The AP Poll sees some new faces shooting towards the top as Ohio State takes the No. position and UCLA hits No. 11.
Left: Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Right: Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

New Faces Join the AP Top 25, As James Madison and UCLA See Big Jumps

We are at the halfway point of the 2022 college football season, and we've seen it all. Upsets, blowouts, big plays and crazy finishes have filled the first six weeks, and we can expect more of the same as we enter the midst of the season. However, we still have not seen any of the top teams fall.

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Ohio State has cruised, and while Georgia and Alabama have been tested, they still remain unbeaten. But sneaking up on those three are the likes of Tennessee and Ole Miss in the SEC, and Michigan and Penn State in the Big Ten, that seek to give each of those teams a loss over the next two months. Those games and plenty more are going to reshape the College Football Playoff and the AP rankings.

But first, let's see how this past weekend's slate of games changed this week's AP Top 25.

Biggest Jumps

 UCLA Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) runs with the ball during the college football game against the Utah Utes

Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

No. 11 UCLA Bruins (Up 7 Spots)

UCLA has made the jump from unranked to being one spot away from being in the top 10 following two back-to-back wins against ranked conference opponents

No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs (Up 7 Spots)

The Bulldogs got a statement win Saturday in their victory over Arkansas and let everyone in the country know they are indeed good.

Biggest Drops

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

RELATED: Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin Hang On to Upset the Kentucky Wildcats at Home in Oxford

No. 22 Kentucky Wildcats (Down 9 Spots)

With quarterback Will Levis out, back-to-back losses have Kentucky tumbling toward the bottom of the Top 25.

No. 20 Utah Utes (Down 9 Spots)

The Utes suffered loss No. 2 Saturday in a tough conference defeat; but while their playoff hopes are slim, they still have plenty of chances to win the PAC-12.

New to Top 25 Poll

Todd Centeio #1 of the James Madison Dukes looks for a pass against Appalachian State Mountaineers

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images

No. 22 Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns took down Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry 49-0 on Saturday. I really have to believe this team would be undefeated if quarterback Quinn Ewers hadn't been injured. 

No. 24 Illinois Illini

Coach Bret Bielema has something brewing at his new home, and the Illini are the current favorite to come out of the wide-open Big Ten West.

No. 25 James Madison Dukes

In their first year on the FBS level of college football, the Dukes have already made a debut in the AP Top 25 Poll. 

Dropped out of Top 25 Poll

 LSU Tigers Running Back Josh Williams (27) scores a touchdown during a game between the LSU Tigers and the Tennessee Volunteers

Photo by John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

RELATED: LSU's "Neck" Chant: Why the Controversial Song Was Banned

BYU Cougars (Previously No. 16)

The Cougars New Year's Six hopes are in shambles after losing to Notre Dame.

Washington Huskies (Previously No. 21)

The Huskies followed up last week's loss with another, but this time to an Arizona State team that was 1-4 entering Saturday's matchup.

LSU Tigers (Previously No. 25)

One and done for the Tigers after they get manhandled by Tennessee. (They should not have been ranked in the first place.)

What to Watch for in Week 7

This weekend will be all about the ranked matchups, as we have six games that each feature teams ranked in the current AP Top 25 Poll. Also, check out my Top 10 Teams!

  • Fresh off its bye, Penn State goes on the road to play Michigan.
  • Tennessee hosts Alabama, which could be without quarterback Bryce Young for a second straight game.
  • TCU hosts Oklahoma State in a Big 12 matchup between two undefeated teams.
  • Syracuse wants to prove that it belongs in the rankings as it takes on NC State.
  • Kentucky looks to end its two-game skid as Mississippi States comes into town.
  • USC has its biggest game of the year (so far) as they goes on the road to play Utah.

MORE: Quentin Johnston's Circus TD Catch Gives TCU the Edge Over the Kansas Jayhawks