The first College Football Playoff rankings in the 2025 regular season were released on Tuesday in Week 11. Through nine games in 2025, Tennessee has a 6-3 (3-3 SEC) record.

The Longhorns already had two losses under their belt in matchups against Ohio State and Florida. Overtime wins over SEC bottom-feeders Kentucky and Mississippi State only added to the frustration. Oklahoma lost to Texas and dropped at home against Ole Miss two weeks later as the offense grinded to a halt.

Crimson Tide leaders prioritize sustained performance over rankings, vowing to finish the season strong and silence critics.

Clemson began the season at No. 4 in the AP poll, and Florida State rose all the way to No. 7 amid a 3-0 start. At one point or another, both were expected to be among the top teams in the ACC and potentially even national championship contenders.