Room cleared in Week 9 Power Rankings top 10 for Auburn, Florida
— -- The ranks of the unbeatens got a good bit slimmer this weekend, with Nebraska, West Virginia and Baylor all falling to conference opponents. That made way for two SEC teams, Auburn and Florida, to move up into the top 10 of our Power Rankings. Check out where they and the rest of the top 25 teams stand after Week 9.?
Power Rankings voters: Edward Aschoff, Butch Davis, Heather Dinich, Brad Edwards, Chris Fallica, Rod Gilmore, Danny Kanell, Chris Low, Ivan Maisel, Ryan McGee, Adam Rittenberg, Mark Schlabach | How they voted
Previous rankings: Week 1?|? Week 2 |? Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8
1. Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0)
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Week 8 ranking: 1
Week 9 result: bye
The Crimson Tide had their customary week off before the LSU showdown. They roll into Baton Rouge riding a couple of different streaks. Take your pick on which one is the most impressive -- the 20-game winning streak overall, the 12-game winning streak over ranked opponents or the 10 straight games with a non-offensive touchdown.
2. Clemson Tigers?(7-0)
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Week 8 ranking: 2
Week 9 result:? defeated Florida State 37-34
3.? Michigan Wolverines?(8-0)
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Week 8 ranking:?3
Week 9 result: defeated Michigan State 32-23
It had been a while -- 2007, to be exact -- but Michigan built a big lead and then held on to beat Michigan State in East Lansing, a victory that ended the Wolverines' misery in this series. Jabrill Peppers was all over the field for the Wolverines. He played four different positions and was on the field for 64 of Michigan's 70 defensive snaps.
4. Washington Huskies?(8-0)
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Week 8 ranking:?4
Week 9 result: defeated Utah 31-24
It was Washington's toughest test of the season, and the Huskies proved that they belong in that top-four stratosphere with a road victory over Utah. They had their 10-game streak of scoring at least 35 points snapped, but they'll gladly swap that streak for a win that keeps them unbeaten and likely in the top four of the College Football Playoff selection committee's first rankings on Tuesday.
5.? Louisville Cardinals?(7-1)
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Week 8 ranking: 5
Week 9 result: defeated Virginia 32-25
The Cardinals didn't look much like a playoff team for much of Saturday's game against lowly Virginia, but they stayed in the playoff hunt thanks to a clutch drive in the final two minutes and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Jaylen Smith with 13 seconds to play. The victory won't win Louisville many style points, but it could have been a lot worse.
6. Ohio State Buckeyes?(6-1)
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Week 8 ranking: 6
Week 9 result: defeated Northwestern 24-20
The Penn State hangover lasted a lot longer than coach Urban Meyer would have preferred. For the most part, it lasted the entire game, but Ohio State was finally able to shake off the bitter loss to the Nittany Lions and squeeze past Northwestern for a win that raises plenty of questions about the Buckeyes. Right at the top of the list: Is this a legitimate playoff team?
7.? Texas A&M Aggies?(7-1)
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Week 8 ranking: 10
Week 9 result: defeated New Mexico State 52-10
The Aggies (the Texas A&M version) needed to blow off a little steam after losing at Alabama two weeks ago, and found the perfect punching bag with a 52-10 thrashing Saturday of the New Mexico State Aggies. Texas A&M needs Alabama to lose twice to win the SEC West, but the Aggies would be in great shape to go to the Sugar Bowl if they can win out and finish 11-1 in the regular season.
8.? Wisconsin Badgers?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?9
Week 9 result: defeated Nebraska 23-17 (OT)
The Badgers just keep doing it with smothering defense. They might not be pretty or flashy, but they can run the ball and play defense with the best of them, and that combination was enough to take down previously unbeaten Nebraska 23-17 in overtime Saturday. Now the Badgers are in great shape in the Big Ten West race, especially with Nebraska having to visit Ohio State next week.
9.? Auburn Tigers?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?14
Week 9 result: defeated Ole Miss 40-29
Other than Alabama, there may not be a more dangerous team in the SEC right now than the Tigers, who've suddenly awakened offensively. They've won five straight games and scored 38 or more in their last four, including a 40-29 win at Ole Miss on Saturday. Kevin Steele's defense has also been excellent and is ranked eighth nationally. The Tigers are allowing an average of just 16 points per game and have given up 13 touchdowns in eight games.
10.? Florida Gators?(6-1)
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Week 8 ranking:?17
Week 9 result: defeated Georgia 24-10
It had been a quiet October for Florida. The Gators had played just once because of a bye and the postponement of the LSU game because of Hurricane Matthew. The rust showed to start Saturday's game, but Florida's defense took over in a smothering win over Georgia. The Gators remain atop the SEC East standings, but they still have trips to Arkansas and LSU remaining.
11.? Nebraska Cornhuskers?(7-1)
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Week 8 ranking:?7
Week 9 result: lost to Wisconsin 23-17 (OT)
The Huskers, unbeaten and back on a national stage, couldn't deliver on the road at Wisconsin, falling 23-17 in overtime. The rap on the Huskers coming into the game was that they had played a soft schedule and were untested. They had their chances against the Badgers, but couldn't get anything going against a stout Wisconsin defense.
12.? Oklahoma Sooners?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking: 16
Week 9 result: defeated Kansas 56-3
With Baylor and West Virginia both going down on Saturday, Oklahoma may be in the best position to win the Big 12 at this point. The Sooners remain unbeaten in Big 12 play with a 56-3 drubbing of Kansas but still have to face Baylor, West Virginia and Oklahoma State. The West Virginia game is on the road, and the other two games are at home.
13.? LSU Tigers?(5-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?19
Week 9 result: bye
The Ed Orgeron train on the Bayou just keeps chugging along. The Tigers, who were off this week, have won three straight since Orgeron took over as interim coach and have scored at least 38 points in all three games. Now comes the real test -- and Orgeron's best chance to prove that he deserves the job permanently -- when unbeaten Alabama visits Tiger Stadium on Saturday.
14.? Utah Utes?(7-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?15
Week 9 result: lost to Washington 31-24
The Utes had their chances against Washington, and that 58-yard punt return for a touchdown in the final minutes is going to sting for a while. But even with the 31-24 loss to Washington, Utah still controls its own destiny in the Pac-12 South race and could conceivably see Washington again in the Pac-12 championship game.
15.? West Virginia Mountaineers?(6-1)
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Week 8 ranking: 8
Week 9 result: lost to Oklahoma State 37-20
The Mountaineers saw their College Football Playoff hopes take a major hit with their first loss of the season, a setback to Oklahoma State that also didn't help the Big 12's playoff chances any. West Virginia's defense had been a constant this season, but the Mountaineers were hurt by three costly turnovers that led to 17 Oklahoma State points.
16.? North Carolina Tar Heels?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking: 22
Week 9 result: bye
The Tar Heels are still very much alive in the ACC Coastal Division race and should be rested for the stretch run after the open date. They get Georgia Tech at home on Saturday and have played much better defense of late. Ultimately, North Carolina needs Virginia Tech to lose again to have a shot at the ACC championship game.
17.? Western Michigan Broncos?(8-0)
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Week 8 ranking: 21
Week 9 result: bye
P.J. Fleck and the Broncos had a week off before resuming their quest for a perfect season. Western Michigan has scored 40 or more points in its last five wins but goes on the road the next two weeks against Ball State and Kent State. Since a season-opening 22-21 win over Northwestern, the closest anybody has come to beating the Broncos was 14 points.
18.? Baylor Bears?(6-1)
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Week 8 ranking:?11
Week 9 result: lost to Texas 35-34
There already weren't a lot of believers in the unbeaten Bears because of their soft schedule, and there will be even fewer now after the loss to Texas. Baylor couldn't stop Texas when it counted and now faces what shapes up as an even tougher November with games against TCU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and West Virginia looming.
19.? Florida State Seminoles?(5-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?12
Week 9 result:?lost to Clemson, 37-34
The Seminoles' second loss of the season to a top-10 team will be one that doesn't go away anytime soon. They had Clemson at home. Dalvin Cook was running wild, and the crowd at Doak-Campbell Stadium was rocking. But the Seminoles couldn't knock the Tigers out when they had them teetering and are now looking at their second straight season with at least three losses.
20.? Colorado Buffaloes?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking: 20
Week 9 result: bye
There hasn't been a bigger surprise in college football than Colorado, which has already won more Pac-12 games this season (four) than the Buffaloes won in the previous four seasons combined (three). Coming off a bye week, Colorado faces UCLA on Thursday night at home and has its eyes firmly on the Pac-12 South crown in Mike MacIntyre's fourth season in Boulder.
21.? Virginia Tech Hokies?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?T25
Week 9 result: defeated Pitt 39-36
Jerod Evans' career-high 406 passing yards on Thursday steered the Hokies to a 39-36 road victory over Pittsburgh, and coach Justin Fuente's club took a major step toward the ACC's Coastal Division crown. Virginia Tech controls its own destiny and next travels to Duke before a home game against Georgia Tech.
22.? Penn State Nittany Lions?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?24
Week 9 result: defeated Purdue 62-24
Ripe for a letdown after the emotional upset win over Ohio State, Penn State had a little trouble getting going Saturday, but turned a 17-17 second-quarter tie into a rout of Purdue. The schedule for the Nittany Lions the rest of the way is very manageable, and all of a sudden, a 10-2 record doesn't seem that far-fetched.
23. Oklahoma State Cowboys?(6-2)
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Week 8 ranking:?NR?
Week 9 result: defeated West Virginia 37-20
It's been a strange year in the Big 12 all the way around, with a lot of teams in play for the league crown, but don't forget about the Cowboys, who won their fourth straight Saturday with a 37-20 triumph over previously unbeaten West Virginia. They've been as potent as ever on offense and are also playing better on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys' remaining schedule could get tricky. Three of their last four games are on the road, including a trip to Oklahoma on Dec. 3.
24.? USC Trojans?(5-3)
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Week 8 ranking:?NR
Week 9 result: defeated Cal 45-24
Remember all the talk about Clay Helton possibly not making it past one season? Well, that was before USC found its stride and now heads into November as one of the hottest teams in the Pac-12. The Trojans have won four straight, including a 45-24 win over Cal on Thursday, and find themselves back in the Pac-12 South race. The next two weeks will be key. They face Oregon at home this week, then travel to Washington on Nov. 12.
25.? Boise State Broncos?(7-1)
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Week 7 ranking:?13
Week 8 result: lost to Wyoming 30-28
One of the more bizarre endings you'll ever see in a college football game may have cost Boise State a shot at a New Year's Six bowl game. The previously unbeaten Broncos lost 30-28 to Wyoming, and the winning points came on a safety when quarterback Brett Rypien was sacked and lost a fumble that bounced out of the back of the end zone.
Fell out of the rankings:?Washington State, Tennessee
Others receiving votes:?Washington State, Houston, Tennessee, South Florida, Wyoming, Navy, Arkansas, Troy, San Diego State?