Washington Huskies fans finally got something they've been asking for all season long: a spot the AP Poll's top-25 ranking. But like always with college football rankings, there’s still something to be mad about.
This time it's about the inclusion of a certain SEC team on the AP Poll, one that happens to be ranked one spot above Washington. Husky fans, along with fans and analysts across all of college football, are befuddled about how the Tennessee Volunteers get to have the No. 23 next to their name.
Tennessee has three losses and has not beaten a single team with a winning record.
— Spencer Holbrook (@SpencerHolbrook) November 2, 2025
They’re ranked No. 23 in the AP Poll. pic.twitter.com/8xjH1I8PCZ
As the above X post alludes to, Tennessee now has three losses on its 2025 resume after falling to No. 18 Oklahoma 33-27 at home. Tennessee was ranked No. 14 heading into the game. Now, the Volunteers are the only team on the AP Poll that has as many as three losses.
All three of those losses came to SEC ranked opponents: Alabama, Georgia, and now Oklahoma. However, even that fact holds zero weight when comparing them to Washington, whose only losses are to No. 1 Ohio State and No. 21 Michigan. Even 6-2 Iowa, the first team left off the ballot, has more impressive losses than Tennessee.
Additionally, Tennessee's premier win of 2025 was an overtime win against Mississippi State, who is currently just 5-4 and has never been ranked this season. Opponents who the Volunteers have beaten this season have combined for just a 20-32 record. Even tossing in those games against Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma, Tennessee has just the 29th-best strength of record in the country -- below teams ranked below it like Washington, Iowa, and Cincinnati.
Find someone who loves you the way AP voters absolutely adore Tennessee.
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) November 2, 2025
3 losses, lost to every ranked team they played, lost twice at home, best win is 5-4 Miss State in OT.
There’s one reason and one reason only they’re still ranked. pic.twitter.com/gvL0Kadl96
Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when voters make a decision like this one is SEC bias. Even a conference like the Big Ten, who boasts the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 6 teams in the nation, has to deal with the perception that anything outside of the SEC is a tier below.
Tennessee is 6-3 and their best win over 5-4 Mississippi State. They are ranked 23.
— Underwood Unleashed (@Underwood_szn) November 2, 2025
Iowa is 6-2 and their best win over 6-3 Minnesota they are unranked.
THAT IS SEC BIAS https://t.co/0T9mU3g42t
It's a frustrating thing teams like the Huskies have dealt with for years now, but has arguably become most egregious this season. But of course, complaining about it is unlikely to change anything, so Washington will have to continue to just let the play on the field do the talking. If the Huskies can win out to be 10-2 by season's end, their resume should be undeniable.