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College Football Rankings: Athlon Sports Top 25 (After Week 9)
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- College Football Rankings: Athlon Sports Top 25 (After Week 9)
Weekly college football top 25 rankings are a big part of every season, and Athlon Sports will update its top 25 following the games each weekend.
The ninth weekend of the 2025 season was headlined by key wins in SEC play by Ole Miss (Oklahoma), Alabama (South Carolina), and Vanderbilt (Missouri). Georgia Tech remained unbeaten with a 41-16 victory over Syracuse, and Miami rebounded from last week's loss to Louisville with a 42-7 win over Stanford. BYU kept its perfect season intact by rallying to beat Iowa State, while Texas Tech, Cincinnati, Houston, and Utah picked up key victories in Big 12 action.
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Ohio State takes the No. 1 spot in the post-Week 9 top 25 rankings, followed by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Georgia. Here are Athlon Sports' top 25 college football teams after Week 9:
College Football Top 25 Rankings (After Week 9)
Biggest Risers in Athlon's CFB Rankings
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Cincinnati, BYU, Houston, and Washington
Biggest Drops in Athlon's CFB Rankings
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Oklahoma, Illinois, South, Florida, and LSU
Houston quarterback Conner Weigman runs with the ball against the Colorado Buffaloes at TDECU Stadium on Sept. 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
25. Memphis (7-1)
Last Week:Not Ranked
Week 9 Result:Defeated South Florida
The Tigers rebounded from last week's loss to UAB with a 34-31 upset of South Florida. Coach Ryan Silverfield's team scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to pull off the victory, which included a clutch effort from quarterback Brendon Lewis
(307 yards and two scores).
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24. Washington (6-2)
Last Week:Not Ranked
Week 9 Result:Defeated Illinois
The Huskies return to the top 25 after Saturday's 42-25 victory over Illinois. Quarterback Demond Williams (26 of 33 for 280 yards and four touchdowns) guided an offense that averaged 6.7 yards per snap in the win.
23. Houston (7-1)
Last Week:Not Ranked
Week 9 Result:Defeated Arizona State
Saturday night's 24-16 win at Arizona State showcased how far coach Willie Fritz's team has developed in just one year. With a favorable schedule ahead, the Cougars have legitimate Big 12 title aspirations.
22. Utah (6-2)
Last Week:Not Ranked
Week 9 Result:Defeated Colorado
Utah's 53-7 victory over Colorado can be summed up in two words: Total domination. The Utes gashed the Buffaloes for 422 rushing yards, while the defense allowed only 140 yards over 68 plays.
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21. Michigan (6-2)
Last Week:23
Week 9 Result:Defeated Michigan State
The Wolverines used 276 rushing yards to overpower rival Michigan State 31-20. Michigan has won four in a row over the Spartans.
20. Missouri (6-2)
Last Week:16
Week 9 Result:Lost to Vanderbilt
The Tigers came up short to Vanderbilt in a 17-10 defensive battle on Saturday afternoon. The loss was a significant setback to Missouri's hopes of a playoff spot, especially with quarterback Beau Pribula now out indefinitely due to an ankle injury suffered against the Commodores.
19. Oklahoma (6-2)
Last Week:11
Week 9 Result:Lost to Ole Miss
Hopes of a trip to the College Football Playoff for the Sooners took a massive hit on Saturday with a 34-26 loss to Ole Miss. Oklahoma's top-ranked defense struggled to get stops (431 yards allowed), and the offense sputtered outside of a few big plays and wasn't able to generate a consistent rushing attack once again.
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18. Texas (6-2)
Last Week:21
Week 9 Result:Defeated Mississippi State
A wild fourth quarter that featured 24 points - including a clutch punt return for a touchdown by Ryan Niblett - helped Texas rally to force overtime against Mississippi State. And in the extra session, the Longhorns outlasted the Bulldogs for a 45-38 win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Quarterback Arch Manning
threw for 346 yards and three scores but left due to injury.
17. Cincinnati (7-1)
Last Week:24
Week 9 Result:Defeated Baylor
The Bearcats won their seventh game in a row, leaning on a rushing attack that collected 265 yards over 50 carries to pound Baylor 41-20. Cincinnati has a massive showdown at Utah next week.
16. Tennessee (6-2)
Last Week:18
Week 9 Result:Defeated Kentucky
Tennessee continued its dominance over Kentucky with a 56-34 victory on Saturday night in Lexington. Quarterback Joey Aguilar guided an offense that averaged 8.5 yards a snap and threw for 396 yards and three scores. The Volunteers had three receivers reach 100 yards, including Chris Brazzell (four catches for 138 yards).
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15. Louisville (7-1)
Last Week:17
Week 9 Result:Defeated Boston College
Louisville's ground game posted 317 yards to ensure coach Jeff Brohm's team wouldn't have a letdown after last week's win at Miami. The Cardinals used that ground attack, along with a defense that forced three takeaways, to beat Boston College 38-24.
14. Virginia (7-1)
Last Week:15
Week 9 Result:Defeated North Carolina
It wasn't pretty, but Virginia escaped Chapel Hill with a 17-16 victory over North Carolina in overtime. The win was the Cavaliers' fourth in a row by one score.
13. Texas Tech (7-1)
Last Week:14
Week 9 Result:Defeated Oklahoma State
The Red Raiders rebounded from last week's loss at Arizona State by crushing Oklahoma State 42-0. Will Hammond started under center with Behren Morton
on the mend from injury, but he left Saturday's game due to injury. Morton is expected to return for Texas Tech's next game on Nov. 1 at Kansas State.
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12. BYU (8-0)
Last Week:13
Week 9 Result:Defeated Iowa State
A 34-10 run helped BYU rally from an early 17-7 deficit and score a huge 41-27 victory at Iowa State. True freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier (307 passing yards and two scores) was excellent once again, and the defense returned an interception for a score in the fourth quarter to help put the game away.
11. Notre Dame (5-2)
Last Week:12
Week 9 Result:Off Week
The Fighting Irish had an off week on Saturday and will return to action next week at Boston College.
10. Miami (7-1)
Last Week:9
Week 9 Result:Defeated Stanford
The Hurricanes started slow in Saturday night's matchup against Stanford, but coach Mario Cristobal's team pulled away in the second half to win 42-7. Miami's rushing attack pounded the Cardinal for 199 yards, with Mark Fletcher (106 yards) leading the way.
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9. Georgia Tech (8-0)
Last Week:8
Week 9 Result:Defeated Syracuse
Quarterback Haynes King
threw for 304 yards and three scores and added 91 yards and two touchdowns to guide Georgia Tech to an easy 41-16 victory over Syracuse. The Yellow Jackets are 8-0 for the first time since 1966.
8. Ole Miss (7-1)
Last Week:10
Week 9 Result:Defeated Oklahoma
The Rebels rebounded from last week's loss at Georgia to earn a huge 34-26 road victory against Oklahoma. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (24 of 44 for 315 yards) made several clutch throws, while the defense stepped up after a rough showing last Saturday. Coach Lane Kiffin's group recorded a safety, generated three sacks, and limited the Sooners to 359 total yards.
7. Vanderbilt (7-1)
Last Week:7
Week 9 Result:Defeated Missouri
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The Commodores secured another massive victory over a ranked opponent, beating Missouri 17-10 in a defensive slugfest in Nashville. Vanderbilt's offense managed only 265 yards, but running back Makhilyn Young scored on an 80-yard run. Also, the defense stepped up with a stop on the goal line and by forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter, which led to a touchdown by the offense.
6. Oregon (7-1)
Last Week:6
Week 9 Result:Defeated Wisconsin
The Ducks didn't win any style points, but coach Dan Lanning's team took care of business in a 21-7 victory over Wisconsin. Quarterback Dante Moore
left the game due to injury, with backup Brock Thomas throwing a touchdown in relief and guiding an offense that averaged 5.2 yards per play. Oregon's defense limited the Badgers to just 196 total yards.
5. Georgia (6-1)
Last Week:5
Week 9 Result:Off Week
The Bulldogs were off in Week 9 and will return to action next Saturday for a matchup against Florida in Jacksonville.
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4. Alabama (7-1)
Last Week:4
Week 9 Result:Defeated South Carolina
The Crimson Tide used a couple of clutch plays by quarterback Ty Simpson , along with a timely turnover late in the game, to escape South Carolina with a 29-22 victory. Simpson finished with 253 passing yards and two scores, while receiver Germie Bernard scored on a 25-yard rush with less than a minute remaining to secure the victory. Alabama has won seven in a row since losing to Florida State in the opener.
3. Texas A&M (8-0)
Last Week:3
Week 9 Result:Defeated LSU
The Aggies used a 35-7 run in the second half to win 49-25 over LSU in a statement victory for the program. Quarterback Marcel Reed (310 total yards and four overall scores) torched a standout Tigers' defense, while receiver KC Concepcion returned a punt for a touchdown, and the defense dominated in the trenches.
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2. Indiana (8-0)
Last Week:2
Week 9 Result:Defeated UCLA
UCLA entered Saturday's matchup with a three-game winning streak, but Indiana took control early and dominated for a 56-6 victory. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza accounted for four touchdowns, and the defense limited the Bruins to 201 yards.
1. Ohio State (7-0)
Last Week:1
Week 9 Result:Off Week
The Buckeyes were off in Week 9 and will return to action next Saturday at home against Penn State.
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Related: Top 25 Predictions: What the AP Poll Will Look Like After Week 9
Related: College Football Is So Many Things, Including FIU's 'Vice Night' at Pitbull Stadium
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
