A Nov. 3, 2026 OutKick column published on Fox News criticized this week’s Associated Press Top 25, saying poll voters showed apparent preferential treatment for SEC teams and other brand-name programs — a development the column said could affect perceptions ahead of College Football Playoff deliberations.
OutKick cited Florida as a primary example, noting the Gators have wins over Ole Miss and Texas but also three lopsided losses: 45-17 at Missouri, 38-19 to South Carolina and a 27-8 loss to Georgia. Despite that record, the column questioned why Florida remained ranked.
The column also pointed to South Carolina, which OutKick said sits at No. 23 despite three losses and a 49-18 defeat at Alabama; OutKick noted the Gamecocks beat Oklahoma but lost to Mississippi State and Kentucky.
OutKick called out Missouri at No. 19 despite what the column described as an unimpressive resume, including a 31-3 loss to Ole Miss and a loss to Mississippi State.
On Texas, OutKick noted losses to Oklahoma and a home loss to Florida, along with a narrow win over Ohio State and a victory over Ole Miss, and reported the Longhorns were listed at No. 10. The column also cited Texas Tech at No. 13, saying the Red Raiders have one loss at Cincinnati and two ranked wins in the Big 12.
OutKick questioned Notre Dame’s placement at No. 4, pointing to the Irish’s 7-1 record with a lone road loss at BYU and listing wins over Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Stanford and Navy. The column contrasted Notre Dame’s ranking with undefeated UCLA and one-loss Indiana, saying UCLA remained unranked ahead of Notre Dame despite being unbeaten and noting UCLA’s wins over Wisconsin (home) and Oregon (road).
Overall, OutKick argued poll voters rely on program and conference brand names and that preseason reputations continue to influence rankings. The column said those voting patterns are consequential because the AP Top 25 can affect how teams are perceived heading into College Football Playoff selection, a point raised in the Nov. 3 OutKick piece.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
