Indiana claimed the No. 1 spot in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll released Tuesday after completing a perfect 16-0 season with a victory over Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
The Hoosiers became the third consecutive Big Ten Conference team to finish atop the final poll, following Ohio State in 2024 and Michigan in 2023.
Indiana’s championship marks the first perfect 16-win season in college football’s 132-year history.
Major Storylines From Final Rankings
Indiana’s Historic Climb
The Hoosiers’ rise from No. 20 in the preseason to No. 1 represents one of the most dramatic ascents in recent college football history. Indiana first cracked the top three after defeating Oregon on the road, moved to No. 2 the following week, and claimed the top spot after winning both the Big Ten championship and the CFP.
Curt Cignetti’s second season delivered not just a title, but a model for rapid program transformation in the transfer portal era.
Miami’s Resurgence Gains Credibility
No. 2 Miami finished with its highest ranking since 2002 after jumping eight spots in the final poll. The Hurricanes fell short in the title game but posted a 13-3 record that suggests Mario Cristobal has restored the program to elite status.
This marked Miami’s first top-10 finish since 2003.
Big Ten Maintains Control
Three Big Ten teams landed in the top five for the second straight year. Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State all finished in that group, while the conference placed six teams in the final poll overall.
The Big Ten has now produced the final No. 1 team in consecutive seasons.
SEC Depth Without Dominance
The Southeastern Conference led all leagues with seven ranked teams, including No. 3 Ole Miss and No. 6 Georgia. However, no SEC team finished in the top two positions.
Texas Tech’s emergence in the Big 12 and Miami’s run in the ACC highlighted a season defined more by parity than traditional power structures.
The final rankings reflected a year where established programs looked ordinary while Indiana finished on top. Spring practice begins in just a few months as teams prepare for next season.
Final AP Top 25 Poll
| Rank | School |
| 1 | Indiana |
| 2 | Miami |
| 3 | Ole Miss |
| 4 | Oregon |
| 5 | Ohio State |
| 6 | Georgia |
| 7 | Texas Tech |
| 8 | Texas A&M |
| 9 | Alabama |
| 10 | Notre Dame |
| 11 | BYU |
| 12 | Texas |
| 13 | Oklahoma |
| 14 | Utah |
| 15 | Vanderbilt |
| 16 | Virginia |
| 17 | Iowa |
| 18 | Tulane |
| 19 | James Madison |
| 20 | USC |
| 21 | Michigan |
| 22 | Houston |
| 23 | Navy |
| 24 | North Texas |
| 25 | TCU |
