Projected top 25: USC upset of Ohio State reshapes rankings
USC's 30-18 win over Ohio State pushes the Trojans back into the AP Top 25 projections as Miami stays No. 1 and Georgia climbs to No. 3 after Week 9.
USC stuns Ohio State to crash back into the rankings
The projected top 25 for Sunday's AP poll has USC back in the rankings after the Trojans' 30-18 upset of Ohio State, while Miami holds the No. 1 spot coming out of Week 9. USC had been unranked since a 17-7 loss to Wisconsin, and the pressure built all week with Ohio State arriving as a top-two team. The Trojans answered their offensive questions immediately, raced out to an early lead and never let go in a rain-soaked game.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava and freshman Trent Mosley delivered the big plays that sealed the 30-18 final, according to the box score. The win marked Lincoln Riley's first victory over a top-five opponent since he became USC's coach.
The Wisconsin loss that had knocked USC out of the poll was lopsided, the fewest yards and points USC had put up in Riley's five seasons in charge, and it ended a run that had kept the Trojans ranked since Oct. 19, 2025. Wisconsin, the same team that beat USC 17-7, lost itself on Saturday, adding another twist to the day.
Miami holds on at No. 1
Miami trailed in the second half, but the upset bid from its opponent never felt serious as long as Malachi Toney stayed on the field. The Hurricanes' wide receiver, a Heisman Trophy contender, caught seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as Miami won 38-35 to stay at No. 1.
It's Miami's first run at No. 1 since 2002.
Georgia climbs, and losses pile up elsewhere
Georgia moved up to No. 3 after cashing in on Florida's early mistakes and riding another strong defensive performance to its sixth straight win.
Saturday's chaos went well beyond the Ohio State game. SMU, Northwestern, Arizona, Oklahoma State and Wisconsin all lost, opening spots for new teams to jump into the rankings when the board resets Sunday.
Iowa's loss at Minnesota left the Hawkeyes unranked for the first time this season, and BYU dropped six spots to No. 8 after a loss at UCF, both signs of how unsettled the Top 25 has been.
What happens next
The new AP Top 25 comes out Sunday. Miami is expected to stay at No. 1, Georgia moves into the top three, and USC returns to the poll on the strength of the Ohio State win.
Ohio State is projected to slide after the loss but not drop far, with wins over Indiana and Iowa in conference play still carrying weight. For USC, the win ends a week of pressure and answers the questions about an offense that had been underperforming before the trip to Los Angeles paid off.
Heading into the weekend, Miami, Utah and UCLA were the only unbeaten teams left in major college football, the fewest at this point in a season since 1977. Week 9's results, from the Ohio State loss to the five ranked teams that went down, kept that volatile stretch going.
Facts per CBS Sports, ESPN, ESPN box score, ESPN box score, ESPN box score. Opinion is the taproom's.