College football rankings: Week 7, 2022

By Brian Wilmer -

College football rankings for week 7 of the 2022 season have been released, which features seven new teams in the polls. There is also a team in its first-ever Top 25.

James Madison, who is in its first year of FBS play and off to a 5-0 start, entered the AP Poll at the 25th spot following a 42-20 victory over Arkansas State Saturday. The Dukes finished just shy of qualifying for the Coaches Poll, receiving 70 votes.

The 6-0 Georgia Bulldogs reclaimed the top spot in the AP Poll after defeating the Auburn Tigers, 42-10, in Sanford Stadium. Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 in the AP Poll after surviving a final-seconds passing attempt by the Texas A&M Aggies, 24-20, in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide kept the top spot in the Coaches Poll, however, claiming 35 first-place votes.

The UCLA Bruins vaulted seven spots to 11th in the AP Poll after a 42-32 decision over now-20th Utah. The Bruins made a similar seven-spot climb in the Coaches Poll to reach No. 12.

Mississippi State also leapt seven notches in the AP Poll after a 40-17 blowout of Arkansas in Starkville. The Texas Longhorns re-entered both polls off a 49-0 drubbing of Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout, reaching the 22nd spot in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll.

BYU and Washington fell out of both polls this week. Additionally, LSU dropped from the AP Poll and Arkansas exited the Coaches Poll.

Below are the full AP and FBS Coaches polls for Week 7 of the 2022 season (first-place votes in parentheses):

AP Poll – Week 7

1. Georgia (32)
2. Ohio State (20)
3. Alabama (11)
4. Clemson
5. Michigan
6. Tennessee
7. USC
8. Oklahoma State
9. Ole Miss
10. Penn State
11. UCLA
12. Oregon
13. TCU
14. Wake Forest
15. NC State
16. Mississippi State
17. Kansas State
18. Syracuse
19. Kansas
20. Utah
21. Cincinnati
22. Kentucky
23. Texas
24. Illinois
25. James Madison

Others receiving votes: North Carolina 98, Baylor 91, Coastal Carolina 61, BYU 61, Notre Dame 58, Florida 56, Tulane 42, Purdue 34, Florida State 18, South Carolina 12, Washington State 10, Minnesota 5, Maryland 4, LSU 4, San Jose State 1

Dropped from rankings: BYU 16, Washington 21, LSU 25

FBS COACHES POLL – WEEK 7

1. Alabama (35)
2. Georgia (18)
3. Ohio State (10)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. USC
7. Oklahoma State
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Penn State
11. Oregon
12. UCLA
13. NC State
14. Wake Forest
15. TCU
16. Kansas State
17. Mississippi State
18. Syracuse
19. Utah
20. Kansas
21. Cincinnati
22. Kentucky
23. Baylor
24. Texas
25. North Carolina

Others receiving votes: BYU 82, Illinois 77, James Madison 70, Coastal Carolina 55, Florida 52, Tulane 32, South Carolina 21, Minnesota 14, Notre Dame 13, UCF 10, Maryland 8, Washington State 7, Washington 7, Texas A&M 7, Purdue 7, Louisiana State 5, Liberty 5, Florida State 4, Pitt 2, San Jose State 1

Dropped from rankings: BYU 16, Washington 24, Arkansas 25

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – Week 7

1. North Dakota State (41)
2. South Dakota State (7)
3. Montana (7)
4. Montana State
5. Sacramento State
6. Weber State
7. Holy Cross
T-8. Jackson State
T-8. UIW
10. Chattanooga
11. William & Mary
12. Mercer
13. Delaware
14. Elon
15. Samford
16. Southern Illinois
17. Villanova
18. Southeast Missouri
19. UT Martin
20. North Dakota
21. Richmond
22. Fordham
23. Eastern Kentucky
24. Austin Peay
T-25. Rhode Island
T-25. Southeastern Louisiana

Others receiving votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): New Hampshire 66, Idaho 48, Furman 41, Missouri State 39, Stephen F. Austin 31, Monmouth, 28 Illinois State 15, Campbell 13, Eastern Washington 11, Princeton 8, North Carolina Central 5, Penn 4, Abilene Christian 3

Dropped from rankings: Missouri State 20, Eastern Washington 24

FCS Coaches Poll – Week 7

1. North Dakota State (23)
2. Montana (3)
3. South Dakota State
4. Montana St.
5. Sacramento St.
6. Weber St.
7. Jackson St.
8. Holy Cross
9. Chattanooga
10. UIW
11. Mercer
12. Delaware
13. William & Mary
14. UT Martin
15. Samford
16. Villanova
17. Fordham
18. Elon
19. Southern Illinois
20. Stephen F. Austin
21. Southeast Missouri St.
22. Rhode Island
23. Princeton
24. Austin Peay
25. Richmond

Others receiving votes: Eastern Kentucky 19, North Dakota 19, North Carolina Central 17, Penn 16, Tarleton 16, Furman 15, Monmouth 12, New Hampshire 9, Southeastern Louisiana 9, Idaho 8, Florida A&M 6, Eastern Washington 5, Abilene Christian 4, Davidson 4, Missouri St. 2, St. Thomas 1, Stetson 1

Dropped from rankings: Missouri State, Southeastern Louisiana 20, Eastern Washington 21