Georgia Takes No. 1 as Oklahoma Upsets Texas in Week 6

Georgia is the new No. 1 team in the country after beating Alabama on the road, and Oklahoma's Red River Rivalry win over then-No. 1 Texas has reordered the 2026 College Football Playoff picture, according to ESPN's Week 6 bowl and CFP projections from Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, published Oct. 12.

What upsets reshaped Week 6?

Only two ranked-versus-ranked games were played, and both produced results. ESPN's writers noted:

"Only two ranked matchups were played: Georgia earned a conference road victory over Alabama, and UCLA pulled off an upset over Oregon in Eugene."

Beyond those, four unranked teams knocked off ranked opponents. Oklahoma beat then-No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry. Kentucky pulled off its second win over a top-25 opponent this season. South Carolina and North Carolina also posted what ESPN described as big wins over ranked teams.

How does the new 12-team CFP format work?

The 2026 season introduced a change to how automatic bids are awarded. Power 4 conference champions now receive automatic bids to the Playoff, along with the highest-ranked Group of 6 team — regardless of whether that team actually won its league. The remaining spots in the 12-team field go to the next seven highest-ranked teams nationally, per ESPN.

Where does Notre Dame stand in the field?

ESPN's report states Notre Dame is guaranteed a spot in the field, consistent with the Irish's status as a Playoff-eligible independent under the format's rules, though the full terms of that arrangement were not detailed in the available report excerpt.

What happened to Texas and Oklahoma after Week 6?

Texas entered the Red River Rivalry at No. 1 and lost to Oklahoma, a result ESPN's staff flagged among the week's defining storylines. The loss dropped Texas sharply in the national conversation, while Oklahoma's win vaulted the Sooners into the postseason discussion as a team that beat the nation's top-ranked program on a neutral field.

Where does the AP poll stand now?

By the numbers

• Georgia moved to No. 1 in the AP poll after its win at Alabama.
• Texas fell to No. 7 following the loss to Oklahoma.
• Oregon dropped out of the rankings entirely after UCLA's upset in Eugene.
• The 2026 CFP field holds 12 total teams, per the new format.

Georgia's ascent to the top spot, combined with Texas's fall to seventh and Oregon's exit from the rankings, illustrates how quickly a single Saturday reshuffled the national hierarchy, according to ESPN's Week 6 poll reaction coverage.

What comes next for the postseason picture?

With Power 4 champions and the top Group of 6 team now guaranteed automatic bids, the fight for the remaining seven at-large slots in the 12-team field is expected to stay fluid through the rest of the regular season. ESPN's projections team plans to update its bowl and CFP outlook weekly as conference races and ranked matchups continue to shake out results like Week 6's run of upsets.

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