College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Top 25 after Week 9

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 28: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Josh Adams (33) runs the ball in the 1st quarter during a college football game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 28, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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AMES, IA – OCTOBER 28: Wide receiver Hakeem Butler #18 of the Iowa State Cyclones celebrates with teammate wide receiver Marchie Murdock #16 of the Iowa State Cyclones after scoring a touchdown in the first half of play at Jack Trice Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Ames, Iowa. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

No. 15: UCF

Another week, another win for UCF. This one was a 73-33 win over Austin Peay, obviously not a threat to a Division I team like the Knights. The soft win doesn’t help them in the top 25, but with other teams losing, they’ll advance one or two spots and eye a spot in the New Year’s Six.

No. 14: Iowa State

Iowa State joined the top 25 for Week 9. Now, after a monumental win over TCU, it vaults them 11 spots, from No. 25 to 14. It’s a bold spot for this surprisingly quality program, who still have work cut out for them. Games against West Virginia and Oklahoma State remain, neither of which will be a guaranteed win.

No. 13: Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech stepped into Week 9 as the No. 13 team in college football and may stay in that spot. Teams ahead and below of them flipped around, with not as much shifting in the middle of the College Football Rankings. The Hokies are stuck behind teams like Washington, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and even the two top four teams that lost. Next week’s game against Miami can change all of that, however.

No. 12: Washington

After an ugly loss to Arizona State and a bye week to think about it, Washington returned and thumped UCLA, 44-23. It was the game the Huskies needed to get back on track. The problem is they may not move up, even after multiple top 10 teams lost. It could take another win to gain ground.

No. 11: TCU

TCU was the first top-four team to fall on Saturday, as Iowa State returned the Giant Killer of College Football persona. This surely drops the Horned Frogs out of the College Football Playoff hunt, potentially out of the top 10, too. They need to hope Oklahoma and Oklahoma State fall at least once in the final weeks, while Iowa State loses multiple Big 12 games. If so, there’s a chance for Gary Patterson’s quad to sneak back in.

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