UK & Ireland College Football Media Top 25 Rankings: Week 9

By Simon Carroll

If the AP or CFP committe can’t get it right, then perhaps we can!

Since the start of the 2022 season, some of the UK & Ireland’s most talented writers, content creators and students of the college game have combined to deliver their own weekly set of college football rankings. The UK & Ireland CFB Media Top 25 is announced every Tuesday evening, and today we can bring you the standings after Week 9. Buckle up – there’s a surprise or two!

2024 - Week 9

Graphic: Owain Jones (Twitter - @Owain_Jones_)
  1. OREGON DUCKS (8-0, =)
  2. GEORGIA BULLDOGS (6-1, =)
  3. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (7-0, =)
  4. MIAMI HURRICANES (8-0, =)
  5. TEXAS LONGHORNS (7-1, =)
  6. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (6-1, =)
  7. BYU COUGARS (8-0, ↑3)
  8. INDIANA HOOSIERS (8-0, ↑3)
  9. TEXAS A&M AGGIES (7-1, ↑4)
  10. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (6-1, ↓3)
  11. IOWA STATE CYCLONES (7-0, ↓2)
  12. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (7-1, ↑2)
  13. CLEMSON TIGERS (6-1, ↓5)
  14. PITT PANTHERS (7-0, ↑2)
  15. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (6-2, =)
  16. BOISE STATE BRONCOS (6-1, ↑4)
  17. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (7-1, =)
  18. LSU TIGERS (6-2, ↓4)
  19. ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS (7-0, =)
  20. SMU MUSTANGS (7-1, ↑3)
  21. OLE MISS REBELS (6-2, ↑3)
  22. WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (7-1, NE)
  23. ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (6-2, ↓5)
  24. COLORADO BUFFALOES (6-2, NE)
  25. MEMPHIS TIGERS (7-1, NE)

*NE – New Entrant. Teams dropping out: Vanderbilt, Navy, Missouri

TAKEAWAYS

No Change At The Top

Perhaps things are starting to take shape.

Even in this new world of huge conferences where everyone won’t play each other, and a 12-team playoff that muddies the pecking order somewhat, the cream has still risen to the top. The top six in the rankings all retain their status, despite three of them facing sneaky stern tests; Texas struggled to overcome a feisty Vandy, Penn State finally saw off Wisconsin, and Ohio State just about dispensed of Nebraska.

Georgia had a well earned rest, whilst Miami swatted aside FSU in a rivalry game that was as one-sided as you’ll see. In reality, only Oregon impressed enough to alter things, and as they were already at the summit they just widened the gap on second spot. The Ducks look the team to beat, but the big games will keep on coming!

Punishment For Not Playing?

I personally try my best not to demote teams in the rankings who are on a bye week. Every team has a couple of breaks in the yeat, and it seems a little harsh to punish them for not playing. That being said, it’s not an exact science, and if lower-ranked teams impress, sometimes it’s difficult to avoid.

This week, five teams in the Top 25 were on a bye. As discussed, Georgia maintained their status, as did #19 Army. But the other three – Clemson, Tennessee and Iowa State – all fell down the list, by a jaw-dropping total of ten spots! Out of the five teams that slid after week 9, 60% of them were made up by teams who didn’t even play – and one of them remains undefeated.

There’s still plenty of time for things to change, and these teams will have the opportunity to impress once again. But boy the UK & Ireland voting panel are RUTHLESS.

New Entrants

Any voter will tell you the most fan part of the process is having new teams crash the rankings. This week, three teams crack the Top 25 who were previously left out; Washington State, Colorado and Memphis.

Of those three, only the Cougars from Pullman have been previously ranked this season – waaaay back in Week 4 (in the same spot at #22), and they lasted just seven days. Both the Tigers and Buffaloes received votes throughout the campaign, but never quite cracked the list, suffering key losses just as they looked set to join the elite.

Perhaps Colorado have been the most unlucky to date, having lost to two P4 teams that would be a problem for many programs. Coach Prime continues to trailblaze a different path – some like it, some don’t – but the improvement from last season is obvious. Wazzu, in something of a limbo status in the PAC-2 right now, have two wins over power schools (Washington, TTU), but got beat by Boise. As the year goes on, that loss looks better and better.

And finally, Memphis may be benefitting from a spot of recency bias, as Navy’s loss to Notre Dame saw them fall out of the rankings and open a spot up for the Tigers. It’s easy to forget that Memphis’ only loss this season came to the Midshipmen though, and I’m not sure how much cachet a win over FSU gets you in 2024. Still, here we are – the votes are in and the panel has spoken. Stay tuned for more drama in Week 10!

Players Of The Week:

Offense: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

Defense: Rasheem Biles, LB, Pitt

Mock Draft

SIMON CARROLL

Lead Writer, Head Of Content

PREVIOUSLY THE FOUNDER OF NFL DRAFT UK, SIMON HAS BEEN COVERING COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND THE NFL DRAFT SINCE 2009. BASED IN MANCHESTER, SIMON IS ALSO CO-CREATOR & WEEKLY GUEST OF THE COLLAPSING POCKET PODCAST.

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