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...
Ole Miss Just Landed In The Arch Manning Rumor Storm
Arch Mannings name is suddenly back in the transfer conversation after a difficult 2026 season at Texas, and the rumor mill has quickly widened beyond Austin. Former ESPN analyst David Pollack said an SEC coach floated the idea that Manning could leave the Longhorns, with Georgia mentioned as one possible landing spot, while other insiders have pointed to Ole Miss as another program worth watching. For Rebels fans, the connection is obvious enough to stir interest, given the family ties and the programs long history of chasing big quarterback headlines.
For now, though, Manning has not said anything publicly about the speculation and remains committed to Texas. Still, the fact that Ole Miss is being mentioned at all speaks to how quickly a quarterback situation can turn into a national storyline, especially when a name as recognizable as Mannings starts drifting into the rumor storm. Whether this is the start of something real or just offseason noise, it is the kind of chatter that will keep the Rebels in the frame until there is a clearer answer. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Suddenly Has A Linebacker Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Ole Miss had to navigate part of its Auburn game without Luke Ferrelli after the linebacker exited early and did not return for the second half because of an unspecified injury. His absence was notable not just because he had been listed as probable on the availability report before being removed, but because he has become one of the more closely watched pieces of Pete Goldings defense.
Ferrellis situation also sits against a noisy backdrop that has followed him since his transfer, with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney publicly accusing Ole Miss and Golding of tampering and an NCAA investigation still ongoing. For Rebels fans, the immediate concern is obvious enough: a linebacker room already under a spotlight now has another health question hanging over it, and the timing only adds to the unease. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Has A New Backfield Name Fans Need To Know
The Rebels have been leaning harder on Shekai Mills-Knight lately, and the sophomore has started to make his presence felt. With Kewan Lacy sidelined by injury, Mills-Knight got a bigger slice of the workload against Auburn and made the most of it, piling up a career-high 55 rushing yards and finding the end zone in the first half.
For Ole Miss, it is another reminder that the backfield depth matters as the season wears on. Mills-Knight, a Montreal native who starred at Baylor School in Tennessee and arrived as a four-star recruit in the 2025 class, has given the offense a useful spark while the Rebels wait for Lacy to return, and his emergence adds another name fans will want to keep in mind. [Read more 🡒]