Two more teams fell from the undefeated ranks on Saturday, providing some variety to a Week 8 slate that otherwise didn't live up to last week's action.
The biggest loss suffered among the top 10 was by No. 7 Ole Miss, which jumped out to a 17-3 lead over LSU before getting outscored 42-3 by the Tigers in what ultimately was a 45-20 loss. That defeat is not a season-ender by any means for the Rebels, but it does take a lot of the shine off a season in which they started 7-0.
MORE: Projecting 2022 Playoff picture after three unbeatens lose in Week 8
On the West Coast, No. 9 UCLA suffered its first loss of the season, a debilitating defeat at the hands of then No. 10 Oregon. Ducks quarterback Bo Nix played arguably his best game of the season as he led the hosts to a 45-30 victory. The Ducks are the last remaining undefeated team in conference play in the Pac-12.
No. 5 Clemson also got a scare against undefeated, No. 14 Syracuse. The Orange jumped out to a 21-7 lead on the road before Tigers coach Dabo Swinney switched out DJ Uiagalelei for backup Cade Klubnik at QB. The move proved to do the trick, as the Klubnik helped lead Clemson to three scoring drives in a 27-21 comeback victory.
MORE: How long will Klubnik be Clemson's backup QB after Syracuse comeback?
The last game of note in the top 10 took place between No. 8 TCU and No. 17 Kansas State. The Horned Frogs fell behind 28-10 in the first half but then rattled off four consecutive touchdowns and take home a 38-28 win. The Horned Frogs are the last undefeated team, conference play or otherwise, in the Big 12.
The Sporting News looks at the latest Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 rankings for Week 9 following Saturday's action:
College football rankings for Week 9
Coaches Poll
Rank | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
1 | Georgia | 7-0 | 1550 (43) |
2 | Ohio State | 7-0 | 1516 (17) |
3 | Tennessee | 7-0 | 1424 (2) |
4 | Michigan | 7-0 | 1407 (1) |
5 | Clemson | 8-0 | 1325 |
6 | Alabama | 7-1 | 1264 |
7 | TCU | 7-0 | 1184 |
8 | Oregon | 6-1 | 1125 |
9 | Oklahoma State | 6-1 | 1031 |
10 | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 949 |
11 | USC | 6-1 | 941 |
12 | Ole Miss | 7-1 | 816 |
13 | Penn State | 6-1 | 789 |
14 | Utah | 5-2 | 782 |
15 | UCLA | 6-1 | 744 |
16 | Syracuse | 6-1 | 554 |
17 | Kentucky | 5-2 | 473 |
18 | Illinois | 6-1 | 469 |
19 | Cincinnati | 6-1 | 441 |
20 | LSU | 6-2 | 350 |
21 | UNC | 6-1 | 347 |
22 | Kansas State | 5-2 | 261 |
23 | NC State | 5-2 | 259 |
24 | Tulane | 7-1 | 206 |
25 | South Carolina | 5-2 | 87 |
Others receiving votes: Texas (48), Liberty (42), Maryland (24), Washington (22), Oregon State (21), Baylor (6), Texas-San Antonio (4), Mississippi State (4), Troy (3), Arkansas (3), Coastal Carolina (2), UCF (1), Boise State (1)
MORE: College football rankings: Projecting 2022 Playoff picture after three unbeatens lose in Week 8
AP Top 25
Rank | Team | Record | Points (No. 1 votes) |
1 | Georgia | 7-0 | 1530 (31) |
2 | Ohio State | 7-0 | 1513 (18) |
3 | Tennessee | 7-0 | 1476 (13) |
4 | Michigan | 7-0 | 1382 |
5 | Clemson | 8-0 | 1318 (1) |
6 | Alabama | 7-1 | 1266 |
7 | TCU | 7-0 | 1213 |
8 | Oregon | 6-1 | 1114 |
9 | Oklahoma State | 6-1 | 1064 |
T-10 | USC | 6-1 | 927 |
T-10 | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 927 |
12 | UCLA | 6-1 | 803 |
13 | Penn State | 6-1 | 783 |
14 | Utah | 5-2 | 766 |
15 | Ole Miss | 7-1 | 744 |
16 | Syracuse | 6-1 | 626 |
17 | Illinois | 6-1 | 508 |
18 | LSU | 6-2 | 502 |
19 | Kentucky | 5-2 | 429 |
20 | Cincinnati | 6-1 | 386 |
21 | UNC | 6-1 | 278 |
22 | Kansas State | 5-2 | 272 |
23 | Tulane | 7-1 | 243 |
24 | NC State | 5-2 | 169 |
25 | South Carolina | 5-2 | 113 |
Others receiving votes: Texas (38), Liberty (35), Oregon State (25), Mississippi State (10), Maryland (8), Troy (3), Texas-San Antonio (1), Arkansas (1), Washington (1), Florida State (1)
Zac Al-Khateeb contributed to this report.