The Week 9 Associated Press Top 25 is out, and Miami (FL) is still perched at No. 1 at a perfect 7-0. Ohio State climbed to No. 2 and Georgia jumped to No. 3, but the loudest noise this week came further down the board, where Texas surged eight spots and BYU slid all the way out of the top five. Below you will find the full Week 9 rankings, a free printable ballot so you can rank the teams yourself, a breakdown of the biggest movers, and a quick explainer on how the AP poll is built.
Download the free Week 9 Top 25 printable ballot
Want to make your picks before you scroll the official results? Grab the printable ballot. It lists this week’s AP Top 25 down the left side and gives you 25 blank lines on the right to build your own Top 25. Print it for a watch party, settle a group-chat debate, or keep a running ballot of your own all season.
2026 College Football AP Top 25: Week 9 rankings
Here is the full Week 9 AP Top 25, with each team’s record, its ranking from last week, and how far it moved. Records and movement are measured against the Week 8 poll.
| Rank | Team | Record | Last week | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) | 7-0 | 1 | Same |
| 2 | Ohio State | 6-1 | 3 | Up 1 |
| 3 | Georgia | 6-1 | 5 | Up 2 |
| 4 | Indiana | 7-1 | 6 | Up 2 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 6-1 | 4 | Down 1 |
| 6 | Utah | 7-0 | 10 | Up 4 |
| 7 | UCLA | 7-0 | 9 | Up 2 |
| 8 | BYU | 6-1 | 2 | Down 6 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 7-1 | 12 | Up 3 |
| 10 | Alabama | 6-2 | 13 | Up 3 |
| 11 | Texas | 5-2 | 19 | Up 8 |
| 12 | Ole Miss | 5-2 | 7 | Down 5 |
| 13 | Texas Tech | 6-1 | 8 | Down 5 |
| 14 | Wake Forest | 6-1 | 17 | Up 3 |
| 15 | LSU | 6-2 | 18 | Up 3 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 6-2 | 11 | Down 5 |
| 17 | Florida | 5-2 | 20 | Up 3 |
| 18 | Houston | 6-2 | 14 | Down 4 |
| 19 | SMU | 6-1 | 23 | Up 4 |
| 20 (tie) | Boise State | 6-1 | 21 | Up 1 |
| 20 (tie) | Northwestern | 6-1 | 24 | Up 4 |
| 22 | Arizona | 6-1 | 25 | Up 3 |
| 23 | Missouri | 5-2 | 22 | Down 1 |
| 24 | Oklahoma State | 5-2 | NR | New |
| 25 | Wisconsin | 5-2 | NR | New |
Biggest movers in the Week 9 AP Top 25
Risers
Texas was the week’s clear winner, climbing eight spots from No. 19 to No. 11 after a statement result. A cluster of teams gained four places each: Utah moved up to No. 6, SMU jumped to No. 19, and Northwestern slid into a share of No. 20. Kentucky (up to No. 9), Alabama (No. 10), Wake Forest (No. 14), LSU (No. 15), Florida (No. 17), and Arizona (No. 22) each gained three spots, and Georgia and Indiana both nudged up two to reach the top four.
Fallers
BYU took the hardest fall, dropping six places from No. 2 to No. 8 after its first loss of the year. Three teams slipped five spots apiece: Ole Miss (down to No. 12), Texas Tech (No. 13), and Tennessee (No. 16). Houston fell four to No. 18, while Notre Dame and Missouri each eased back one place.
In and out
Two teams joined the poll this week: Oklahoma State at No. 24 and Wisconsin at No. 25. To make room, Iowa and USC both dropped out of the Top 25 after sitting at No. 15 and No. 16 a week ago. Miami (FL) held firm at No. 1 and was the only team in the top 10 that did not move at all this week.
How the AP Top 25 works
The Associated Press Top 25 is a weekly ranking voted on by a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Each voter submits a ballot ranking their top 25 teams, and points are awarded on a sliding scale: 25 points for a first-place vote down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. The AP tallies every ballot, and the team with the most total points lands at No. 1.
The poll comes out once a week during the season, typically on Sunday afternoon after that weekend’s games are final. It is a human vote, not a computer formula, so results, strength of schedule, and the eye test all factor in. The AP poll is separate from the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings, which arrive later in the year and ultimately decide the playoff field.
More from Sports Brackets
- 2026-27 College Football Playoff projections: our Week 9 12-team bracket
- Live College Football Top 25 scores and AP poll tracker
- 2026 College Football Week 9 schedule and TV guide
- 2026 College Football Playoff predictions and projected field
- 2026 College Football schedule hub: printable PDF and key matchups
Week 9 AP Top 25 FAQ
Who is No. 1 in the Week 9 AP Top 25?
Miami (FL) is the No. 1 team in the Week 9 AP Top 25, holding the top spot at 7-0. Ohio State is No. 2 and Georgia is No. 3.
Which team moved up the most in Week 9?
Texas made the biggest jump, rising eight spots from No. 19 to No. 11. Utah, SMU, and Northwestern each climbed four places. You can see every team’s prior spot in our Week 8 AP Top 25.
Which teams fell the most in Week 9?
BYU fell the furthest, dropping six spots from No. 2 to No. 8. Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and Tennessee each slid five places.
Which teams are new in the Week 9 AP Top 25?
Oklahoma State (No. 24) and Wisconsin (No. 25) are the two new entries this week. Iowa and USC dropped out of the poll.
When does the next AP Top 25 poll come out?
The AP Top 25 is released once a week during the season, usually on Sunday afternoon once the weekend’s games are final. Our live Top 25 tracker updates as soon as the new poll lands.
Where can I print a blank AP Top 25 ballot?
You can download the free printable Week 9 Top 25 ballot at the top of this page. It shows the current poll on the left and leaves 25 blank lines for you to rank your own Top 25.
