Not to mention that a faction of fans lament college sports’ transition from amateurism to supreme professionalism. This football season delivers when it comes to unpredictability and entertainment value.

It is reflected week after week The Associated Press college football poll.

Oregon became the fourth team on Sunday to keep first place. No team has been able to hold this title for more than three consecutive weeks. And three of the top five teams are coming off a loss entering Week 9 for the first time since 2007.

Player moves through the transfer portal and promises of zero recruiting riches have helped spread talent across the country. According to Sportradar, expansion resulted in three top-five matchups in the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference before November for the first time since 1996.

This season, Iowa State and Indiana are both off to their best starts at 7-0. The Army and Navy are a combined 13-0. Cam Ward’s transfer to Miami has given the Hurricanes a 7-0 start and made him a strong candidate for the Heisman Trophy. BYU, 5-7 a year ago, has also started with seven straight wins.

Meanwhile, Alabama was No. 1 when it was upset by traditional SEC doormat Vanderbilt and now has two losses before November for the first time since 2006 dropped his game at Tennessee on Saturday.

Defending national champions Michigan has lost two in a row and went from being in the top 10 three weeks ago to going 4-3 this week.

Florida State was ranked No. 10 in the preseason and is now 1-6. Oklahoma, ranked since the end of the 2022 season until two weeks ago, has been outscored 69-12 in its last two games. Southern California, ranked No. 11 three weeks ago, has lost three straight and four of five in its first Big Ten schedule.

“A good team in college in the future will be about 8-4 or 9-3. It is exactly what it is,” Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said.

Check out five of the top 25:

#1 Oregon

The Ducks could very well top the table against their remaining schedule, but there are potential pitfalls. No. 20 Illinois visits this week and is picking up steam. And there are trips to Michigan and Wisconsin and a home game against Washington. QB Dillon Gabriel is grabbing the headlines, but RB Jordan James has stepped up his game, averaging just under 6 yards per carry, and the defense is more than holding up to its end.

No. 10 Iowa State

Something magical is happening in Ames, judging by the Cyclones’ improbable late comeback defeated UCF 38-35. Rocco Becht didn’t have a good night, he threw a pick-six and almost another. As a runner, he increased his performance and managed 97 yards. Of his career-high 20 runs, nine went for first downs and two more went for touchdowns. The Cyclones are out this week. If they beat Texas Tech at home on November 2nd, they will be 8-0 for the first time in program history.

No. 13 Indiana

The Hoosiers’ 56-7 win over Nebraska was associated with costs. All signs point to QB Kurtis Rourke being unavailable for this week’s home game against Washington due to an injury to his right (throwing) hand. For all the points and yards the Hoosiers have racked up in Curt Cignetti’s first season as coach, defense shouldn’t be overlooked. Indiana is allowing just 263 yards and 14 points per game.

No. 19 Pittsburgh

The Panthers, 6-0 for the first time since 1982, begin a challenging back-end game with a home game Thursday against Syracuse. Pitt’s defense has played at a high level, averaging three sacks per game. RB Desmond Reid was a dynamic offensive weapon. QB Eli Holstein looks to bounce back after a poor performance against California.

No. 25 Vanderbilt

The Commodores are back in the standings for the first time since the final poll of the 2013 season and are on their first three-game winning streak since 2017. New Mexico State transfer QB Diego Pavia has sparked an offense that is on pace to set a program record for scoring average with 33 points per game. Vanderbilt hosts No. 5 Texas this week.

Extra points

Oregon joins Ohio State or Michigan as the first Big Ten team to be ranked No. 1 since Penn State held the spot in October 1997. … Texas’ 30-15 loss to Georgia was the most lopsided home loss by a No. 1 team since unranked Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh 31-16 in 1982. The Longhorns’ last home loss as the top-ranked team was against Arkansas in 1964. … At No. 13, Indiana has its highest ranking since No. 12 in the last 2020 poll. The Hoosiers made it all the way to No. 7 this year. Excluding the pandemic season, Indiana has its highest ranking since No. 11 in October 1987.

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