**Oregon and Penn State Surge in AP Poll Amid Thrilling Victories**

Oregon and Penn State have ascended in The Associated Press college football poll, each climbing a notch following dramatic victories in recent high-stakes matchups. Meanwhile, Navy and Army have achieved a significant milestone by appearing together in the Top 25 rankings for the first time since 1960.

Texas solidified its position at No. 1 with a commanding 31-point win over Oklahoma, claiming 56 out of 62 first-place votes—its highest since being unanimously ranked No. 1 in October 2008. Although this week wasn't as tumultuous as the previous one, when four of the top 11 teams faced upsets, Week 7 still delivered its share of excitement.

Oregon edged out Ohio State in a nail-biting 32-31 home game that saw seven lead changes, propelling the Ducks to the No. 2 spot and securing six first-place votes. This is Oregon's highest ranking since they concluded the 2014 season at No. 2 after losing to Ohio State in the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game.

Penn State moved up to No. 3 following a thrilling 33-30 overtime victory at Southern California, marking their highest position in seven years. The game was one of four involving AP Top 25 teams that extended into overtime on a Saturday filled with intense competition.

Despite their narrow loss, Ohio State dropped to No. 4, while Georgia remained steady at No. 5. Miami, Alabama, LSU, Iowa State, and Clemson rounded out the top 10. Both Army, after a dominant 44-10 win over UAB, and Navy, which was idle, entered the rankings. It's the first time since October 3, 1960, that both military academies are in the Top 25 together.

In a historic context, Army (6-0) and Navy (5-0) have each remained unbeaten this late into the season for the first time since 1945. On the other hand, LSU made a significant jump to No. 8 following their 29-26 overtime triumph, their first appearance in the top 10 since the 2023 preseason poll. Mississippi saw a steep decline from No. 9 to No. 18 after suffering their second loss in three games.

Iowa State, now 6-0 for the first time since 1938, reached a notable high at No. 9, while Tennessee, after a 23-17 overtime victory over Florida, slipped to No. 11. The SEC occupies eight spots in the AP Top 25, and the Big Ten has three teams—Oregon, Penn State, and Ohio State—within the top five and six spots overall.

Utah exited the rankings following a 27-19 loss to Arizona State, and Oklahoma, previously at No. 18, dropped out after losing to Texas.

In upcoming notable matchups, No. 5 Georgia will face No. 1 Texas in what will be the third top-five clash in four weeks, following Georgia-Alabama and Ohio State-Oregon. Additionally, No. 7 Alabama will take on No. 11 Tennessee, and No. 24 Michigan will meet No. 22 Illinois—marking their first encounter as Top 25 teams since 2001.