CBS Sports predicts serious movement in AP Top 25 Poll following Week 9

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner•10/30/22•

Jonathan Wagner

Even with two top ten teams and four total teams from the top 25 on bye during Week 9, the weekend saw plenty of fun. There were three matchups between ranked teams over the weekend, and seven ranked teams ended up losing on Saturday. After all of the Week 9 action, CBS Sports predicts some significant movement for the new AP Top 25 Poll.

CBS Sports doesn’t expect any movement in the top eight, and for good reason. No. 5 Clemson and No. 6 Alabama were on bye, while each of the other top eight teams won in Week 9. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Tennessee picked up ranked victories, with the Buckeyes defeating No. 13 Penn State 44-31 and the Volunteers throttling No. 19 Kentucky 44-6.

Outside of the top eight is a different story. Last week’s No. 9 team, Oklahoma State, was completely blanked. The Cowboys didn’t put any points on the board, being shut out 48-0 against No. 22 Kansas State. The Wildcats could be poised for a significant rise while the Cowboys are surely to fall after the shocking result.

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Oklahoma State wasn’t the only highly ranked team to lose convincingly on Saturday, as previous No. 11 Wake Forest was blown out 48-21 against Louisville. Previous No. 16 Syracuse also lost rather convincingly, falling 41-24 to Notre Dame.

Additionally, No. 20 Cincinnati fell 25-21 to UCF while No. 25 South Carolina fell 23-10 to Missouri. Both could fall out of the top 25, creating some interesting options at the bottom of the rankings.

After a 14-7 week from the top 25 teams in the rankings, major changes are on the way in the AP Top 25 Poll. The changes might not come at the top, but CBS Sports predicts some serious movement throughout the rest of the rankings.

Full AP Top 25 Poll prediction after Week 9 from CBS Sports

  1. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0)
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0)
  3. Tennessee Volunteers (8-0)
  4. Michigan Wolverines (8-0)
  5. Clemson Tigers (8-0)
  6. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)
  7. TCU Horned Frogs (8-0)
  8. Oregon Ducks (7-1)
  9. USC Trojans (7-1)
  10. UCLA Bruins (7-1)
  11. Kansas State Wildcats (6-2)
  12. Ole Miss Rebels (8-1)
  13. Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1)
  14. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2)
  15. Utah Utes (6-2)
  16. LSU Tigers (6-2)
  17. North Carolina Tar Heels (7-1)
  18. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-2)
  19. Tulane Green Wave (7-1)
  20. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-2)
  21. Liberty Flames (7-1)
  22. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-3)
  23. Syracuse Orange (6-2)
  24. NC State Wolfpack (6-2)
  25. UCF Knights (6-2)

CBS Sports predicts three new teams in this week’s rankings, with Liberty, Notre Dame and UCF joining the top 25. They take the places of Kentucky (previously No. 19), Cincinnati (previously No. 20), and South Carolina (previously No. 25).