The college football landscape underwent significant changes in Week 8, with the most shocking loss being No. 2 Miami’s defeat against unranked Louisville. Heisman Trophy contender Carson Beck struggled, throwing four interceptions in a close 24-21 game, causing Miami to drop seven places to No. 9 in the AP Poll.
Miami was among four teams in the top 10 who faced defeats, including Ole Miss and Texas Tech, both of whom had entered the week unbeaten. Ole Miss suffered a 43-35 loss to Georgia, leading to a drop from No. 7 to No. 8, while Texas Tech lost a narrow 26-22 game to Arizona State, falling from No. 11 to No. 14 as a result.
In a notable turnaround, the Vanderbilt Commodores celebrated a historic victory against LSU, winning 31-24. This marked a significant milestone for Vanderbilt, who climbed from No. 17 to No. 10 in the rankings, marking their first entry into the top 10 of the AP Poll since 1947. The Commodores have now achieved multiple wins over top 15 teams, surpassing their preseason win total of 5.5. Conversely, LSU faced a sharp decline, dropping 10 places from No. 10 to No. 20.
Ohio State maintained its dominance, holding the No. 1 spot following a commanding road victory over Wisconsin, securing 60 out of 66 first-place votes. Indiana seized the moment, moving up to No. 2, achieving its highest ranking in program history, largely due to Miami’s downfall.
Georgia Tech also made headlines, remaining unbeaten at 7-0 after a win over Duke, which propelled them to No. 7, marking their first top 10 ranking since 2014.
The AP Top 25 for Week 9 showcases these adjustments, reflecting the ever-changing dynamics of college football as teams position themselves for the remainder of the season. The upcoming weeks promise to be filled with excitement as teams jostle for playoff positioning and rankings.