this year.

A Week of Surprises in the Top 25

It was a turbulent week for many teams, with six of the 18 Top 25 squads that played losing to unranked opponents. Vanderbilt’s upset was the most stunning, but other notable losses included Tennessee falling to Arkansas, dropping them from No. 4 to No. 8, and Michigan losing to Washington, pushing them down from No. 10 to No. 24.

Ohio State moved up to No. 2 after dominating Iowa, while Oregon and Penn State both rose three spots to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. Georgia held firm at No. 5, and Miami surged to No. 6 after staging an incredible comeback win over California, overcoming a 25-point second-half deficit.

Conference Dynamics

The SEC continues to dominate the top 10, with Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss all holding strong positions. Meanwhile, the Big Ten boasts powerhouses like Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State in the top five. This reshuffling underscores the strength of these conferences as they enter the midseason stretch.

Looking Ahead

As Notre Dame gears up for its upcoming clash with Stanford, the stakes are high. A win could further boost their AP ranking and solidify their place as one of the nation's top teams. Meanwhile, Indiana’s rise to No. 18 sets the stage for an exciting second half of the season for both teams representing the Hoosier State.