AP Top 25 projections ahead of Week 9 poll

Expect Ohio State to hold firm at No. 1, while the rest of the AP 25 shifts after LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Miami all lose in Week 8.

The college football world will focus on the AP Top 25 reveal on Sunday after another wild week of upsets and close calls around the rankings. No. 2 Miami (Fla.) headlined the chaos, losing to an unranked Louisville team (that should be in the new poll) on Friday night. More teams followed that trend on Saturday, including No. 7 Texas Tech, which dropped to Arizona State.

Top 25 matchups between LSU and Vanderbilt, Alabama and Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss, plus the Notre Dame-USC clash introduced another shift in the hierarchy, with the Commodores, Crimson Tide, Bulldogs, and Irish making jumps after statement wins.

Meanwhile, expect several new teams to make an appearance in the top 25, a door-opening effect after Memphis, Nebraska and Utah lost in Week 8.

Ahead of the Sunday release, here are our AP Top 25 projections for Week 9...

No. 25 - Tulane (6-1)

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 18: Quarterback Jake Retzlaff #12 of the Tulane Green Wave runs the ball during the second half of the game against the Army West Point Black Knights at Yulman Stadium on October 18, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Week 8 result: Defeated Army 24-17

No. 24 - Illinois (5-2)

Believing he crossed the goal line, Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) reacts to watching a replay of his run on the video board during the second half of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gies Memorial Stadium.

Week 8 result: Idle

No. 23 - Louisville (5-1)

Oct 17, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Miller Moss (7) celebrates after winning the game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Miami (Fla.) 24-21

No. 22 - Michigan (5-2)

Oct 18, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) passes in the second half against the Washington Huskies at Michigan Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Washington 24-7

No. 21 - Tennessee (5-2)

Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley (14) makes a catch during a college football game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.

Week 8 result: Lost to Alabama 37-20

No. 20 - Cincinnati (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats tight end Joe Royer (11) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Oklahoma State 49-17

No. 19 - LSU (5-2)

Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Louisiana State Tigers tight end Trey'Dez Green (14) runs with the ball after a made catch against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at FirstBank Stadium.

Week 8 result: Lost to Vanderbilt 31-24

No. 18 - Texas (5-2)

Oct 18, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr. (2) and wide receiver Rett Andersen (35) celebrate with kicker Mason Shipley (49) after Shipley scored the winning field goal in overtime against the Kentucky Wildcats.

Week 8 result: Defeated Kentucky 16-13 (OT)

No. 17 - Virginia (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers kicker Will Bettridge (41) celebrates after making a game-tying field goal against the Washington State Cougars in the final minutes in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Washington State 22-20

No. 16 - South Florida (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls tight end Wyatt Sullivan (8) gets past Florida Atlantic Owls defensive back Terez Reid (27) and cornerback Jayden Sweeney (26) for the score during the second half at Raymond James Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeat FAU 48-13

No. 15 - Texas Tech (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders wide receiver Coy Eakin (3) catches a touchdown pass against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the first half at Mountain America Stadium.

Week 8: Defeated Arizona State 26-22

No. 14 - Missouri (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula (9) passes the ball during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Auburn 23-17 (OT)

No. 13 - Oklahoma (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Xavier Robinson (24) rushes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated South Carolina 26-7

No. 12 - BYU (7-0)

Oct 18, 2025; Provo, Utah, USA; BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) throws the ball against the Utah Utes during the second quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Utah 24-21

No. 11 - Georgia Tech (7-0)

Oct 18, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Jy Gilmore (14) celebrates a play with defensive back Omar Daniels (9) during the second half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Duke 27-18

No. 10 - Notre Dame (5-2)

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love (4) stiff-arms Southern California safety Kamari Ramsey (7) in the first half of a NCAA football game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in South Bend.

Week 8 result: Defeated USC 34-24

No. 9 - Vanderbilt (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia (2) tosses the ball to wide receiver Tre Richardson (6) against the Louisiana State Tigers during the second half at FirstBank Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated LSU 31-24

No. 8 - Miami (5-1)

Oct 17, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Jordan Lyle (2) carries the football against the Louisville Cardinals during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium.

Week 8 result: Lost to Louisville 24-21

No. 7 - Oregon (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Dierre Hill Jr. (23) carries the ball against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half at SHI Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Rutgers 56-10

No. 6 - Ole Miss (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball against the Georgia Bulldogs during the third quarter of the game at Sanford Stadium.

Week 8 result: Lost to Georgia 43-35

No. 5 - Georgia (6-1)

Oct 18, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Chris Cole (9) reacts during the fourth quarter of the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Sanford Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Ole Miss 43-35

No. 4 - Alabama (6-1)

Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. (5) intercepts a Tennessee pass on a 2-point conversion during a college football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.

Week 8 result: Defeated Tennessee 37-20

No. 3 - Texas A&M (7-0)

Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Mrcel Reed (10) rushes for a touchdown that was called back for holding during the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Arkansas 45-42

No. 2 - Indiana (7-0)

Oct 18, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at Memorial Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Michigan State 38-13

No. 1. Ohio State (7-0)

Oct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin (10) throws a pass during the during the first quarter of their game against Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium.

Week 8 result: Defeated Wisconsin 34-0

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Miami, LSU drop in AP Top 25 predictions after Week 8 losses

Category: General Sports