Ralph Russo The Athletic (Brooklyn, NY) About: Ralph Russo is a Senior Writer for The Athletic, covering college football. Before joining The Athletic, he spent 20 years as the lead national college football writer for The Associated Press. He also previously worked as the AP's Mississippi-based sports writer and did a stint with The Denver Post. Ralph is a native New Yorker and a graduate of Fordham University.
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Oct 18, 2026 Week 7 Rankings for Ralph Russo1 Ohio State (9) 6-1 Actual: 3Highest: 1 - 9 Voters Lowest: 6 - Brian Fonseca 1649
2 BYU (20) 6-0 Actual: 2Highest: 1 - 20 Voters Lowest: 4 - 2 Voters 1675
3 Miami (FL) (40) 6-0 Actual: 1Highest: 1 - 40 Voters Lowest: 6 - Javon Edmonds 1697
4 Notre Dame 6-1 Actual: 4Highest: 3 - Koki Riley Lowest: 12 - Chris Murray 1395
5 Indiana 6-1 Actual: 6Highest: 3 - Javon Edmonds Lowest: 11 - Chris Murray 1370
6 Georgia 6-1 Actual: 5Highest: 3 - 3 Voters Lowest: 11 - 2 Voters 1382
7 Texas Tech (1) 6-0 Actual: 8Highest: 1 - Chris Murray Lowest: 13 - Kirk Bohls 1336
8 Ole Miss 5-1 Actual: 7Highest: 3 - Brian Howell Lowest: 12 - 3 Voters 1360
9 Utah 6-0 Actual: 10Highest: 4 - Brian Fonseca Lowest: 17 - Koki Riley 1153
10 UCLA 6-0 Actual: 9Highest: 3 - Stephen Means Lowest: 15 - 2 Voters 1159
11 Tennessee 6-1 Actual: 11Highest: 5 - Chris Carter Lowest: 14 - Jon Wilner 1151
12 Alabama 5-2 Actual: 13Highest: 10 - 3 Voters Lowest: 21 - Stephen Means 870
13 Kentucky 6-1 Actual: 12Highest: 8 - 4 Voters Lowest: 19 - Kirk Kenney 932
14 Iowa 5-1 Actual: 15Highest: 10 - Stephen Means Lowest: NR - 1 Voters 747
15 Houston 6-1 Actual: 14Highest: 10 - Rece Davis Lowest: 21 - 2 Voters 785
16 Wake Forest 6-1 Actual: 17Highest: 10 - Dylan Sinn Lowest: 25 - Chelsie Brown 574
17 Missouri 5-2 Actual: 22Highest: 15 - Pat Welter Lowest: NR - 17 Voters 290
18 Florida 5-2 Actual: 20Highest: 14 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 8 Voters 355
19 Texas 4-2 Actual: 19Highest: 12 - Pete Yanity Lowest: NR - 2 Voters 440
20 Oklahoma State 4-2 Actual: 26Highest: 18 - 3 Voters Lowest: NR - 41 Voters 128
21 Oregon 4-2 Actual: 27Highest: 18 - 2 Voters Lowest: NR - 44 Voters 79
22 LSU 5-2 Actual: 18Highest: 12 - Nick Jacobs Lowest: NR - 4 Voters 529
23 Boise State 5-1 Actual: 21Highest: 14 - Ian Kress Lowest: NR - 9 Voters 295
24 Northwestern 5-1 Actual: 24Highest: 15 - Stephen Means Lowest: NR - 5 Voters 254
25 USC 6-1 Actual: 16Highest: 12 - Henry Greenstein Lowest: NR - 5 Voters 592
Ranked Teams Not on Ballot: 23-SMU 25-Arizona
