Polls Shift: Texas Tech, Indiana Rise

Western Michigan is No. 1 in the first 2025–26 USCHO college‑hockey poll, with Michigan and Michigan State also inside the top 12. Indiana’s 63–10 win over then‑No. 9 Illinois vaulted the Hoosiers to No. 11 in the latest AP poll and pushed them into legitimate College Football Playoff conversation; Indiana is 4‑0. Texas Tech’s 34–10 road victory at No. 16 Utah moved the Red Raiders to 4‑0 and into the top 15 of national polls (as high as No. 12 AP and No. 14 coaches), their best ranking since 2013, and they will travel to Houston after the bye. Analysts say some early marquee wins are being re-evaluated — Ohio State’s opener over Texas and LSU’s nonconference resume have lost value as those opponents have struggled — complicating resume assessment. Louisville picked up votes after a 40–17 win over Bowling Green, and overall early-season polls and power rankings are shifting quickly as signature wins, opponent performance and recruiting momentum reshape perceptions heading into conference play.