Week 9 shook up the AP Top 25 in a big way, and the biggest jolt came from Columbus. Ohio State’s road loss to USC sent the Buckeyes tumbling and forced a major rethink at the top of the poll, while seven ranked teams went down overall and the bottom half of the rankings is set for plenty of movement.
The most dramatic shift is at No. 11, where Ohio State drops all the way from No. 2 after losing to an unranked USC team. The Buckeyes’ defeat, combined with the earlier loss to Texas, leaves their playoff path looking shaky. Luke Fahey wasn’t the only reason they fell at USC, either; the defense also took a heavy share of the blame, and the Sayin-less offense never found its footing.
That loss opened the door for USC, which should surge into the rankings at No. 18 after beating Ohio State by a solid margin. The Trojans’ win is the kind of result that catches AP voters’ attention and should matter to playoff selectors, too.
At the top, Miami stays put at No. 1 despite some defensive concerns after giving up a couple of leads to North Carolina on the road. The Hurricanes still found a way to finish the job, getting a key late fumble recovery before icing the game to remain unbeaten.
Georgia moves up to No. 2 after handling Florida, while Notre Dame slides to No. 3, Utah rises to No. 4, and Indiana drops to No.
Georgia’s climb comes after its front line shut down Florida’s shaky rushing attack. The Bulldogs didn’t need much offense to get the win, and the result handed Florida a third loss while keeping Georgia from taking a second.
Utah also made a strong statement, piling up 42 first-half points in a road win that quieted any talk of Cincinnati pulling another upset against a Big 12 contender. The Utes now sit in first place in the conference and head into a crucial Holy War matchup with BYU.
Indiana’s ranking takes a hit after a tense overtime win over Minnesota. The Hoosiers changed quarterbacks this week, but the offense still spent too much time stuck in neutral before doing enough to escape a Big Ten grinder. AP voters could easily punish them for the overall shape of the resume.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, did what it was expected to do against Navy, but the real pressure comes next week against Miami. A loss there would leave the Irish’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread after the earlier setback at BYU.
BYU moves up to No. 7 after surviving Arizona State in a game that got tighter than expected late. UCLA climbs to No. 6 after a 27-0 win over Nevada, staying unbeaten and setting up a trip to Minnesota.
Texas enters at No. 10 after Arch Manning played turnover-free football in a comfortable win over Mississippi State. Alabama, idle in Week 9, sits at No. 9 and heads to LSU next in a matchup that could wreck its playoff hopes. Kentucky remains at No. 8, still in first place in the SEC, with Tennessee coming up next.
Elsewhere in the top 25, Wake Forest jumps to No. 14 after crushing Virginia 51-7, giving the Demon Deacons second place in the ACC and 92 combined points over their last two games. Texas Tech stays at No. 13 after edging Arizona, while Ole Miss holds at No. 12 after a strong second half against Auburn.
Missouri moves to No. 20 after taking care of Arkansas, and Boise State falls to No. 19 despite surviving a furious Texas State rally. The Broncos gave up 36 unanswered points, lost their quarterback to injury, then watched the backup lead two late touchdown drives to escape with a 46-45 win. Their pass defense remains a concern, with nine plays of 50-plus yards allowed this season.
Houston checks in at No. 17 after sitting out the weekend, with Tennessee at No. 16 and LSU at No. 15 both idle as well. Florida lands at No.
25, Arizona at No. 24, New Mexico at No.
23, South Carolina at No. 22 and Iowa at No. 21 in the projected poll.
Florida may hang on despite the loss to Georgia because of its wins over ranked Texas and Ole Miss. Arizona’s close loss at Texas Tech could be enough to keep the Wildcats in for another week.
New Mexico, now 7-1, should finally move into the rankings after drawing 41 votes last week. South Carolina has won three straight, including two against ranked teams, and followed a one-point loss to Kentucky by pounding Oklahoma on the road.
Iowa should also return after shutting out Wisconsin, the No. 25 team last week.
The teams dropping out are SMU, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin.
In Other News...
BYU Win Over Arizona State Just Sparked A Big 12 Debate
The Big 12s acknowledgment of an officiating error in BYUs 27-20 win over Arizona State has added a fresh layer to a game that already carried plenty of weight in the conference race. The issue centered on a fumble recovery that was incorrectly ruled a touchdown, a call that immediately shifted the tone of the matchup and left one side feeling as if the moment had been decided on the spot.
For BYU, the result still stands, but the debate around how the play should have been handled is impossible to ignore because the awarded points matched the final margin. The correct ruling would have given the Cougars possession where the fumble was recovered, not a touchdown, and that distinction has turned a hard-fought win into one of the more talked-about officiating controversies in the Big 12 this season. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Win Draws Fresh Scrutiny After Another Big 12 Admission
The Big 12s latest officiating admission has put BYU back in an uncomfortable spotlight, this time over a touchdown in the win against Arizona State that the league says should never have counted. The conference said running back Sione Moas score was the result of an error, and the proper ruling should have left BYU with possession at the two-yard line instead.
For a program already dealing with the lingering frustration from a timing mistake in the Notre Dame game two weeks earlier, the back-to-back acknowledgments only deepen the sense that the Cougars have been on the wrong end of some major calls. BYU still has the victory in hand, but the latest statement adds another layer to a season in which the conversation around the team has too often drifted from the field to the replay booth. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Beat Arizona State But Utah Concerns Just Got Harder To Ignore
BYU got the result it needed against Arizona State, but the way it got there did little to quiet the questions around this team. The Cougars won 27-20 in a game that featured an early turnover, a quick touchdown off that takeaway and enough timely fourth-quarter plays to finish the job, yet the offense never looked fully comfortable for long stretches. The run game was especially sluggish, and the third quarter offered little relief as BYU spent much of the afternoon fighting for rhythm.
For a team still trying to sort out how sturdy it really is, the win came with some familiar warning signs attached. BYUs defense created an early edge, but it also had to absorb enough pressure to keep the game tight, and the offensive inconsistency left the Cougars leaning on situational execution instead of control. The victory counts, of course, but it also leaves the bigger concern hanging around as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]