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Yahoo Top 10: Georgia claims No. 1 spot after classic Week 3 win over Tennessee

Don’t ever count out Kirby Smart.

It’s not a smart thing to do (pun!). It’s downright silly, honestly. Gone, it seems, is that vaunted defense of his from years past. Last year’s starting quarterback is absent too. The depth on the offensive and defensive lines, so evident at Georgia in the pre-NIL era, just isn’t there in this strange new world of college athletics.

And despite that, Smart and the Bulldogs find a way to win, especially against the poor Tennessee Volunteers.

Down 21-7, down, 28-27, down 35-30 and down 38-30, Smart’s team roared back, pushed the game into overtime and won for a ninth consecutive victory over the Vols. While the focus may be on Tennessee’s missed opportunities — UT had plenty of chances to win late — the Bulldogs surge into our Top 10 (finally).

No top-ranked defense, no Carson Beck, no dominant lines, but Mr. Smart still perseveres.

What else happened on another crazy Saturday in college football?

Well, in Morgantown, Rich Rodriguez won his first Backyard Brawl back as coach in an overtime duel with Pitt (Country Roads!); Georgia Tech (new to the Top 10!) upset Clemson (they’re now 1-2!) for the first time in more than a decade; and Virginia Tech and coach Brent Pry got steamrolled by Old Dominion in Blacksburg to start 0-3 and most firmly put Pry on the hottest seat in the country.

If you like upsets, how about the Blue Hens of Delaware, new to FBS, stunning UConn? And there was a Friday night barnburner in the desert where Arizona upset Kansas State to drop the Wildcats to 1-3 in a shockingly bad start to the year for a Big 12 championship favorite.

Things are still far from perfect for one Arch Manning (he started 4 for 14 in an eventual 27-10 win over UTEP); things are much better for Kalen DeBoer (the Tide whipped Wisconsin); and USC got its first win in the Eastern Time Zone since 2012 (wow!).

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates the team's overtime win after an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

But enough already. It’s time for the Top 10, which was especially tough this year as we sorted through what team has (1) the best win in the country so far and (2) hasn’t looked like slop in other games. Turns out, it’s tough!

But a reminder: When ranking teams, we do NOT consider any preseason polls or any past season results. For instance, you won’t find on here... Penn State (it has played Nevada, FIU, Villanova). This system normally rewards teams with tougher early season opponents, but it also makes for an unusual group in the first few weeks.

To the Top 10 we go!

1. Georgia Bulldogs

This week: beat Tennessee 44-41

Next week: Off

Remember that debate over the best win of the season so far? Well, the committee has met and determined that Georgia is bestowed with that for the victory in Knoxville. Don’t agree? That’s fine. But, for now, the Bulldogs reign over the Top 10. They get a week off before another huge SEC collision in Athens against Alabama on Sept. 27. QB Gunner Stockton is the real deal and Bama’s defense isn’t what it once was. Look out.

Key wins: 44-41 at Tennessee

2. Miami Hurricanes

This week: beat South Florida 49-12

Next week: vs. Florida

There is an argument to be made that the Hurricanes have the nation’s best win given Saturday’s Notre Dame-Texas A&M result. They hammered a South Florida squad that had just beaten Florida, to boot. QB Carson Beck went 23 of 28 for 340 and three touchdowns. He’ll have to clean up the interceptions though (he had two).

Key wins: 27-24 vs. Notre Dame

3. Florida State Seminoles

This week: Off

Next week: vs. Kent State

The Noles took a nice, little rest this weekend before they get another nice, little rest next week (Kent State) and then have another rest the next week (at Virginia). The point is, Mike Norvell’s team may not face another playoff-type contender until hosting Miami on Oct. 4 in a game with many marbles on the line — both in the state and in the ACC.

Key wins: 31-17 vs. Alabama

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

This week: beat Ohio 37-9

Next week: Off

The Buckeyes had one of those inexplicable stinker of games against the Bobcats of the MAC. It was bad enough, along with Texas’ struggles, to send them plummeting down our rankings. Have no fear! There’s plenty of season left to return to the top. Julian Sayin (347 yards passing) and RB Bo Jackson (109 yards rushing) helped turn a 13-9 lead early in the third quarter to a blowout in the end.

Key wins: 14-7 vs. Texas

5. Oregon Ducks

This week: beat Northwestern 34-14

Next week: vs. Oregon State

If you thought the Ducks would win a bit more handedly, well, join the club. But also know that this one was 34-0 before the Wildcats mounted two late touchdown drives. Oregon and QB Dante Moore scored on one-play, four-play and five-play touchdown drives to kick off their defense of the Big Ten title 1-0 in the conference.

Key wins: 69-3 vs. Oklahoma State

6. Auburn Tigers

This week: beat South Alabama 31-15

Next week: at Oklahoma

In this tougher-than-expected tuneup before a big game next week at Oklahoma, the Tigers and coach Hugh Freeze continued to pound rock (195 yards on 37 carries). In a “White Out” game — Auburn wore all-white uniforms for the first time in 15 years — QB Jackson Arnold scored three touchdowns, including one on the ground.

Key wins: 38-24 at Baylor

7. LSU Tigers

This week: beat Florida 20-10

Next week: vs. Southeastern Louisiana

The Tigers didn't exactly look convincing offensively against the Gators, but they did intercept Florida QB DJ Lagway five times in a stunning display of dominance on the other side of the ball. Now they have a gimme against Southeastern Louisiana before a showdown with Ole Miss in Oxford.

Key wins: 17-10 at Clemson; 20-10 vs. Florida

8. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

This week: beat Clemson 24-21

Next week: vs. Temple

For the first time since 2014, the Yellowjackets enter our Top 10 in a quite emphatic way with their first win over Clemson since 2014. It’s easy to wonder what happened to the Clemson dynasty, but how about some praise for GT coach Brent Key, who was promoted as head coach three years ago in a controversial decision that has produced 11 wins as an underdog in his short stint.

Key wins: 27-20 at Colorado; 24-21 vs. Clemson

9. Oklahoma Sooners

This week: beat Temple 42-3

Next week: vs. Auburn

There was no letdown here after the rousing win over Michigan from a week ago. QB John Mateer and the Sooners rolled into Philly and rolled out with a blowout. Four receivers caught at least three passes and Mateer scored touchdowns in the air and on the ground. Of note, true freshman Tory Blaylock ran for 100 yards against the Owls. Hoot!

Keys wins: 24-13 vs. Michigan

10. Tennessee Volunteers

This week: lost to Georgia 44-41

Next week: vs. UAB

So close, so so close. The Vols had a chance to, basically, win it three different times. The defense allowed a fourth-and-6 conversion with a couple minutes left, then a tying two-point conversion and its kicker then missed a would-be game-winning 43-yard field goal. It ruined quite a day from QB Joey Aguilar. He finished with 371 yards and four touchdowns (but did have two costly interceptions). Still, the Vols showed enough to remain in the Top 10 (barely).

Key wins: 45-26 vs. Syracuse

Dropped: Texas (10); Utah (9); Iowa State (7)

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