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...
Tennessee Just Got A Chance To Reset Everything Against Kentucky
Tennessee heads into its bye week with a 6-2 record and a little more breathing room after moving up one spot to No. 16 in the Coaches Poll. The timing gives Josh Heupel and his staff a chance to slow things down, clean up the details and refocus on the fundamentals before the stretch run, with the Vols still very much in the mix for a meaningful finish.
The next big test is already sitting on the other side of the break, with Kentucky coming to Neyland Stadium for a 6:15 p.m. ET kickoff in a game that carries College Football Playoff implications. For Tennessee, the week off is less about rest than reset, a chance to sharpen up before a rivalry matchup that could shape how the season is judged from here. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Defensive Chess Match That Could Swing Saturday
Saturday brings a familiar kind of stress test for Tennessee, one that lives as much in the film room as it does on the field. Kentuckys offense will be guided by Will Stein, while the other side of the matchup belongs to Jim Knowles, whose defenses have already built a reputation for making even well-schemed attacks work harder than they want to. For Tennessee, it is the sort of coordinator-versus-coordinator battle that can quietly shape the whole afternoon.
Stein has already seen what Knowles can do up close, and he did not downplay the challenge of preparing for him. His 2024 meetings against Knowles Ohio State defense, both in the regular season and the playoff, offered a clear reminder of how quickly a game plan can get squeezed when the structure on the other sideline is sound. Tennessee will be watching closely, because this is the kind of chess match that can decide whether an offense finds rhythm or spends the day chasing it. [Read more 🡒]
Two Former Vols Add Extra Tension To Tennessees Kentucky Showdown
Saturday nights meeting with Kentucky already carries the usual SEC edge, and now there is a little more familiarity mixed into the rivalry. Tennessee will see two former Vols on the other sideline in Knoxville, with offensive linemen Lance Heard and Max Anderson making their return after transferring to Kentucky this offseason. Heard has settled in as the Wildcats starting left tackle and has started all eight games this season, while Anderson is part of the depth behind him.
For Tennessee, it adds another layer to a game that already matters plenty in the standings and in-state atmosphere around Neyland Stadium. The matchup is set for 6:15 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN, giving the Vols a chance to handle a familiar opponent while also facing a pair of players who know the program from the inside. [Read more 🡒]