RANKINGS: Georgia Takes No. 1, Utah and UCLA Stay Perfect, Miami Drops After Loss in the JPWest Media Week 11 Top 25

Georgia is the new No. 1. Utah and UCLA stayed perfect. Miami is no longer undefeated. The board treated the results like they counted.

The poll is compiled from four reporter ballots on a 25-to-1 scale. Georgia received the top spot on the final ballot and finished first overall.

Out — Missouri, Florida.
In — SMU, New Mexico.
Also receiving votes — Missouri

Biggest movers: ↑ Georgia +1, Utah +3, UCLA +3, Notre Dame +1, Alabama +2, Texas +3, Tennessee +7, Texas Tech +5, USC +5, Oregon +5, Arizona +6, New Mexico new. ↓ Miami −5, BYU −6, Kentucky −10, Ole Miss −8, LSU −8, Ohio State −14.

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1. Georgia Bulldogs (8-1)
Previous ranking: 2 ↑1
Week 10: W 42–7 at Ole Miss
Week 11: vs. Missouri

Georgia routed Ole Miss and moved to No. 1. The road win over Alabama earlier this year and the domination in Oxford gave the Bulldogs the strongest case at the top. One loss is still on the record. The board put the best body of work first.

2. Utah Utes (9-0)
Previous ranking: 5 ↑3
Week 10: W 28–20 vs. BYU
Week 11: at Arizona

Utah beat BYU and stayed perfect. The Utes have been one of the steadiest teams all year. An undefeated team with a top-10 win does not need to explain being second.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1)
Previous ranking: 3 –
Week 10: W 31–24 vs. Miami
Week 11: vs. Boston College

Notre Dame beat the previous No. 1 and stayed at 3. The loss at BYU is still there, but the win over Miami kept Notre Dame in the top 3

4. UCLA Bruins (9-0)
Previous ranking: 6 ↑2
Week 10: W 34–20 at Minnesota
Week 11: vs. Illinois

UCLA stayed perfect and moved up. The earlier win over Oregon remains on the résumé. An undefeated Power conference team sits this high because it has not lost.

5. Indiana Hoosiers (8-1)
Previous ranking: 4 ↓1
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: vs. USC

Indiana sat and slipped one spot. The earlier loss to Ohio State remains the only blemish. A one-loss team that keeps winning stays in the top five.

6. Miami Hurricanes (8-1)
Previous ranking: 1 ↓5
Week 10: L 24–31 at Notre Dame
Week 11: vs. Duke

Miami lost its first game and dropped five spots. An 8-1 team that just lost to another one-loss team does not stay No. 1. The board treated the result like it counted.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2)
Previous ranking: 9 ↑2
Week 10: W 31–13 at LSU
Week 11: at Vanderbilt

Alabama beat LSU and moved up. Two earlier losses still limit the ceiling, but the Crimson Tide looked improved. A two-loss team that keeps winning stays ranked this high.

8. Texas Longhorns (7-2)
Previous ranking: 11 ↑3
Week 10: W 34–20 at Missouri
Week 11: at LSU

Texas handled Missouri and climbed. The earlier loss to Florida is still there, but the win over a ranked team moved them up. The board rewarded the result.

9. Tennessee Volunteers (7-2)
Previous ranking: 16 ↑7
Week 10: W 34–6 vs. Kentucky
Week 11: at Texas A&M

Tennessee crushed Kentucky and jumped seven spots. The earlier win over Alabama remains the best result on the résumé. A two-loss team that beats a ranked opponent moves up.

10. Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-1)
Previous ranking: 15 ↑5
Week 10: W 53–48 vs. West Virginia
Week 11: at Oklahoma State

Texas Tech survived West Virginia and climbed. The earlier loss to Cincinnati is still there, but a one-loss team that continues to win stays in the top 10.

11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (8-1)
Previous ranking: 14 ↑3
Week 10: W 77–0 vs. Merrimack
Week 11: at SMU

Wake Forest handled Merrimack and moved up. The Demon Deacons have quietly put together a strong year. A one-loss team that keeps winning does not need to explain a top-12 ranking.

12. BYU Cougars (7-2)
Previous ranking: 7 ↓5
Week 10: L 20–28 at Utah
Week 11: vs. Baylor

BYU lost at Utah and dropped five spots. The earlier win over Notre Dame is still on the résumé, but a loss to a top-five team carries a cost. The board treated the result like it counted.

13. Houston Cougars (7-2)
Previous ranking: 18 ↑4
Week 10: W 31–24 vs. Cincinnati
Week 11: at Colorado

Houston beat Cincinnati and moved up. A two-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

14. USC Trojans (7-2)
Previous ranking: 17 ↑3
Week 10: Bye
Week 11: at Indiana

USC sat and climbed three spots. The earlier win over Ohio State remains the signature result. A two-loss team with a top-10 win stays ranked this high.

15. Iowa Hawkeyes (7-2)
Previous ranking: 21 ↑6
Week 10: W 24–10 vs. Northwestern
Week 11: vs. Purdue

Iowa handled Northwestern and climbed. The earlier loss to Indiana is still there, but a ranked opponent is next.

16. Boise State Broncos (8-1)
Previous ranking: 19 ↑3
Week 10: W 64–38 vs. Colorado State
Week 11: vs. Oregon State

Boise State rolled past Colorado State and moved up. The Broncos have been one of the more consistent teams outside the Power conferences. A one-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

17. Oregon Ducks (6-3)
Previous ranking: 22 ↑5
Week 10: W 41–28 at Ohio State
Week 11: vs. Michigan

Oregon beat Ohio State and climbed five spots. Three losses still limit the ceiling, but a road win over a top-15 team moves a team up. The board treated the result like it counted.

18. Kentucky Wildcats (7-2)
Previous ranking: 8 ↓10
Week 10: L 6–34 at Tennessee
Week 11: vs. Florida

Kentucky lost at Tennessee and dropped 10 spots. The earlier consistency kept them ranked, but a loss to a ranked opponent carries a cost.

19. Arizona Wildcats (7-2)
Previous ranking: 25 ↑6
Week 10: W 29–28 vs. TCU
Week 11: vs. Utah

Arizona survived TCU and moved up. A two-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

20. Ole Miss Rebels (6-3)
Previous ranking: 12 ↓8
Week 10: L 7–42 vs. Georgia
Week 11: at Oklahoma

Ole Miss lost at home to Georgia and dropped eight spots. The earlier 31-3 win over Missouri is still on the résumé, but a blowout loss to a top team moves a team down.

21. LSU Tigers (6-3)
Previous ranking: 13 ↓8
Week 10: L 13–31 vs. Alabama
Week 11: vs. Texas

LSU lost to Alabama and dropped. Two earlier losses plus this one keep them from climbing higher. A ranked opponent is next.

22. SMU Mustangs (7-2)
Previous ranking: NR
Week 10: W 51–28 vs. Virginia Tech
Week 11: vs. Wake Forest

SMU beat Virginia Tech and entered the rankings. A two-loss team with enough wins cracks the top 25.

23. South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3)
Previous ranking: 24 ↑1
Week 10: W 17–9 vs. Texas A&M
Week 11: at Arkansas

South Carolina beat Texas A&M and held a spot. A three-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

24. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-3)
Previous ranking: 10 ↓14
Week 10: L 28–41 vs. Oregon
Week 11: vs. Northwestern

Ohio State lost at home to Oregon and dropped 14 spots. The earlier road win at Indiana remains the best résumé piece among three-loss teams. Two straight losses to ranked opponents carry a cost. The board treated the results like they counted.

25. New Mexico Lobos (8-1)
Previous ranking: RV
Week 10: W 31–3 at Nevada
Week 11: vs. UNLV

New Mexico handled Nevada and entered the rankings. An 8-1 team outside the Power conferences cracks the top 25 when it keeps winning.