What. A. Week. With an AP Poll Top 10 matchup headlining an impressive slate of games, college football Week 7 did not fail to live up to high expectation. For all the touchdowns, turnovers, turbulence, and tremendous plays, the actual results meant there was very little movement at the top of the CFN College Football Top 25 power rankings.
Everything we’ve seen so far this season, including all the action from Week 6, informs the latest CFN College Football Top 25, our power rankings of the best teams college football has to offer this fall.
College Football Top 25: CFN’s Official Power Rankings
1) Washington Huskies
Previous Ranking: 1st (–)
In what was always going to be their toughest test of the 2023 college football season so far, the Washington Huskies faced a fourth quarter gut check against the Oregon Ducks. Despite being far from fully fit, Michael Penix Jr. delivered a two-play touchdown drive that gave Kalen DeBoer’s team a 36-33 win that keeps them atop the CFN College Football Top 25.
The Huskies defense limited Dan Lanning’s team to the fewest points they’ve scored this season, constantly forcing the Oregon head coach to make gutsy calls to go for it on fourth down. Furthermore, Washington put up more points on one of the top defenses in the nation than they’ve allowed all year. Washington is still the team to beat with USC and Utah yet to come.
2) Michigan Wolverines
Previous Ranking: 2nd (–)
Let me know if you’ve heard this one before. The Michigan Wolverines score over 30 points and limit their opponent to 10 or fewer points. Yes, you’ve heard it before. Every. Single. Week. Jim Harbaugh’s team continue to be the model of college football consistency, and despite going 7-0 behind earlier to Indiana, they continue unabated through the Big Ten.
3) Georgia Bulldogs
Previous Ranking: 3rd (–)
The Georgia Bulldogs weathered a fourth quarter comeback attempt to move to 7-0 with a 37-20 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores. Kirby Smart’s team dominated the clock, and dominated on the ground, while holding the Commodores to just 18 rush yards. The injury to star TE Brock Bowers is a concern, but Georgia has a bye week to evaluate the severity.
4) Florida State Seminoles
Previous Ranking: 4th (–)
Florida State remains in the College Football Playoff mix after a beatdown against Syracuse solidified their standing in the CFN College Football Top 25 power rankings. The Seminoles have one of the top QB/WR duos in the nation with Jordan Travis and Keon Coleman, with the former giving FSU fans some anxious moments after leaving the game with an injury. He did return.
5) Oklahoma Sooners
Previous Ranking: 5th (–)
An idle week for the Oklahoma Sooners, who remain in fifth place in our CFN College Football Top 25 Power Rankings following their impressive win over Texas in the Red River Rivalry last time out. The Sooners currently have the fourth ranked scoring offense and 11th ranked scoring defense, and not too many tough tests on route to the Big 12 title game.
6) Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous Ranking: 6th (–)
The Penn State Nittany Lions came off a bye week fresh as a daisy and beat up on UMass as preparation for facing Ohio State next week. James Franklin’s team dominated all three phases as they continue to flash arguably the best defense in the nation. One member of that unit, Daequan Hardy, took two punts back for touchdowns in the 63-0 win. They’re another none-mover.
7) Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous Ranking: 7th (–)
The Big Ten continues to be a driving force in our CFN College Football Top 25 power rankings, with Ohio State holding firm in seventh with a 41-7 win over the Purdue Boilermakers. In the face of much criticism, Kyle McCord threw his first road touchdowns of the season for a Buckeyes team that continues to be strong defensively. Penn State awaits in week 8.
8) Texas Longhorns
Previous Ranking: 9th (+1)
An idle week for the Texas Longhorns see them move up one spot in the CFN College Football Top 25 power rankings. They benefit from Oregon’s loss to Washington, while sat at home plotting their comeback from defeat to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. With a potent, versatile offense, and a defense capable of dominance, the Longhorns are still a major player.
9) North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous Ranking: 11th (+2)
For a half on Saturday evening, it looked like Miami were going to get take their Georgia Tech revenge out on North Carolina Tar Heels. Then Mack Brown’s team, led by QB Drake Maye, remembered that they’re one of the best teams in the nation and rallied in the second half to their sixth win of the season. Offense has never been the issue here, and their defense has finally risen to match.
10) Oregon Ducks
Previous Ranking: 8th (-2)
Their defeat to Washington in the game of the week sees the Oregon Ducks drop to spots to the outside edge of the CFN College Football Top 25. However, the battling performance from Nix and the rest of the offense, and the defense’s ability to force an interception out of Penix Jr. showcased that Oregon can mix it with the very best in the game. They’re still a contender for the Pac-12 title — and potentially something even more.
11) Alabama Crimson Tide
12) James Madison Dukes
13) Oregon State Beavers
14) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
15) Utah Utes
16) Duke Blue Devils
17) USC Trojans
18) Air Force Falcons
19) Ole Miss Rebels
20) Iowa Hawkeyes
21) Liberty Flames
22) Tennessee Volunteers
23) Tulane Green Wave
24) Missouri Tigers
25) Louisville Cardinals
