Alabama appears ready to make another major jump in the college football rankings after a dominant Week 5 performance against Mississippi State, strengthening its case as one of the leading national championship contenders.
The Crimson Tide entered the 2026 season ranked No. 11 in the preseason AP Top 25, their lowest preseason position since 2008. Five weeks into the season, however, Kalen DeBoer’s team has quickly changed the conversation.
After another convincing offensive display against Mississippi State, Alabama is projected to climb from No. 7 to No. 5 in the next AP poll. The timing makes the move even more significant, with a highly anticipated matchup against No. 2 Georgia coming next.
Alabama Strengthens National Title Case
Alabama has consistently produced explosive offensive performances this season, scoring at least 45 points in each game while winning by a wide margin.
The victory over Mississippi State on the road further boosted the Crimson Tide’s profile and could be enough to move them ahead of Ohio State in the rankings.
A victory against Georgia in Week 6 would give Alabama an opportunity to strengthen its argument for an even higher position and establish itself firmly among the country’s leading championship contenders.
Texas Expected to Stay at No. 1
Texas is projected to remain at the top of the rankings after having a Week 5 bye. The Longhorns return next week for their rivalry matchup against Oklahoma.
Georgia is expected to remain No. 2 following a comfortable 38-14 victory over Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have continued to impress defensively and now face one of their biggest tests of the season against Alabama.
Notre Dame is projected to stay at No. 3 after producing a strong rushing performance in its victory over North Carolina.
Miami is also expected to remain steady at No. 4 following an impressive win over Clemson.
Ohio State Could Slip to No. 6
Ohio State is projected to fall one position despite beating Iowa 31-17.
The Buckeyes avoided an upset, but Alabama’s stronger overall performance and unbeaten record could push the Crimson Tide ahead of them when voters submit their ballots.
Indiana could also move down one spot to No. 7 despite recording a comfortable 47-15 victory over Rutgers.
Missouri Expected to Make Major Jump
Missouri could be one of the biggest movers in the new rankings.
The Tigers entered Week 5 at No. 25 but recorded an impressive victory over a top-10 Florida team. That result is expected to push Missouri into the middle of the Top 25, potentially around No. 15.
Missouri’s resume remains complicated because of an earlier loss to Mississippi State, but the win over Florida significantly strengthens its case.
Florida, meanwhile, is projected to fall from No. 8 to around No. 13 following the defeat.
BYU, LSU and Oregon Could Move Up
BYU could climb from No. 10 to No. 8 after defeating TCU 17-10, while Ole Miss may remain around No. 9 after having the weekend off.
LSU is projected to move into the Top 10 following a comfortable victory over McNeese.
Utah and Oregon could also rise despite having Week 5 byes, largely because of movement elsewhere in the rankings.
Mississippi State Could Remain in Top 15
Despite giving up 56 points against Alabama, Mississippi State may not suffer a major rankings drop.
The Bulldogs still have notable victories on their resume, including wins over Missouri and Minnesota. Their overall body of work could keep them around No. 14 despite the heavy defeat.
Pittsburgh Could Enter Rankings
Pittsburgh is projected to enter the Top 25 after improving to 5-0 with a road victory over Virginia Tech.
The Panthers managed to secure the win despite losing quarterback Mason Heintschel to a torn ACL during the game. Their undefeated record could be enough to earn them a place at No. 25.
Projected AP Top 25 After Week 5
- Texas
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Miami
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- BYU
- Ole Miss
- LSU
- Utah
- Oregon
- Florida
- Mississippi State
- Missouri
- Texas Tech
- Tennessee
- USC
- Oklahoma State
- Houston
- SMU
- Boise State
- UCLA
- Kentucky
- Pittsburgh
The rankings remain projections until the official AP Top 25 poll is released. Week 6 could bring another major shake-up, with Alabama’s matchup against Georgia standing out as one of the most important games on the upcoming schedule.
