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...
Notre Dames Rome Opener Put One Irish Freshman Under The Spotlight
Notre Dames season opened in memorable fashion in Rome, where the Irish edged Villanova 74-72 and got an early look at how their new pieces might fit together. Shrewsberry led the way with 15 points, Koehler added 16 points and made key defensive plays, and the game had the feel of a showcase from the start, with the Irish already drawing attention for how they handled a high-level opponent on a stage far from South Bend.
The biggest spotlight, though, landed on freshman Luigi Suigo, whose college debut came with plenty of eyes on him because of his NBA draft potential. He finished with seven points, a modest start by the box score but still a meaningful first step for a player viewed as a possible first-round pick. Villanovas Perkins scored 18 points in the loss, but for Notre Dame, the opener was as much about seeing how Suigo settles in as it was about starting the year with a win. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Gets A Real Opening Against No. 1 Miami
Miamis defense is under the microscope heading into a trip to South Bend, and Mario Cristobal made it clear the Hurricanes know why. After a shaky showing against North Carolina, he pointed to tackling and finishing plays as issues that have to be cleaned up fast, especially with Notre Dame waiting and a quarterback in CJ Carr who can make defenses pay when they lose contain.
For the Irish, that kind of self-scout from the No. 1 team is exactly the opening this matchup seemed to promise. South Bend will get a heavyweight game with real stakes, and Notre Dames offense now has a chance to test a Miami defense that is being asked to sharpen its execution and communication in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Is Running Thin At The Worst Possible Time
Notre Dames defense took another hit in the Navy game, and the timing could hardly be worse with Miami looming. Linebacker Drayk Bowen and defensive tackles Jason Onye and Francis Brewu were among the players injured, adding to a unit that has already been stretched by earlier setbacks this season.
The Irish have not offered specific recovery timelines, leaving their status for the Miami matchup uncertain and the depth chart in a familiar state of flux. For a defense already trying to patch together answers, every new injury narrows the margin for error and makes the next week feel even more important. [Read more 🡒]