AP Poll Prediction: Projecting Top 25 ranking after Week 9 of college football

As we get deeper into the second half of the season, each result is becoming more meaningful toward the College Football Playoff picture. If you’re not in the top 25 by this point in the season, you’re probably an extreme long shot to make the field.

Saturday’s slate featured several ranked-on-ranked matchups, which helped further sort the field. There are some new strong contenders, as well as some that have slid.

There was a lot to digest. Today, On3 stops to break down some of the changes anticipated in this week’s AP Top 25. Let’s dig into our projections for the new edition of the top college football poll below.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)

RESULT: BYE
Ohio State was on a bye week after getting through the first half of the schedule plus one undefeated. There wasn’t really a close contest in there, with the 14-7 win over Texas in the season opener the only game that was decided by one score.

Now it’s up to Ohio State to avoid an upset at the hands of Penn State, but having the extra week of rest and preparation should certainly help. Beyond that, only the finale against Michigan looks like a real test.

2. Indiana Hoosiers (8-0)

RESULT: 56-6 win vs. UCLA
Indiana wasted no time blowing past UCLA, keeping the Bruins from entertaining any real ideas of a big upset. It wasn’t a perfectly clean day, as the Mendozas threw two interceptions in the contest.

Still, the Hoosiers were in control from the start. The road ahead continues to look perfectly navigable, mostly thanks to Penn State’s collapse. There isn’t a top 25 opponent left on the schedule, though three of the final four games are away from home.

3. Texas A&M Aggies (8-0)

RESULT: 49-25 win at LSU
It was a back-and-forth affair with LSU early on, and it bogged down a little for Texas A&M thanks to a pair of Marcel Reed interceptions. Then the Aggies simply turned it on in the second half and ran away with it.

The final game of a brutal three-game road swing is here now, with a road trip to a borderline top 25 Missouri team. That, though, will come after a much-needed bye week.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)

RESULT: 29-22 win at South Carolina
Alabama trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter but found a way to win anyway. A late strip and steal allowed the Crimson Tide to flip the script quickly in the fourth quarter, and Germie Bernard punched it in with a 25-yard touchdown run to give Alabama the lead and the win.

It was Bernard’s second touchdown in the final three minutes of the game. Stars show up when they need to, and he certainly did for Alabama.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)

RESULT: BYE
Following the big win over Ole Miss a week ago, Georgia had a bye week to rest and recuperate ahead of the Florida game. The momentum gained from the Ole Miss contest is real, though, especially after the Rebels validated it with a top 25 win over Oklahoma on Saturday.

Georgia has a couple tricky tests in the back half of the schedule, and the margin for error is small. Home dates against Texas and Georgia Tech could provide a real challenge.

6. Oregon Ducks (7-1)

RESULT: 21-7 win vs. Wisconsin
Oregon had a much tougher than anticipated meeting with Wisconsin, which did a nice job keeping the Ducks from hitting explosive plays. Still, the game was never really in question in terms of game flow.

The biggest concern for Oregon coming out of the game was the health of quarterback Dante Moore, who took a nasty shot to the nose and was gushing blood during the game. He checked out and did not return, and his status will certainly bear monitoring going forward.

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (8-0)

RESULT: 41-16 win vs. Syracuse
The Haynes King show rolled on, and at this point it’s fair to wonder if anyone can stop the talented dual-threat quarterback. Syracuse certainly had no answers in a game it trailed in early on and could never get back into.

King accounted for 304 yards passing and three touchdowns, as well as 91 yards rushing and two more scores. He’s the heart and soul of the top 25 outfit, and Georgia Tech has a real shot at the College Football Playoffs as a result.

8. Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)

RESULT: 34-26 win at Oklahoma
While Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy were excellent offensively, the story of the day was the Ole Miss defense. After collapsing a week prior against Georgia, the unit buckled down to perplex John Mateer and keep him off-kilter throughout the second half.

Oklahoma simply couldn’t get back into the game after falling behind in the fourth quarter. Now, the Rebels are poised to lock up a playoff berth. No top 25 opponents remain on the schedule and the only road game remaining is the Egg Bowl vs. Mississippi State.

9. Miami Hurricanes (6-1)

RESULT: 42-7 win vs. Stanford
It was a close game for a half, and there were moments when it looked like Miami might be in trouble again. Then the Hurricanes buckled down, rode the ground game and put the Cardinal away for good.

Mark Fletcher scored three touchdowns on the ground and ran for 106 yards, as the Hurricanes piled up 199 yards rushing as a team. For Miami, win and advance is plenty good enough for now. Next up is a tough road test at SMU.

10. Vanderbilt Commodores (7-1)

RESULT: 17-10 win vs. Missouri
In a defensive battle, Vanderbilt finally broke things open with an 80-yard touchdown run in the second half. Then it hung on. The defense was stout, coming up with a fourth-down stop near the goal line that knocked Missouri starting quarterback Beau Pribula from the game.

The win was the program’s second straight over a ranked opponent, both at home. Now, it appears likely that only one top 25 opponent will remain on the schedule. Up next is a road trip to a Texas team that has been very up and down.

Rest of the AP Top 25 Projections

11. BYU Cougars (8-0)
12. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-2)
13. Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-1)
14. Virginia Cavaliers (7-1)
15. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)
16. Louisville Cardinals (7-1)
17. Oklahoma Sooners (6-2)
18. Cincinnati Bearcats (7-1)
19. Missouri Tigers (6-2)
20. Texas Longhorns (6-2)
21. Houston Cougars (7-1)
22. Michigan Wolverines (6-2)
23. USC Trojans (5-2)
24. Utah Utes (6-2)
25. Tulane Green Wave (6-1)