Missouri Rises to No. 14 After Blowout Win Over Florida
- Missouri climbed from 25th to 14th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, jumping eleven spots after a 45-17 blowout victory over Florida.
- Missouri shredded the Florida defense for 560 total yards during the lopsided win.
- The margin at the final whistle would have been wider had Tramell Jones Jr.
Missouri climbed from 25th to 14th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, jumping eleven spots after a 45-17 blowout victory over Florida.
Missouri Shines and Florida Slips in Week 6 Poll
Missouri shredded the Florida defense for 560 total yards during the lopsided win. Quarterback Austin Simmons completed 23 of 30 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Jamal Roberts added 211 yards and three scores on 24 carries. Florida, which had reached its highest ranking since 2020 following the Week 5 poll, tumbled down to 16th place.
The margin at the final whistle would have been wider had Tramell Jones Jr. not connected with TJ Abrams for a late Gators touchdown inside the final minute. Saturday provided a stark reality check on the limits of what a team can achieve in Year 1.
Mississippi State Falters Against Crimson Tide
The bubble burst for Mississippi State as Alabama handed the Bulldogs a 56-23 defeat, dropping Jeff Lebby’s squad one spot to No. 17 in the AP rankings. Mississippi State entered the matchup with a 4-0 record, but AP voters proved correct in initially exercising caution with a modest 16th-place ranking. Two early turnovers sent the Bulldogs into a 14-point hole by the end of the first quarter.
Alabama suffocated the Mississippi State offense in a vintage performance, limiting the visitors to just 95 total yards in the second half. Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell enhanced his Heisman Trophy resume by going 16-of-22 for 285 yards and three passing touchdowns.
Ohio State Rolls Past Iowa as Pitt Joins Top 25
Despite Russell’s strong numbers, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith remains firmly at the forefront of the Heisman race. Smith caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two scores as the Buckeyes cruised past Iowa 31-14, erasing the memory of a stunning 2017 upset in Iowa City. Although a fourth-quarter collapse against Texas earlier in the year remains a blemish, the victory over Iowa confirmed the Buckeyes possess enough talent to contend for a national championship.
Further down the rankings, Pittsburgh earned a spot in the Top 25 after improving to 5-0 with a narrow 35-33 win over Virginia Tech. Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi voiced his frustration with national voters during his postgame interview with ESPN.
We’ve got a hell of a football team. Now, any of those voters out there, if they wake their ass up, they might figure that out.
Pat Narduzzi
The voters ultimately heeded the call, pushing the undefeated Panthers into the newly released poll.