Week 9 of the college football season delivered a chaotic slate of results, causing several top 25 teams to suffer defeats and setting the stage for major shifts in the rankings. The most impactful result came from Los Angeles, where an unranked USC squad secured a signature win over Ohio State.
USC Upset Win and Projected Top 25 Rankings
USC entered the matchup unranked after falling out of the AP Top 25 poll following a 17-7 loss to Wisconsin. Facing immense offensive pressure and a top-two opponent in Ohio State, the Trojans started strong and rode that momentum to a rain-soaked victory for coach Lincoln Riley, marking his first-ever win against a top-five opponent at USC and launching the team back into the top 25.
As projected for the new AP Top 25, Miami remains at No. 1 after a 38-35 win over opponents, powered by Heisman Trophy contender Malachi Toney, who recorded seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia holds at No. 2 following a sixth straight win in the Cocktail Party rivalry against Florida, while Notre Dame moves to No. 3 after defeating Navy 35-13.
Utah climbs to No. 4 with an 8-0 record after racing to a 42-6 halftime lead against Cincinnati. UCLA stays at No. 5 at 8-0 following a 27-0 shutout win over Nevada featuring four defensive takeaways. Indiana drops to No. 6 after another narrow overtime win, while BYU holds at No. 7 following a 27-20 victory against Arizona State. Kentucky and Alabama remain at No. 8 and No. 9 respectively after enjoying bye weeks.
Texas stays at No. 10 after a 31-3 win against Mississippi State, improving to 6-2. Ohio State falls from No. 2 to No. 11 due to the USC loss and concerns over offensive production without injured quarterback Julian Sayin. Ole Miss holds at No. 12 after defeating Auburn 45-17, and Texas Tech stays at No. 13 following a home win against Arizona.
Wake Forest moves to No. 14 at 7-1 overall after a 51-7 victory over Virginia, where wide receiver Carlos Hernandez notched 136 yards and a touchdown. LSU and Tennessee hold at No. 15 and No. 16 ahead of their upcoming matchup against each other. USC reenters the rankings at No. 17, and Houston holds steady at No. 18 during its bye week.
Boise State climbs to No. 19 at 7-1 after holding off Texas State 46-45 behind backup quarterback Max Cutforth, though starting quarterback Maddux Madsen was seen on crutches. Missouri rises to No. 20 at 6-2 following a 34-10 rivalry win at Arkansas with Ahmad Hardy returning to the lineup. Iowa enters the rankings at No. 21 after a dominant win over Wisconsin, and South Carolina jumps in at No. 22 after building a three-game winning streak with a 42-25 victory over Oklahoma.
New Mexico enters at No. 23 with a 7-1 record, and Oregon returns at No. 24 as a three-loss team following a victory over Northwestern. Florida rounds out the rankings at No. 25, dropping from No. 17 due to offensive struggles and three losses in its last four games. Teams projected to drop completely out of the rankings are SMU, Northwestern, Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Wisconsin.
USC will look to build on its momentum as it enters the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s radar with a likely ranking in the upcoming CFP Rankings, while other top programs prepare for high-stakes conference showdowns next week.
