The Missouri Tigers are 4-0 and ranked No. 20 in this week’s Top 25 football poll. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
Terrance Williams
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri football team moved up three spots to the No. 20 slot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, which was announced on Sunday, a day after the Tigers earned a 29-20 victory over South Carolina.
Mizzou made its first appearance in the poll last week at No. 23. South Carolina had been ranked No. 11 heading into its game two weeks ago against Vanderbilt. But the Gamecocks lost both games and are now no longer ranked.
Mizzou RB Ahmad Hardy had 138 rushing yards and scored a touchdown in the Tigers’ win over South Carolina, last Saturday. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
Meanwhile, Miami jumped LSU and Penn State into the No. 2 spot behind Ohio State and Oklahoma climbed into the top 10 for the first time in two years. And Indiana and Texas Tech made big moves after lopsided wins over Top 25 opponents.
The Hurricanes have beaten two ranked opponents, and they turned in another complete performance in a 19-point home win over Florida to earn their highest ranking since 2017.
Penn State, which had been No. 2 since the preseason, was idle and slipped to No. 3. LSU fell one spot to No. 4 after an easy win over Southeastern Louisiana of the second-tier Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).
Mizzou QB Beau Pribula is fourth in the SEC with 962 passing yards and eight touchdowns. (Photo: Ellie Parker)
No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Oregon held their positions and were followed by No. 7 Oklahoma, which beat previously ranked Auburn at home and returned to the top 10 for the first time since it started 7-0 in 2023. Florida State, Texas A&M and Texas round out the top 10.
Ohio State had an open date and received 52 of 66 first-place votes from the media panel. Miami got seven first-place votes, four more than a week ago. Penn State had five first-place votes and Oregon and Oklahoma each received one.
Indiana had played one of the softest schedules in the country through three games before raising eyebrows with its 63-10 hammering of then-No. 9 Illinois. The Hoosiers made the biggest move up, climbing eight spots to No. 11.
Texas Tech got a five-rung promotion to No. 12 for its 24-point win at Utah. The Red Raiders won easily despite playing backup quarterback Will Hammond most of the second half in place of an injured Behren Morton.
Up Next: Mizzou will be back on the field and back at home on Saturday, when it will host UMass in a non-conference game at Faurot Field.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
Through Games SEP. 21, 2025
ASSOCIATED PRESS TOP 25 FOOTBALL POLL
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | RECORD | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ohio State (52) | 1629 | 3-0 | 1 |
| 2. | Miami (FL) (7) | 1479 | 4-0 | 4 |
| 3. | Penn State (5) | 1460 | 3-0 | 2 |
| 4. | LSU | 1433 | 4-0 | 3 |
| 5. | Georgia | 1420 | 3-0 | 5 |
| 6. | Oregon (1) | 1404 | 4-0 | 6 |
| 7. | Oklahoma (1) | 1194 | 4-0 | 11 |
| 8. | Florida State | 1183 | 3-0 | 7 |
| 9. | Texas A&M | 1072 | 3-0 | 10 |
| 10. | Texas | 1057 | 3-1 | 8 |
| 11. | Indiana | 990 | 4-0 | 19 |
| 12. | Texas Tech | 890 | 4-0 | 17 |
| 13. | Ole Miss | 843 | 4-0 | 13 |
| 14. | Iowa State | 779 | 4-0 | 12 |
| 15. | Tennessee | 635 | 3-1 | 15 |
| 16. | Georgia Tech | 598 | 4-0 | 18 |
| 17. | Alabama | 595 | 2-1 | 14 |
| 18. | Vanderbilt | 546 | 4-0 | 20 |
| 19. | Michigan | 458 | 3-1 | 21 |
| 20. | Missouri | 452 | 4-0 | 23 |
| 21. | Southern Cal. | 264 | 4-0 | 25 |
| 22. | Notre Dame | 219 | 1-2 | 24 |
| 23. | Illinois | 145 | 3-1 | 9 |
| 24. | TCU | 138 | 3-0 | NR |
| 25. | BYU | 131 | 3-0 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Auburn 122, Mississippi St. 102, South Florida 77, Utah 45, Arizona St. 30, Memphis 23, Louisville 23, Maryland 6, UNLV 3, UCF 3, North Texas 2.
2025 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Radio | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2025 (Thursday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Central Arkansas | Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network | W, 61-6 (1-0) |
| September 6, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 pm | Home | Kansas | Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network | W, 42-31 (2-0) |
| September 13, 2025 (Saturday) | 12 pm | Home | Louisiana | Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network | W, 52-10 (3-0) |
| September 20, 2025 (Saturday) | 6 pm | Home | South Carolina | Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network | W, 29-20 (4-0) |
| September 27, 2025 (Saturday) | 6:30 pm | Home | Massachusetts | Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 11, 2025 (Saturday) | 11 am | Home | Alabama | Faurot Field | ABC or ESPN | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 18, 2025 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Auburn | Auburn, Ala. / Jordan-Hare Stadium | TBD | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 25, 2025 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. / FirstBank Stadium | TBD | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 8, 2025 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Texas A&M | Faurot Field | TBD | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 15, 2025 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Mississippi State | Faurot Field | TBD | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 22, 2025 (Saturday) | 11 am | Away | Oklahoma | Norman, Okla. / Memorial Stadium | ABC or ESPN | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 29, 2025 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. / Razorback Stadium | TBD | Tiger Radio Network |