A telling week of college football could result in a significant shakeup at the top of the latest AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll rankings.
That starts with the top three teams in the country heading into Week 9: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Tennessee. The Bulldogs were largely dominant in a 42-20 victory over unranked Florida, but allowed the Gators to make it a one-score possession in the second half before pulling away.
The Buckeyes also looked fallible, struggling on offense and falling behind 21-16 to No. 13 Penn State as late as the fourth quarter. They needed a Herculean effort from J.T. Tuimoloau to persevere and win 44-31.
No. 3 Tennessee looked like arguably the best team in the country against No. 19 Kentucky, winning 44-6 against a team that had not allowed more than 24 points all season. The Volunteers’ dominant effort raised the question: Should they be No. 1 in the latest set of polls?
MORE: College Football Playoff rankings: Has Tennessee earned No. 1 ranking in initial release?
Other questions abound in the AP and Coaches polls, which starting this week will take on lesser importance as the College Football Playoff releases its weekly top 25 through the end of the regular season.
Among those questions includes what to do with No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 10 Wake Forest, No. 16 Syracuse and No. 25 South Carolina, all of whom lost on Saturday. The Cowboys’ 48-0 loss to No. 22 Kansas State was particularly embarrassing, and sets up No. 7 TCU as the last remaining hope the Big 12 has of making the Playoff.
MORE: College Football Playoff ranking schedule, release dates for 2022
Here’s what the latest college football top 25 looks like following the Week 9 slate of action:
College football rankings for Week 10
Coaches Poll
| Rank | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
| 1 | Georgia | 8-0 | 1,552 (45) |
| 2 | Ohio State | 8-0 | 1,505 (13) |
| 3 | Tennessee | 8-0 | 1,445 (5) |
| 4 | Michigan | 8-0 | 1,391 |
| 5 | Clemson | 8-0 | 1,315 |
| 6 | Alabama | 7-1 | 1,262 |
| 7 | TCU | 8-0 | 1,182 |
| 8 | Oregon | 7-1 | 1,118 |
| 9 | USC | 7-1 | 1,018 |
| 10 | Ole Miss | 8-1 | 973 |
| 11 | UCLA | 7-1 | 937 |
| 12 | Utah | 6-2 | 874 |
| 13 | Illinois | 7-1 | 767 |
| 14 | Kansas State | 6-2 | 713 |
| 15 | North Carolina | 7-1 | 630 |
| 16 | Penn State | 6-2 | 602 |
| 17 | LSU | 6-2 | 596 |
| 18 | Oklahoma State | 6-2 | 471 |
| 19 | Wake Forest | 6-2 | 437 |
| 20 | N.C. State | 6-2 | 386 |
| 21 | Tulane | 7-1 | 369 |
| 22 | Syracuse | 6-2 | 188 |
| 23 | Liberty | 7-1 | 147 |
| 24 | Kentucky | 5-3 | 109 |
| 25 | UCF | 6-2 | 89 |
Others receiving votes: Oregon State 71; Maryland 64; Texas 55; Washington 52; Cincinnati 39; Coastal Carolina 25; Baylor 14; Notre Dame 11; Boise State 11; Louisville 10; Arkansas 10; South Carolina 9; Mississippi State 8; Troy 6; UTSA 4.
AP Top 25
This section will be updated when the AP Top 25 releases.
| Rank | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | |||
| 14 | |||
| 15 | |||
| 16 | |||
| 17 | |||
| 18 | |||
| 19 | |||
| 20 | |||
| 21 | |||
| 22 | |||
| 23 | |||
| 24 | |||
| 25 |
Others receiving votes:
Hits: 0
