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College football rankings: Week 9 AP Top 25 predictions – Penn State, Oregon get statement wins

By Connor Muldowney

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: Penn State Nittany Lions Wide Receiver KJ Hamler (1) catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 19, 2019, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA, (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - OCTOBER 19: Penn State Nittany Lions Wide Receiver KJ Hamler (1) catches a pass for a touchdown during the first half of the game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Penn State Nittany Lions on October 19, 2019, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA, (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Week 8 is in the books and college football saw some intriguing upsets as well as top teams going on the road to face pesky foes. Let’s project the AP Top 25.

Who would have guessed that Week 8 would have shaken up the College Football Playoff race? Well, that’s exactly what happened even without many marquee matchups on the schedule.

The biggest loss in the Top 25 was No. 6 Wisconsin blowing a lead to fall to Illinois in Champaign on a last-second field goal. The loss will see the Badgers playoff hopes on life support and their path to a Big Ten West division title a little more difficult with Minnesota still undefeated. Wisconsin could fall as many as 10 spots in our AP Top 25 projection for Week 9.

Two SEC East heavyweights avoided an upset as Florida and Georgia got wins after losing for the first time this season last week. LSU also held serve in the SEC with a convincing win over Mississippi State where Joe Burrow threw four touchdowns to set the program single-season record for passing touchdowns.

Oregon came back vs. Washington and Utah blew out Arizona State as those two victors look poised to meet in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

Baylor, Minnesota, SMU and Appalachian State all remain undefeated and could make some moves up the AP Top 25 if voters are convinced they’re legit.

In the biggest game of the week, Penn State held off a charging Michigan in the second half to preserve a 28-21 win in Happy Valley to remain undefeated and the biggest threat to Ohio State in the Big Ten East. Michigan hung in after a tough first half, but it’s their second loss so it’s deserved.

At almost 2 a.m. eastern time, BYU finished their upset vs. Boise State as the Broncos lost their first game this season. Boise State still has a chance to make the New Year’s Six bowl but will take a big dive in the rankings.

Here’s how we project the AP Top 25 to look for Week 9

  1. Alabama
  2. LSU
  3. Clemson
  4. Ohio State
  5. Oklahoma
  6. Penn State
  7. Notre Dame
  8. Florida
  9. Oregon
  10. Georgia
  11. Auburn
  12. Utah
  13. Texas
  14. Baylor
  15. Wisconsin
  16. SMU
  17. Minnesota
  18. Cincinnati
  19. Iowa
  20. Appalachian State
  21. Boise State
  22. Iowa State
  23. Michigan
  24. Arizona State
  25. Virginia

Who do you think is a little overrated and who do you think the AP Top 25 voters have ranked too low and are underrated? Sound off in the comments with your thoughts on the latest college football rankings projections.

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