Georgia Rises to No. 2 After Florida Rout; Ohio State Drops Out of Top 10

Georgia moved into the No. 2 spot in the AP Top 25 poll on Sunday, a position that carries heavy weight as the team prepares for a road game at Ole Miss. The rise follows a 27-8 victory over Florida in Week 9, a contest where the Bulldogs defense forced four turnovers and recovered one for a touchdown. The win improved Georgia’s standing after a turbulent stretch, while its rival sank to No. 25 with a third loss on the season.

The shift in rankings reflects a stark contrast in the fortunes of two major programs. Ohio State fell out of the top 10 for the first time in recent memory, dropping to No. 11. The Buckeyes lost to USC, a team that climbed back into the poll at No. 18. Voters showed little patience with Ohio State’s decision to start freshman quarterback Luke Fahey in difficult conditions, a choice that has left the team with two losses and limited margin for error.

Notre Dame and Miami hold the top spots, setting the stage for a high-profile matchup in South Bend on Saturday night. Miami remains at No. 1 after a narrow win over North Carolina, while Notre Dame moved up to No. 4 following a strong second-half performance against Navy. The No. 3 spot now belongs to Utah, which benefited from Ohio State’s slide. This sets up a top-10 collision in the Holy War, as BYU enters the contest at No. 7.

The No. 2 ranking has become a precarious position in this season’s landscape. The team holding that spot has lost in three consecutive weeks, with Notre Dame, BYU, and Ohio State all falling while ranked second. Georgia faces a difficult test in Oxford, where it must contain Trinidad Chambliss or rely on Gunner Stockton to elevate the passing game. The Bulldogs aim to break a trend that has plagued previous teams in that slot.

New Mexico entered the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history after defeating San Jose. The Lobos have compiled a 7-1 record, positioning them as a strong candidate for the College Football Playoff as the Group of Six participant. Head coach Jason Eck has gained momentum, and the team now looks to finish the season strong to potentially surpass Boise State as the highest-ranked team from that division.

Other teams receiving votes in the poll include Northwestern with 79, Oregon with 55, and UTSA with 43. SMU follows with 27, while Virginia Tech has 12, Duke 10, and Minnesota 8. Liberty received 4 votes, Oklahoma State 3, and Louisville 1. These numbers place a group of teams just outside the top 25 as they look to make a final push.

The College Football Playoff committee will review these results on Tuesday night. The injury to Julian Sayin for Ohio State and the performance of Luke Fahey will likely influence how the committee views the Buckeyes’ resume. For Georgia, the immediate focus remains on traveling to Oxford to see if the defensive pressure against Florida can be replicated against a different offensive system.