AP College Football Poll 2026 Week 9 Rankings Released with Top Risers and Fallers

The upper portion of the Associated Press Top 25 poll once again looks a little different with two teams unbeaten no more.

BYU dropped from second to No. 8 after losing 39-31 to UCF in overtime, while Texas Tech slipped to 13th following a 37-24 loss to Cincinnati.

Texas, on the other hand, earned a big 34-27 win over previously No. 7 Ole Miss but threw away a 21-point lead in the process. As a result, the Longhorns jumped eight places to 11th.

Unranked CFB teams cause chaos in Week 8

It's too early to know if Texas' victory means anything bigger for Steve Sarkisian's squad.

Arch Manning provided another clunker. The fourth-year quarterback went 18-of-30 for 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Star wide receiver Cam Coleman was limited to one reception.

But the defense bowed up when it needed to and intercepted three passes by Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss.

At the very least, it's hard to argue Texas is totally fixed when these second-half swoons have become such a trend.

Even more confounding is the Big 12 title race.

Utah is the only team with a perfect conference record now, while BYU, Arizona, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are all tied at 3-1.

The Red Raiders experienced perhaps the single biggest reversal of fortunes from the group on Saturday. They went from a 6-0 team with a straightforward path to the College Football Playoff to one that needs to rebuild its stock a bit without a lot of chances to notch a statement victory. Arizona is the highest-ranked team left on the schedule.

Oh, and mega booster Cody Campbell is posting cryptically on social media:

BYU, on the other hand, can still hang its hat on the 28-24 win over Notre Dame, and taking down in-state rival Utah on Nov. 7 will impress the CFP selection committee if it happens.

What might prove to be one of the more consequential outcomes didn't shake up the Top 25 very much.

USC put up just seven points and 241 yards of offense while getting upset by unranked Wisconsin. The Badgers, meanwhile, came out on top despite quarterback Colton Joseph throwing for 58 yards on 14 attempts.

Firing coach Lincoln Riley at this point probably wouldn't change much, and he does have an opportunity to salvage the season. Running the table would mean beating Ohio State, Indiana and UCLA.

Five years into Riley's tenure, however, the Trojans aren't in a meaningfully better position than they were under Clay Helton. A coaching change would be expensive , but the status quo is proving costly in its own way.