ESPN shakes up FPI Top 25 rankings following wild Week 9 of college football

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner•10/30/22•

Jonathan Wagner

Another weekend of college is in the books, and the action in Week 9 was filled with excitement. This weekend saw three top 25 matchups and seven ranked teams losing, resulting in major changes to the rankings as attention shifts towards Week 10. After all of the action, ESPN has revealed updated FPI Top 25 rankings with some big-time movement.

This week’s top ten exited the weekend largely unscathed. Ohio State played in a battle against Penn State in a ranked matchup, but the Buckeyes ultimately prevailed with a 44-31 victory. USC also came away with a close victory on Saturday, edging out Arizona 45-37.

Oklahoma State, though, didn’t have the same luck. In fact, the Cowboys were completely dismantled at the hands of Kansas State. The Wildcats got out in front early and never let up, defeating Oklahoma State 48-0 in one of the worst showings from a top ten teams ever.

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Additionally, many more top 25 teams lost on Saturday. Wake Forest lost convincingly against Louisville, while Syracuse also lost against Notre Dame. Cincinnati fell against UCF, and South Carolina lost against Missouri just a week after entering the rankings.

Tennessee again asserted itself as one of college football’s best teams, cruising to a 44-6 victory over Kentucky.

With some big-time top ten victories and some blowout losses to other teams in the top 25, this week’s rankings are sure to change significantly. ESPN’s FPI Top 25 features some interesting inclusions in the rankings, but show just how much things have changed after Week 9.

ESPN’s FPI Top 25 rankings after Week 9

  1. Ohio State Buckeyes (8-0) (—)
  2. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1) (—)
  3. Georgia Bulldogs (8-0) (—)
  4. Michigan Wolverines (8-0) (—)
  5. Tennessee Volunteers (8-0) (—)
  6. Texas Longhorns (5-3) (—)
  7. Clemson Tigers (8-0) (—)
  8. Utah Utes (6-2) (—)
  9. LSU Tigers (6-2) (—)
  10. USC Trojans (7-1) (—)
  11. Oregon Ducks (7-1) (+2)
  12. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-2) (-1)
  13. Ole Miss Rebels (8-1) (-1)
  14. TCU Horned Frogs (8-0) (+1)
  15. Baylor Bears (5-3) (+2)
  16. Kansas State Wildcats (6-2) (+7)
  17. Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-3) (-1)
  18. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-3) (+3)
  19. Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3) (+3)
  20. UCLA Bruins (7-1) (+10)
  21. Florida State Seminoles (5-3) (-1)
  22. Wisconsin Badgers (4-4) (+2)
  23. Maryland Terrapins (6-2) (+2)
  24. Illinois Fighting Illini (7-1) (+10)
  25. Oklahoma Sooners (5-3) (+12)

UCLA, Illinois and Oklahoma were this week’s biggest risers, each jumping up at least ten spots to join this week’s FPI Top 25 rankings. Kansas State also saw a notable rise, improving seven spots up to No. 16.

Oklahoma State dropped 12 spots, finishing just outside of the top 25 at No. 26. Syracuse also dropped 13 spots and out of the top 25 while Wake Forest fell 17 spots and out of the rankings.