AP Poll: Ohio State defeat triggers major ranking shifts

Seven ranked college football teams lost in Week 9, creating a cascade of changes that will reshape the AP Top 25 when it releases at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sunday. The most notable defeat belonged to No. 2 Ohio State, which fell 30-18 to unranked USC on Saturday. This loss marked the second defeat for the Buckeyes this season and occurred while they played without injured starting quarterback Julian Sayin.

The upset by USC is the fourth consecutive week a No. 1 or No. 2 team has lost to an unranked opponent. For the Trojans, the victory represents their first win over a top-five team since the 2017 Rose Bowl and their highest-ranked opponent since defeating Oklahoma in the 2004 national championship game. The result gives USC a strong argument to re-enter the poll after a one-week absence.

At the top of the standings, No. 1 Miami protected its number one seed by surviving a close contest against No. 17 North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 38-35, keeping their undefeated record intact for a third straight week. No. 3 Georgia also advanced to 5-0, defeating No. 17 Florida 27-8 in a game that likely eliminates the Gators from contention for a playoff spot.

No. 6 Utah is positioned to move into the top five for the first time since 2019. The Utes improved to 5-0 in conference play with a 49-25 victory over Cincinnati. Meanwhile, No. 7 UCLA remains undefeated at 8-0 despite playing without its starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. Backup Ty Dieffenbach has thrown for three touchdowns since assuming the role, helping the Bruins maintain their perfect season.

The bottom of the rankings will see substantial turnover. Six teams ranked between 17 and 25 dropped their respective games, including No. 19 SMU, No. 20 Northwestern, No. 22 Arizona, No. 24 Oklahoma State, and No. 25 Wisconsin. Iowa, which shut out Wisconsin 30-0 at home, is expected to return to the poll. The AP Top 25 is determined by 69 voters, primarily writers and broadcasters, who are instructed to base their rankings on performance rather than reputation.

These results serve as the final input before the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its initial rankings on Tuesday night. The committee will evaluate teams like Indiana, which won 23-16 in overtime against Minnesota despite playing without quarterback Josh Hoover for the second half. The Big 12 also saw its contenders solidify, with Utah holding a one-game lead over BYU and Texas Tech in the conference race.

Ohio State will look to rebound next Saturday when Oregon visits Columbus. The Buckeyes currently sit as the only team in the top ten that lost in the final week of regular season play. USC and Iowa will likely vie for spots near the bottom of the Top 25, while Miami, Utah, and UCLA remain the only undefeated teams in the FBS heading into the playoff selection process.