2024 college football rankings: Ohio State jumps to No. 1; Penn State finishes in the top five

RJ Young

FOX Sports National College Football Analyst

After Vanderbilt's surprising win over Virginia Tech in Week 1, I made it a point to read The Vanderbilt Hustler for the first time because student newspapers do a great job of covering their own papers, especially when surprising news happens on campus . And because the Commodores upset the Hokies, I learned that the student section was so full before the game started that they closed it. And because the Commodores upset the Hokies, I also saw a story about Vanderbilt doing good with expansion Opportunity Vanderbilta program that provides full scholarships to students whose families earn less than $150,000 per year. And about 54% of the school's graduates are donors to the program. This means that if you are admitted, they are obliged.

Here's the truth, Vanderbilt. I don't care if you don't win another game in the SEC or elsewhere. But I have to tell you: winning football is what got me here. Winning football is why I'm raving about the amazing financial aid program you've put in place, because winning football is a catalyst for change.

Following Vanderbilt's unforgettable 40-35 upset win over No. 1 ranked Alabama on Saturday, Opportunity Vanderbilt will hopefully bring even more attention to parts of the university that would otherwise go unnoticed outside of Nashville and higher education journalism. Because Vanderbilt invested in football. Because Vanderbilt's football team pulled off the most surprising upset of the year.

Bravo, Vandy.

Here's a look at my top 25 rankings after Week 6 College football Season:

1. Ohio State (5-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Iowa 35-7

Ohio State became the first team in two years to score on its first possession against Iowa (October 1, 2022, Michigan). That touchdown came on a 14-yard catch by Emeka Egbuka, who finished the win with nine catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns. The Buckeyes are loaded with talent and have earned the right to be here, but now it's a top-five matchup against the Oregon Ducks for Big Ten supremacy and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the sport will go to the winner.

2. Texas (5-0)

Result week 6: idle

3. Oregon (4-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Michigan State 31-10

Although Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel threw multiple interceptions in the same game for the first time since November 2022, the Ducks prevailed against the Spartans. Running back Jordan James ran for 166 yards on 24 carries to secure the victory.

Michigan State Spartans vs. No. 6 Oregon Ducks highlights

4. Georgia (4-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Auburn 31-13

With its victory in the Deep South's oldest rivalry, Georgia is now just one win away from starting a new regular season winning streak. However, the win was the Dawgs' 27th in a row at Sanford Stadium.

5. Penn State (4-0)

Result week 6: Defeated UCLA, 27-11

The Nittany Lions have specialized in free football this season and the defense has allowed just 18 points in the last three games. With Nick Singleton unavailable, Penn State posted its lowest single-game total of 85 yards all season after entering the game averaging 251 yards per game.

6. Miami (Florida) (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Cal, 39-38

Take a bow, Cam Ward. With it looking like Miami was headed for a surprise loss and Ward's Heisman chances all but ended, the Canes' senior QB led his team to a miraculous comeback victory after falling behind by 20 points in the fourth quarter had. The win was Miami's biggest comeback win since 2003.

7. Clemson (4-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Florida State 29-13

What was expected to be a massive ACC showdown early in the season ended in a loss for the Tigers, who doubled the weaker Seminoles in total yards, 500-250. Dabo Swinney's team has averaged 48.5 points per game since losing to Georgia in Week 1.

8. Iowa State (5-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Baylor 43-21

Rocco Becht threw for 277 yards and two touchdowns as Matt Campbell's team improved to 5-0, marking the program's best start since 1980.

Jaylon Jackson rushes for a 10-yard TD, giving Iowa State the lead over Baylor

9. BYU (5-0)

Result week 6: idle

10. Tennessee (4-1)

Result week 6: Lost to Arkansas, 19-14

Josh Heupel's team had a 14-3 lead in the third quarter, and then everything quickly went downhill for the Vols. Nico Iamaleava didn't look like himself in this game, and it cost Tennessee as Arkansas earned its first home win against a top-five opponent since beating the No. 3 Volunteers in 1999.

11. Oklahoma (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

12. LSU (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

13. Ole Miss (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated South Carolina 27-3

The win was highlighted by not one, but two rushing touchdowns from 325-pound JJ Pegues, marking the 100th win of Lane Kiffin's head coaching career. The Rebels forced two turnovers, recorded six sacks and had 10 total tackles for loss in the win.

14. Alabama (4-1)

Result week 6: Lost to Vanderbilt, 40-35

How about a stat: Alabama was up 13-0 against Vanderbilt less than seven minutes into the game. Vanderbilt scored a total of 13 points against Alabama during the 19-year Nick Saban era.

Here's another one: At halftime, Bama trailed Vandy 23-14. It's the first time since 1977 that Vandy held the halftime lead against the No. 1 team in the country. Vandy head coach Clark Lea was born in 1981.

And here are the final stats: Vanderbilt's win over Alabama marks the program's first victory over a top-five opponent.

15. Notre Dame (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

16. Texas A&M (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Missouri 41-10

The Aggies captured the tigers, tied them up, and threw them into a zoo so we could point and laugh. Texas A&M dominated this game from start to finish, leading 34-0 at one point in the third quarter. Quarterback Conner Weigman returned to the field and made it clear this month that he plans to enter the trick-or-treating scene as Johnny Manziel.

17. Missouri (4-1)

Result week 6: Lost to Texas A&M, 41-10

The Tigers played like a journalism school on Saturday, getting embarrassed along the way by an A&M program that made itself a CFP contender with the win and dropped Mizzou to the bubble.

18. Boise State (4-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Utah State 62-30

Ashton Jeanty is playing an exceptional game through the first six weeks of the season. He had a stunning 186 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday in just one half.

Ashton Jeanty runs for a RIDICULOUS 75-yard touchdown, extending Boise State's lead over Utah State

19. Kansas State (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

20. Illinois (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

21. Indiana (6-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Northwestern 41-24

This is win No. 6 for the Hoosiers, making them the first team this season to achieve bowl eligibility. The Hoosiers have amassed 500 yards of offense in their last three games and boast the third-best offense in the country.

Indiana had won just nine of its previous 36 games before IU coach Curt Cignetti arrived. And the sixth win was important for Cignetti, as it earned him a $250,000 bonus and an automatic one-year extension to his contract when IU achieved bowl eligibility.

22. Pitt (5-0)

Result week 6: Defeated North Carolina 34-24

Pat Narduzzi has a good football team led by former Alabama QB Eli Holstein, who threw for 381 yards and three scores in a win over the Tar Heels. With victory the Panthers It was 5-0 for the first time since 1991.

23. SMU (5-1)

Result week 6: Defeated Louisville 34-27

With the win, SMU now has a Top 25 win under its belt despite knowing it only lost to an undefeated BYU team. It's possible the Mustangs can find their way to the ACC title game in the league's first year.

24. Utah (4-1)

Result week 6: idle

25. marine (5-0)

Result week 6: Defeated Luftwaffe, 34-7

Navy and Army feel like it's 1945, which was the last time both went undefeated and had a combined record of 10-0. Both are members of the American Athletic Conference, but play each other the weekend after the conference championship. But there is a chance they could compete for the AAC title.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and host of the podcast “The number one college football show.“Follow him around @RJ_Young And Subscribe to The RJ Young Show on YouTube.

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