AP Top 25 live updates: Ohio State falls out of top 10, UCLA cracks Top 5
Miami dug deep to hold off North Carolina and keep its status as No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the third consecutive week. Ohio State wasn’t as fortunate, dropping nine spots to No. 11 after losing to USC in the biggest upset of the week.
Florida also took a big fall, landing at No. 25 after a 28-7 loss to Georgia.
The Trojans were one of four newcomers this week alongside Iowa, South Carolina and New Mexico. It’s the first AP Top 25 appearance in program history for the Lobos.
Northwestern, SMU, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin are out after Week 9 losses.
And this poll could set the table for the initial College Football Playoff rankings coming out Tuesday night.
If anyone is going to ruin what looks like Miami’s clear path to the ACC title, maybe it’s No. 14 Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons are on a five-game winning streak and have won the five games by an average of 43-12.
Quarterback Gio Lopez, who came to Winston-Salem from North Carolina, has thrown for 2,176 yards, 18 touchdowns and only one interception this year.
Now, to those who say “Wake Forest hasn’t played anyone,” well, you’re right. None of their seven wins are against a team currently in the Top 25. Their only loss: a 33-20 setback to Miami in September.
If they can beat SMU, Georgia Tech and Duke this month, they could get a rematch in the ACC title game.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
Yes. The great folks at The AP constantly remind us that we should feel free to make changes in the ballot each week. Often, when one team is listed second and No. 1 loses, then Team 2 moves up. But not always. If it happens -- and it might -- I will spend Saturday night taking an even deeper dive into the teams. The difference between the top five is tiny. I can imagine moving Utah to No. 1.
___ Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. You can follow him on X @ BobAsmussen.
By EDDIE PELLS
Among next week’s biggest games:
—It all starts with No. 1 Miami at No. 5 Notre Dame. The undefeated Hurricanes are playing for seeding at this point and what a statement a win in South Bend would be. But nothing is locked in for the Irish, who already have a loss and whose schedule doesn’t present opportunities for marquee wins the rest of the way.
—No. 7 BYU at No. 3 Utah in the game called “The Holy War” is also on tap. Winner gets an all-important tiebreaker edge in what’s looking like a three-team battle for two spots in the Big 12 title game. For undefeated Utah, a win could all but clinch a spot.
—No. 8 Kentucky at No. 16 Tennessee: Kentucky, riding a six-game winning streak, has an inside path to make its first-ever SEC title game (in what could be the last-ever playing of the contest).
Enjoy it while it lasts. A storied rivalry between former coach Nick Saban’s last two teams -- LSU and Alabama -- resumes next Saturday when the ninth-ranked Tide visits No. 15 LSU.
But next season, the teams won’t face each other in the regular season, marking the first time that’s happened since 1963.
It’s a result of the SEC’s new scheduling formula in a league that now consists of 16 teams. The new schedule keeps a lot of rivalries going every year -- think, Bama-Tennessee and Georgia-Florida -- but it had to sacrifice a few along the way.
Bama and LSU play again in 2028.
Both teams already have two losses, so the loser this year could be in trouble.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
The brand. There is no bigger name in the sport than Notre Dame. I’m not saying whether it is right or wrong. It just is.
I was not happy when the CFP agreed to let Notre Dame in, starting this season, if it reached the CFP top 12. That is an advantage no other school has, period. Good for Notre Dame but not for the sport.
The school knows it has special powers and uses them. Because I cover the Big Ten, I have always hoped Notre Dame would someday join the league. But if it has automatic access to the CFP, why would it join?
Please don’t take this as criticism of Notre Dame, a wonderful program with a great history and tradition. The current staff with Marcus Freeman in charge is outstanding. Most schools are willing to play Notre Dame. I wish the Irish would ask and beef up their schedule.
By EDDIE PELLS
To think, both USC and South Carolina’s coaches were on the proverbial hot seat as recently as last week. Now, they’re back in the Top 25.
When South Carolina lost three straight to open its conference slate, coach Shane Beamer’s SEC losing streak extended to eight games and the large buyout on his contract looked like his best form of job security.
Since then, the Gamecocks have beaten Florida, Tennessee and, on Saturday, Oklahoma. South Carolina is in the poll for the first time this year — at No. 23 — and Beamer appears closer to a longshot CFP bid than unemployment.
At USC, Lincoln Riley’s big win over Ohio State should calm some talk about the wisdom of the Trojans bringing him on for a 10-year, $110 million deal back in 2021.
The 18th-ranked Trojans head into November at 7-2 and with games against two of the three teams ahead of them (Indiana, UCLA) still on the schedule.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
I live in a city with three large high schools. We cover all three programs the same way. but they are all convinced the others are getting an edge. Same with this question. It is all about your perspective. If your team is in the SEC, of course you think the league is the best. And if you support another league, it it easy to think your teams are hurt by the SEC dominance.
To me, it is all about the current performance of the programs. It doesn’t matter to me what the SEC was 20 years or a year ago. What are the teams doing now?
I figure some count on the Big Ten getting a break because of its recent success, but with me at least, the conference isn’t a factor. It is how you play against your schedule. Period.
AP voters work with programs in every conference. I can speak only for myself, but Illinois gets no favors from me. Ask the Illinois coaches and they will agree. We are literally calling balls and strikes without the benefit of the ABS.
By BOB ASMUSSEN.
Memphis is on “also consider” list. I have a friend who is a huge supporter of the program and is always telling me about the Tigers. Games against Boise State and Tulane provided a chance for the Tigers to move to the top of the G6. If Memphis gets to nine or 10 wins, there is a good chance it moves onto my ballot at some point.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
Pretty simple, conference affiliation. UCLA is undefeated in the Big Ten. The Big Ten has won the last three CFP titles.
The Bruins can’t control the order of their games in the Big Ten. At the start of the season, the game against Oregon looked like a huge challenge. But the Ducks aren’t what we thought they’d be.
UCLA’s games against Minnesota, Illinois and Southern Cal are all harder than they were a week ago because those teams are playing well. Minnesota lost in overtime to Indiana, Illinois has won three in a row and USC just knocked off Ohio State.
Texas has two of the best losses in the country. But, they are also two losses.
By EDDIE PELLS
Well, hello there Lobos! New Mexico is in the Top 25 for the first time ever.
Coach Jason Eck’s team moved into the poll at No. 22 after improving its record to 7-1 with a 21-16 win over San Jose State.
The Lobos, who play across the street from The Pit, the home of the more-renowned basketball team at UNM, are a top contender for the Group of Six playoff spot along with Boise State, which stayed at No. 20.
Good news for New Mexico: The remaining schedule is not hard — ranked 104th in the nation.
A warning sign: QB Toa Fa’avae has thrown six picks and the Lobos have only scored 21 points in each of their last three victories.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
I get asked that all the time. If I remember, the AP poll wanted out of the business of deciding who played for the title. I agreed with the decision. Reporters aren’t supposed to make the news.
If the CFP panel uses the AP poll as a guide, I am cool with that. It is another tool. For several cycles, the CFP has included a retired journalist so there is some representation.
I strongly believe the public feels the AP poll influences the CFP. And that helps explain the reaction we get from the public when it thinks are ballots are squirrely. I take in the criticism, but don’t allow it to sway my votes.
By EDDIE PELLS
A postgame question to Georgia coach Kirby Smart about the “carnage” witnessed in the SEC this year elicited a thoughtful response on a number of topics, all of which could impact the way the rest of the season plays out.
“Everybody’s practicing less, but everybody’s getting injured more. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
He brought up roster limits — team sizes are capped at 105 players now, whereas they used to be allowed to carry between 120 and 150 players.
“People’s depth is going to show up and people are going to have to make a choice of how you want to practice,” Smart said. “Do you want to practice at all, or do you just want to save everybody?”
And Smart, not a fan of the six and seven-figure salaries that now define college sports, also spoke about that.
“They were definitely hungrier (a few years ago), because there was motivation to make it,” he said. “A lot of these guys make more than I made ’til I was 40. It’s just a different day and age.”
By BOB ASMUSSEN
I’ll be honest about this week’s ballot: I was running out of ranking-worthy teams. I had my eyes on a few that did not come through, like Oregon State, that I would have considered for the Top 25.
I had just seen Oregon play against Illinois and lose with a poor showing on offense. The team changed coordinators and beat Northwestern, which I consider a solid win. South Carolina underachieved early in the season but seems to have found itself. Florida beat top 10-level Mississippi and Texas.
By EDDIE PELLS
Ohio State tumbled in the latest AP Top 25 after a loss at USC. The Buckeyes fell nine spots to No. 11. Miami held on at No. 1 after its 38-35 win over North Carolina.
But this week’s Top 25 is a great illustration of how style points can count as much or more than wins or losses. It’s also an important reminder for football fans as they digest the poll that sets the table for the first College Football Playoff rankings, which drop on Tuesday.
Even though everyone in the Top 10 other than the Buckeyes won, Utah’s 49-25 pasting of Cincinnati clearly impressed voters most. The Utes vaulted past Notre Dame and Indiana to move up three spots to No. 3. Meanwhile, UCLA, a 27-0 winner over Nevada, moved past the Hoosiers to No. 5.
The top six now looks like: Miami, Georgia, Utah, Notre Dame, UCLA and Indiana.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
I’ve been looking forward to it all season. I wish both teams would beef up their non-conference schedules. (I do have a family interest in the game. Two of my nieces are proud Notre Dame alums. So I am always aware of where the Irish are in my rankings. Not that they would ever try to influence me.)
You have three Heisman candidates in the game. two for the Hurricanes and one for the Irish. Illinois played and beat Darian Mensah when he was at Duke. He is having a great season and should be excellent at the next level. CJ Carr has nobody helping him on offense as good as Malachi Toney, the best player this side of Jeremiah Smith.
I’m guessing Miami wins in a close game. Both teams are going to the CFP with Miami the best bet to be the top seed.
Thankfully, Illinois has a Friday night game this week so I am free to watch Miami-ND!
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
For decades, voters called, emailed and faxed their votes to the AP and ballots were tabulated by hand.
Now voting happens online, and the count is automated first before AP checks for miscues.
The poll operates on a 1-to-25-point system, with the No. 1 team receiving 25 points down to the 25th team receiving 1 point. In between, the poll lists the teams with the most points from 24 down to 2. Teams that receive votes but not enough to make the top 25 are noted separately.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
Utah is a great story with a first-year coach taking over for a legend. But the Utes have one win against a ranked team, Houston, and a mostly soft schedule otherwise.
Win against BYU this week and I might flip the teams.
Georgia has two better wins, at Alabama and against Florida, than Utah’s one.
By EDDIE PELLS
After a quiet week with Alabama, Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee all idle, the SEC still makes noise in the Top 25.
The conference leads the nation with 10 teams in the rankings, including Florida, which barely held on after its loss to Georgia; and South Carolina, which is in for the first time this season at No. 23.
The SEC’s 10 teams amount to double what the Big Ten and Big 12 have in the poll.
If the CFP selection committee buys in, it could feed into the narrative of the SEC deserving more spots despite a jumble in the standings: The league has no undefeated teams and eight with one or two losses, led by No. 3 Georgia and No. 8 Kentucky.
It’s now the College Football Playoff selection committee’s time to weigh in. Its first ranking comes out Tuesday.
If the committee were to follow the latest Top 25 to the letter (it probably won’t), here’s what the first round of the playoffs would look like:
— No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Kentucky. Winner vs. No. 1 Miami.
— No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 UCLA. Winner vs. No. 4 Notre Dame.
— No. 10 Texas at No. 7 BYU. Winner vs. No. 2 Georgia.
— No. 11 Ohio State at No. 6 Indiana. Winner vs. No. 3 Utah.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
I’ve watched on tape every Indiana game this season. The Hoosiers are not as good this year as the title team, but they look like a CFP contender. The win against Minnesota shows the brilliance of Curt Cignetti. His team looked to be toast but hit a 60-yard field goal to send the game to overtime.
To me, a win is a win. In a time when there seems to be more balance in the game, teams need to be admired for their ability to hang in there. Indiana is also a target this season unlike any other time in program history. The Hoosiers are getting everyone’s best shot.
By EDDIE PELLS
Ohio State dropped out of the first 10 slots of the AP Top 25 for the first time since Sept. 26, 2021. The longest active streak in the top 10 now belongs to Indiana — 22 weeks in a row.
Also:
—This week marks UCLA’s highest ranking since the Bruins were No. 4 on Oct. 21, 2001.
—Utah is enjoying its highest ranking in the poll since it was No. 3 on Oct. 18, 2015.
By BOB ASMUSSEN
The three undefeated teams should be in the top five. Georgia, IMHO, is the best of the one-loss teams and should be there too. Georgia’s loss to Auburn is a problem because the Tigers are struggling. Neither Miami nor UCLA have wins against great teams. But they haven’t slipped.
Indiana’s loss to Ohio State in a close game is better than BYU’s loss to UCF, which is not at the same level as losing to the Buckeyes.
Until Notre Dame beats what I think of as a top team, it will be outside the top 6 or 7. The Irish have their chance Saturday against Miami.
Alabama, Kentucky and Texas are all CFP contenders with solid resumes -- and plenty of flaws.
1. Miami (Fla.)
2. Georgia
3. Utah
4. Notre Dame
5. UCLA
6. Indiana
7. BYU
8. Kentucky
9. Alabama
10. Texas
11. Ohio State
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
16. Tennessee
17. Houston
18. USC
19. Missouri
20. Boise State
21. Iowa
22. New Mexico
23. South Carolina
24. Arizona
25. Florida
Others receiving votes: Northwestern, Oregon, UTSA, SMU, Virginia Tech Duke, Minnesota, Liberty, Oklahoma State, Louisville.
1:49 PM EST
Big 12 refs blow it again in a BYU game
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier, center, looks to pitch the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
And of course what’s a week in college football without a big ol’ officiating mistake?
The Big 12 conference said officials erred in awarding BYU a first-quarter touchdown against Arizona State. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier fumbled on a second-and-goal run from the 1. Officials blew the play dead, but teammate Sione Moa picked up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown.
After not one, but two replays, the refs awarded Moa the touchdown. The conference came out later and said it should have been BYU’s ball at the 2, where the whistle blew at the time of Moa’s recovery.
That makes it three weeks in a row that Big 12 refs have gotten something wrong in a BYU game.
1:46 PM EST
A look at Florida State’s troubles
By TIM REYNOLDS Sports writer
The heat only got hotter on embattled Florida State coach Mike Norvell after the Seminoles’ loss to Clemson on Saturday. The program has been on the skids for three years.
Some fans hired a plane to fly a banner over Doak Campbell Stadium before the game urging the school to fire Norvell.
How bad are things?
— The Seminoles have lost 23 of their last 33 games. Only 10 of the 138 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country have a worse record in that span.
— Take away three wins over lower-division Football Championship Subdivision teams in that span and Florida State is 7-23 in its last 30 games against FBS teams.
— Florida State is 4-17 since the start of 2024 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, by far the worst record in the ACC.
— The team has gone 0-8 in its last eight games against its biggest rivals.
1:46 PM EST
Swinney lashes out at banner flying amid calls for Florida State coach’s ouster
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Turns out, embattled Florida State coach Mike Norvell had at least one fan Saturday night — the coach who beat him.
Clemson’s Dabo Swinney lashed out at whoever flew an airplane over the Florida State stadium with a banner that read “Fire Novell” — not even bothering to spell the coach’s name right.
Clemson won 36-24 to drop the Seminoles to 3-5 on the season. Afterward, Swinney called the display “disrespectful” and said he was “freaking disappointed to see that.”
The loss dropped Norvell to 10-22 since the start of the 2024 season. Last week, the school president wrote an open letter to fans saying he understood their frustration and that the school was working to make things better.
1:32 PM EST
It’s a battle between an unmoving force versus a very movable object
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
You won’t find these teams anywhere near the Top 25 this week, but they were still something to behold.
The team with the nation’s worst offense (Utah State) took on the team with the nation’s worst defense (Colorado State) on Saturday. In this battle between an unmoving force and a very movable object, the offense won and the defense continued to rest.
Final: Utah State 31, CSU 14.
1:25 PM EST
Group of Six update
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen (4) scrambles away from the Texas State defense on a 6 yard touchdown run in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
New Mexico Lobos qb Toa Fa’avae (13) runs during an NCAA college football game against the San José State Spartans in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
All was not normal this weekend among the Group of Six contenders, who are guaranteed at least one spot in the playoff.
The presumed favorite, No. 20 Boise State of the Pac-12, blew a 25-point halftime lead against Texas State, only to come from behind for a 46-45 win.
Is that impressive or a major red flag?
Waiting in the wings is New Mexico of the Mountain West, which held off San Jose State 21-16 to improve to 7-1. The Lobos could break into this week’s poll.
The good news for the Lobos is that they should be favored in their last four games. The bad news: their strength of remaining schedule rates 104th in the country.
1:11 PM EST
Boston College avoids a shutout in the rarest of ways
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Here’s the weirdest score in college football on Saturday: Duke 47, Boston College 2. And that’s not even the weird part.
BC scored its only points off defensive back Carter Davis’ 100-yard return of a blocked extra point. The “defensive extra point” is one of the rarest plays in football and, in this case, the rarest of scores for the Eagles.
Despite getting steamrolled, BC is still in the hunt for a bowl bid. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak and dropped Bill O’Brien’s team to 4-4.
1:10 PM EST
Sumrall undecided on Florida’s QB
By MAURA CAREY
Florida quarterback Aaron Philo (12) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) License this photo
Florida quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. (9) looks to throw against Texas during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) License this photo
The Florida Gators made a first-half quarterback change Saturday, swapping Aaron Philo for Tramell Jones Jr. in the second quarter against Georgia.
After a 27-8 loss to the Bulldogs with a combined four turnovers between the two quarterbacks, Florida coach Jon Sumrall isn’t ready to name the team’s Week 10 starter.
“We’ll assess it as we move forward,” Sumrall said. “It’s hard to fully fairly assess either of them because I think the performance around them was not good enough by any position group on offense. I thought they both did some good things. I thought Aaron did some good things before we put Tramell in. I just wanted to see Tramell play some extended football.”
12:52 PM EST
Could a shakeup in the Heisman race be coming?
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
The race for the Heisman Trophy could be getting shaken up by a player who isn’t really even in the mix.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith came into the week as the favorite, but without injured quarterback Julian Sayin throwing to him, he had a below-average week (by his standards, at least.) He finished with 10 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown in the 30-18 loss to USC.
Smith came in averaging 140 yards a game.
Ohio State went with freshman Luke Fahey on Saturday. If Fahey or sophomore Tavien St. Clair can’t lift the Buckeyes offense to the level it was at with Sayin at the helm, it could open the Heisman door for Miami QB Darian Mensah or his top receiver, Malachi Toney.
Mensah had 274 yards and three touchdowns against Carolina, while Toney overcame a slow start to finish with nine catches for 75 yards and two scores.
12:39 PM EST
Poll predictions
By ERIC OLSON
Miami escaped North Carolina 38-35 and should hang on to the No. 1 ranking for a third straight week.
With Ohio State going down, No. 6 Utah is in line to crack the top five for the first time since 2019 by virtue of its 49-25 win over Cincinnati.
Major changes probably are coming toward the bottom of the poll. Six teams between Nos. 17 and 25 lost. Iowa, which shut out Wisconsin 30-0 at home, should return to the rankings after a one-week absence. USC also could return after its first top-five win since the 2017 Rose Bowl against Penn State and its highest-ranked win since it beat Oklahoma in the 2004 season’s national championship game.
12:29 PM EST
A Maryland student wins just by showing up
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Another under-the-radar winner Saturday was mechanical engineering major Bryce Hartle.
Who’s he?
Well, attendance-challenged Maryland football (which fired coach Mike Locksley last week) was offering free spring tuition to the winner of a raffle for students who stayed through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Big Ten showdown against Illinois.
Hartle won. Maryland lost (20-17).
And, if snapshots of the stadium at kickoff are any indication, the Terps might need to up the ante for the next game.
12:19 PM EST
UCLA is undefeated but are the Bruins for real?
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach (14) looks to throw a pass during an NCAA college football game against Nevada Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
A Power Four team quietly takes care of business and improves to 8-0 on the season in a so-called paycheck game.
Sounds like a team destined for a No. 1 or No. 2 ranking, right?
But that team is UCLA -- a program that hasn’t won 10 games since 2013 or won its conference since 1998. That makes it hard to see the Bruins more than a spot from No. 7 during a week in which Ohio State was the only team ahead of them to lose.
But what will the CFP selection committee think? Their evaluation of UCLA could be as good a sign as any as to whether they agree with the AP poll voters or are looking at completely different factors.
There’s reason for doubt: UCLA is playing without its starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. Then again, backup Ty Dieffenbach is avoiding mistakes, throwing for a modest three touchdowns since taking over in a 17-15 win over Oregon on Oct. 10.
12:09 PM EST
How will the CFP committee view Indiana with an injured QB?
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover, second from left, warms up with other quarterbacks on the team before an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Indiana squeaked out another victory this week. Its last three wins have all been fourth-quarter or overtime affairs decided by a touchdown or less. It also lost 19-15 to Ohio State.
One factor the selection committee will look at in deciding where the defending champions belong in their first rankings is the health of Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover.
Hoover came into Saturday’s game against Minnesota at less than 100% with an arm injury. He left at halftime and Indiana was nothing near dominant in getting past the Gophers 23-16 in overtime.
At 8-1, the Hoosiers still carry the resume of a top-six team into Tuesday’s bracket reveal, but the committee has the latitude to dock (or elevate) teams based on player availability.
11:57 AM EST
Big 12 gets back to ‘normal’ with wins from Utah, BYU, Texas Tech
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
All of the top four contenders in the Big 12 were in action Saturday and the results left us where we were a few weeks ago — with Utah, BYU and Texas Tech the top contenders for the title.
No. 13 Texas Tech’s 34-26 victory over No. 22 Arizona not only righted the ship in Lubbock but probably knocked the surprising Wildcats out of contention for the conference title and the automatic playoff bid that will come with it.
No. 8 BYU beat Arizona State 27-20; like the Red Raiders, the Cougars rebounded from an upset the previous week.
Utah, after beating Cincinnati to improve to 5-0 in the conference, has a one-game lead over both teams with its game against BYU — the “Holy War” — set for next Saturday.
11:47 AM EST
Halloween horrors strike lower half of the Top 25 (and No. 2 Ohio State)
By EDDIE PELLS National writer
Even a relatively calm Halloween in college football didn’t spare everyone in the upper reaches of the AP Top 25. Ohio State looks like it may be headed for a tumble.
The second-ranked Buckeyes, playing without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, fell hard at USC on Saturday, 30-18. They were the only team in the Top 10 to lose in the final week of games before the College Football Playoff releases its first ranking. That happens Tuesday.
Today, the latest Top 25 figures to be fairly stable -- quite a difference from the last two weeks, when chaos reigned from top to bottom in the poll.
This week No. 1 Miami survived a scare from coach Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, but persevered 38-35. No. 3 Georgia rolled over No. 17 Florida 27-8. No. 6 Utah and No. 7 UCLA both won to join Miami as the only remaining undefeated teams in the FBS.
Most of the turnover would likely happen toward the bottom of this week’s rankings, where six teams between No. 17 and 25 lost: Florida, No. 19 SMU, No. 20 Northwestern, No. 22 Arizona, No. 24 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Wisconsin.
11:21 AM EST Dive into the poll
Who decides the rankings?
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP Top 25 voters are writers and broadcasters who cover college football.
AP employees do not vote, but they do choose the voters, and they seek wide representation from all over the country. This season, there are 69 voters.
The focus begins with voter representation in states with a Bowl Subdivision school, and the total number of voters from each state increases with the number of FBS teams. There are also spots reserved for national voters.
The AP allows broad latitude for voters to determine their rankings. They are urged to base their votes on performance, not reputation or preseason speculation (except, of course, for the always provocative preseason poll); to avoid regional bias, for or against; to pay attention to head-to-head results; and to make significant changes if desired.
11:19 AM EST
Down goes Ohio State
By ERIC OLSON
For the fourth straight week, a No. 1 or 2 team lost to an unranked opponent, and a total of seven Top 25 teams lost in Week 9.
The biggest loss Saturday belonged to No. 2 Ohio State, which was without injured quarterback Julian Sayin and went down 30-18 at Southern California. The Buckeyes lost for the second time this season and may take a big fall.
Oregon heads to Columbus next Saturday.
11:06 AM EST Ask a question
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By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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1. Miami (Fla.)
2. Georgia
3. Utah
4. Notre Dame
5. UCLA
6. Indiana
7. BYU
8. Kentucky
9. Alabama
10. Texas
11. Ohio State
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
16. Tennessee
17. Houston
18. USC
19. Missouri
20. Boise State
21. Iowa
22. New Mexico
23. South Carolina
24. Arizona
25. Florida
Others receiving votes: Northwestern, Oregon, UTSA, SMU, Virginia Tech Duke, Minnesota, Liberty, Oklahoma State, Louisville.
By ERIC OLSON
Miami escaped North Carolina 38-35 and should hang on to the No. 1 ranking for a third straight week.
With Ohio State going down, No. 6 Utah is in line to crack the top five for the first time since 2019 by virtue of its 49-25 win over Cincinnati.
Major changes probably are coming toward the bottom of the poll. Six teams between Nos. 17 and 25 lost. Iowa, which shut out Wisconsin 30-0 at home, should return to the rankings after a one-week absence. USC also could return after its first top-five win since the 2017 Rose Bowl against Penn State and its highest-ranked win since it beat Oklahoma in the 2004 season’s national championship game.
By EDDIE PELLS
Another under-the-radar winner Saturday was mechanical engineering major Bryce Hartle.
Who’s he?
Well, attendance-challenged Maryland football (which fired coach Mike Locksley last week) was offering free spring tuition to the winner of a raffle for students who stayed through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s Big Ten showdown against Illinois.
Hartle won. Maryland lost (20-17).
And, if snapshots of the stadium at kickoff are any indication, the Terps might need to up the ante for the next game.
A Power Four team quietly takes care of business and improves to 8-0 on the season in a so-called paycheck game.
Sounds like a team destined for a No. 1 or No. 2 ranking, right?
But that team is UCLA -- a program that hasn’t won 10 games since 2013 or won its conference since 1998. That makes it hard to see the Bruins more than a spot from No. 7 during a week in which Ohio State was the only team ahead of them to lose.
But what will the CFP selection committee think? Their evaluation of UCLA could be as good a sign as any as to whether they agree with the AP poll voters or are looking at completely different factors.
There’s reason for doubt: UCLA is playing without its starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. Then again, backup Ty Dieffenbach is avoiding mistakes, throwing for a modest three touchdowns since taking over in a 17-15 win over Oregon on Oct. 10.
Indiana squeaked out another victory this week. Its last three wins have all been fourth-quarter or overtime affairs decided by a touchdown or less. It also lost 19-15 to Ohio State.
One factor the selection committee will look at in deciding where the defending champions belong in their first rankings is the health of Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover.
Hoover came into Saturday’s game against Minnesota at less than 100% with an arm injury. He left at halftime and Indiana was nothing near dominant in getting past the Gophers 23-16 in overtime.
At 8-1, the Hoosiers still carry the resume of a top-six team into Tuesday’s bracket reveal, but the committee has the latitude to dock (or elevate) teams based on player availability.
All of the top four contenders in the Big 12 were in action Saturday and the results left us where we were a few weeks ago — with Utah, BYU and Texas Tech the top contenders for the title.
No. 13 Texas Tech’s 34-26 victory over No. 22 Arizona not only righted the ship in Lubbock but probably knocked the surprising Wildcats out of contention for the conference title and the automatic playoff bid that will come with it.
No. 8 BYU beat Arizona State 27-20. Like the Red Raiders, the Cougars rebounded from an upset the previous week.
Utah, after beating Cincinnati to improve to 5-0 in the conference, has a one-game lead over both teams with its game against BYU — the “Holy War” — set for next Saturday.
Even a relatively calm Halloween in college football didn’t spare everyone in the upper reaches of the AP Top 25. Ohio State looks like it may be headed for a tumble.
The second-ranked Buckeyes, playing without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, fell hard at USC on Saturday, 30-18. They were the only team in the Top 10 to lose in the final week of games before the College Football Playoff releases its first ranking. That happens Tuesday.
Today, the latest Top 25 figures to be fairly stable -- quite a difference from the last two weeks, when chaos reigned from top to bottom in the poll.
This week No. 1 Miami survived a scare from coach Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels, but persevered 38-35. No. 3 Georgia rolled over No. 17 Florida 27-8. No. 6 Utah and No. 7 UCLA both won to join Miami as the only remaining undefeated teams in the FBS.
Most of the turnover would likely happen toward the bottom of this week’s rankings, where six teams between No. 17 and 25 lost: Florida, No. 19 SMU, No. 20 Northwestern, No. 22 Arizona, No. 24 Oklahoma State and No. 25 Wisconsin.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP Top 25 voters are writers and broadcasters who cover college football.
AP employees do not vote, but they do choose the voters, and they seek wide representation from all over the country. This season, there are 69 voters.
The focus begins with voter representation in states with a Bowl Subdivision school, and the total number of voters from each state increases with the number of FBS teams. There are also spots reserved for national voters.
The AP allows broad latitude for voters to determine their rankings. They are urged to base their votes on performance, not reputation or preseason speculation (except, of course, for the always provocative preseason poll); to avoid regional bias, for or against; to pay attention to head-to-head results; and to make significant changes if desired.
By ERIC OLSON
For the fourth straight week, a No. 1 or 2 team lost to an unranked opponent, and a total of seven Top 25 teams lost in Week 9.
The biggest loss Saturday belonged to No. 2 Ohio State, which was without injured quarterback Julian Sayin and went down 30-18 at Southern California. The Buckeyes lost for the second time this season and may take a big fall.
Oregon heads to Columbus next Saturday.
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