AP Top 25: After Week 9

With the first College Football Playoff rankings set to be unveiled Tuesday night, this week’s AP Top 25 only gets about two days of relevance before it’s completely cast aside by media and fans. Still, it’s fun to see how things changed with a handful of upsets on Saturday. Let’s dive in.

AP Top 25

1. Miami (FL) (62 first place votes)
2. Georgia (7)
3. Utah (1)
4. Notre Dame
5. UCLA
6. Indiana
7. BYU
8. Kentucky
9. Alabama
10. Texas
11. Ohio State
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
16. Tennessee
17. Houston
18. USC
19. Missouri
20. Boise State
21. Iowa
22. New Mexico
23. South Carolina
24. Arizona
25. Florida

Where is UNC?

A near upset of top-ranked Miami wasn’t enough to get the Tar Heels any votes. Maybe if they had been able to finish the job…

Biggest Winners

Missouri had the biggest jump within the poll, rising four spots to #19 after a 34-10 win at Arkansas. Utah jumped three spots to #3 after a 49-25 win at Cincinnati – matching its highest ranking since 2015 – and UCLA moved up two spots to #5 after a 27-0 win over Nevada. It’s the Bruins’ highest ranking since 2001.

New Mexico entered the rankings for the first time in its 135-year history at #22 after improving to 7-1 with a 21-16 win at San Jose State. Immediately behind the Lobos, South Carolina entered the rankings for the first time this season at #23. The Gamecocks improved to 5-3 with a 42-25 win at Oklahoma.

USC and Iowa returned to the top 25 at #18 and #21 respectively. The Trojans beat then-#2 Ohio State (which was missing starting quarterback Julian Sayin) 30-18, while the Hawkeyes rolled then-#25 Wisconsin 30-0.

Biggest Losers

The loss at USC sent Ohio State tumbling nine spots to #11, the biggest drop within the poll. It’s the first time the Buckeyes have been ranked outside the top 10 since September 2021. Florida also had a major slide, dropping eight spots to #25 after a 27-8 loss to then-#3 Georgia in Atlanta.

In addition to Wisconsin, SMU (previously #19), Northwestern (previously #20), and Oklahoma State (previously #24) dropped out of the poll after losing to unranked opponents. The Mustangs lost 30-27 at Syracuse on a last-minute touchdown, the Wildcats lost 34-26 at Oregon after leading 20-6 at one point, and the Cowboys lost 51-49 at Iowa State on a walk-off field goal. Northwestern is now the unofficial #26, SMU the unofficial #29, Oklahoma State received just three voting points, and Wisconsin did not appear on any ballots.

Conference Breakdown

• SEC: 10
• Big Ten: 5
• Big 12: 5
• ACC: 2
• Pac-12: 1
• Mountain West: 1
• Independent: 1

Marquee Matchups This Week

• #7 BYU (7-1) at #3 Utah (8-0) – Saturday at 12:00 PM ET on ABC
• #10 Texas (6-2) at #19 Missouri (6-2) – Saturday at 12:00 PM ET on ESPN
• #9 Alabama (6-2) at #15 LSU (6-2) – Saturday at 3:30 PM ET on ABC
• #8 Kentucky (7-1) at #16 Tennessee (6-2) – Saturday at 6:15 PM ET on ESPN
• #1 Miami (FL) (8-0) at #4 Notre Dame (7-1) – Saturday at 7:30 PM ET on NBC
• #2 Georgia (7-1) at #12 Ole Miss (6-2) – Saturday at 7:30 PM ET on ABC

Upset Watch?

• #5 UCLA (8-0) at Minnesota (5-3) – Saturday at 12:00 PM ET on FOX
• #21 Iowa (6-2) at Northwestern (6-2) – Saturday at 7:30 PM ET on FOX

Coaches Poll

1. Miami (FL) (68 first place votes)
2. Georgia (4)
3. Indiana
4. Utah
5. UCLA
6. Notre Dame
7. Kentucky (1)
8. BYU
9. Alabama
10. Ohio State
11. Texas
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
16. Tennessee
17. USC
18. Houston
19. Missouri
20. Iowa
21. Boise State
22. Arizona
23. Northwestern
24. SMU
25. New Mexico