UCLA, USC climb in AP Top 25 as playoff hopes and title odds improve

LOS ANGELES — UCLA and USC are both making late-season pushes toward the College Football Playoff, and the latest Associated Press Top 25 and national championship odds suggest both Los Angeles programs have a real chance to contend for a national title.

UCLA climbed two spots to No. 5 in the AP poll Sunday after improving to 8-0, and USC returned to the rankings at No. 18 at 7-2. Both teams' title odds improved after a wild Week 9 that included Ohio State's loss to USC and a shakeup among the nation's top contenders.

At BetOnline Sports & Casino, USC's odds to win the national championship improved from 150/1 to 50/1, the biggest jump of any team. UCLA's odds shortened from 75/1 to 55/1.

The Trojans' remaining schedule includes Indiana, Maryland and UCLA, giving them a chance to build their playoff resume against No. 6 Indiana and No. 5 UCLA.

USC's margin for error is much smaller than undefeated UCLA's. With two losses, the Trojans likely need to win out to put themselves in the best position for an at-large berth. Wins over Indiana and UCLA would give them two victories over top-six teams and could reshape the playoff conversation.

UCLA has been one of the biggest surprises of the season. The Bruins are one of three undefeated teams in the top five, along with No. 1 Miami and No. 3 Utah, and their rise from No. 7 to No. 5 puts them firmly in the national championship discussion.

Oddsmakers are less convinced than the voters. Despite UCLA's No. 5 ranking, at least 10 teams have shorter title odds at BetOnline, including USC, a gap that reflects how the betting market weighs a team's chances of surviving the expanded playoff, not just its current ranking.

A UCLA-USC rivalry game with playoff implications for both would add another layer to the final stretch. A win could strengthen one team's position and damage the other's chances of reaching the 12-team field.

The biggest shakeup in the rankings came after Ohio State fell from No. 2 to No. 11. The Buckeyes, among the national championship favorites, have seen their outlook change with quarterback Julian Sayin out for the season.

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, who caught 10 passes for 83 yards against USC, also lost his spot as the Heisman Trophy betting favorite. Darian Mensah moved into the top spot in BetOnline's latest Heisman odds, and Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr improved from 18/1 to 12/1.

Miami remained No. 1 in the AP poll after improving to 8-0 and received 62 first-place votes. Georgia moved up one spot to No. 2 with seven first-place votes, and Utah jumped three spots to No. 3 with the other first-place vote. Notre Dame climbed to No. 4, followed by UCLA, Indiana, BYU, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas.

USC, Iowa, New Mexico and South Carolina were the new arrivals in the Top 25.

Georgia is now the national championship favorite at 7/2 (+350), followed by Notre Dame at 19/4 (+475). Miami is third at 6/1, and LSU and Ohio State are tied at 9/1. Alabama is at 19/2 (+950), Indiana at 10/1, Texas at 12/1 and Ole Miss at 16/1.

Utah, undefeated and third in the AP poll, is listed at 38/1, another example of the gap between the poll and the betting market.

Other programs went the other way. Oklahoma, previously listed at 25/1, dropped off the board entirely, and Auburn, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oregon and Wisconsin were also removed. SMU's odds lengthened dramatically.

It sets up a compelling November in Los Angeles. UCLA can protect its undefeated record and strengthen its case as one of the nation's elite teams, and USC can play its way into the playoff picture with wins over highly ranked opponents. With the expanded playoff offering a path to the title without an unbeaten regular season, Los Angeles has two ranked teams with a real chance to make a run.