Projecting the AP Top 25 after Week 9

Things are starting to get messy.

In the Big 12, three ranked teams (No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 15 Texas and No. 23 Iowa State) fell to unranked opponents, which will lead to shakeups we didn’t see coming.

In addition to those shakeups, Saturday’s slate included marquee ranked showdowns No. 2 LSU vs. No. 9 Auburn, No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 13 Wisconsin and No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 Michigan.

As these brand-name Power 5 squads take their second losses, it starts to get tricky with what to do with the lower-ranked undefeated and one-loss teams (Cincinnati, App State, Wake Forest, etc). Will voters reward the teams that haven’t lost twice yet? Or does it feel like punishing teams for playing other ranked opponents? Opinions will likely vary among Associated Press Top 25 voters.

The Week 10 rankings should be strong for “brands.” LSU has the best resume in the country, but it’s hard to see voters dropping Alabama from No. 1 after a 41-point win (a point spread cover) over Arkansas. With three losses, it’s hard to argue that Texas is a legit top-25 team, but the UT brand will likely keep the Longhorns in the rankings. Texas was No. 15 entering Saturday.

With that in mind, here’s how we project the new AP Top 25 after Week 9:

1. Alabama (8-0) def. Arkansas, 48-7
2. LSU (8-0) def. No. 9 Auburn, 23-20
3. Ohio State (8-0) def. No. 13 Wisconsin, 38-7
4. Clemson (8-0) def. Boston College, 59-7
5. Penn State (8-0) def. Michigan State, 28-7
6. Florida (7-1, off Week 9)
7. Oregon (6-1) vs. Washington State (10:30 p.m. ET kickoff, Oregon favored by 14 points)
8. Georgia (6-1, off Week 9)
9. Oklahoma (7-1) lost to Kansas State, 48-41
10. Utah (6-1) leads Cal, 7-0 1Q (Utah favored by 20.5 points)
11. SMU (8-0) def. Houston, 34-31
12. Minnesota (8-0) def. Maryland, 52-10
13. Baylor (7-0, off Week 9)
14. Michigan (5-2) leads No. 8 Notre Dame, 31-7 4Q
15. Auburn (6-2) lost to No. 2 LSU, 23-20
16. Cincinnati (6-1, off Week 9)
17. Iowa (6-2) def. Northwestern, 20-0
18. Notre Dame (5-1) losing to No. 19 Michigan, 31-7 4Q
19. Wisconsin (6-2) lost to No. 3 Ohio State, 38-7
20. App State (7-0) def. South Alabama, 30-3
21. Kansas State (5-2) def. No. 5 Oklahoma, 48-41
22. Boise State (6-1, off Week 9)
23. Wake Forest (6-1, off Week 9)
24. Texas (5-3) lost to TCU, 37-27
25. Texas A&M (5-3) def. Mississippi State, 49-30

Projected to drop out of the AP Top 25: No. 23 Iowa State (5-3) lost to Oklahoma State, 34-27; No. 24 Arizona State (5-3) losing to UCLA, 42-23 4Q

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.