The No. 8 Baylor Bears fell to the Texas Longhorns, 35-34 in Austin in Week 9. Here is how the Bears’ loss could impact the Top 10 of next week’s AP Top 25.
The Big 12 has probably sealed itself outside of the third annual College Football Playoff in Week 9. Both of its two remaining undefeated teams lost. The No. 10 West Virginia Mountaineers fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater earlier this afternoon. Now the No. 8 Baylor Bears lost to the Texas Longhorns in Austin on Saturday evening.
One could argue that the two-loss Oklahoma Sooners is the best of all three of these Big 12 teams. With the Big 12 taking two huge hits in Week 9, what could the top 10 of the AP Top 25 look like with the Baylor and West Virginia losses? Let’s just assume there are no more upsets in Week 9 to keep it simple for now.
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Michigan Wolverines
- Clemson Tigers
- Washington Huskies
- Louisville Cardinals
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Boise State Broncos
Alabama would hold on to the No. 1 seed on its bye week. Michigan looked impressive against the Michigan State Spartans. The Wolverines probably closed the gap on Alabama, but will be the No. 2 team in the nation until Alabama loses.
Clemson would stick at No. 3 if the Tigers beat the No. 12 Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee. It’s not as impressive of a win as No. 4 Washington had over the No. 17 Utah Utes, but Clemson and Washington retain their respective spots because Florida State at night is tough place to play. Washington will probably leapfrog Clemson next week.
It wasn’t easy, but Louisville is still the best one-loss team in college football. Their narrow victory over the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville keeps the Cardinals at No. 5. Ohio State should stay at No. 6 if they beat the Northwestern Wildcats in Columbus.
Moving up to No. 7 would be Texas A&M. Their win over New Mexico State doesn’t do much, but they have the best loss of anybody in the Power 5 to Alabama. Up to No. 8 is the best two-loss team in the country Wisconsin. The Badgers are laying 7.5 points at home to Nebraska.
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Nebraska would only fall slightly to No. 9 with a road loss to division rival Wisconsin. At No. 10, Boise State would get it over teams like Baylor, the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Florida Gators, or the Auburn Tigers. Beating a good Wyoming Cowboys team in Laramie moves the Broncos into the Top 10.