RANKINGS: Miami Stays No. 1, Three Undefeateds Remain in the Top 25 After Another Week of Upsets in the JPWest Media Week 9 Top 25

Miami stayed perfect. BYU and Texas Tech did not. Arizona is in. USC is out. The board treated the results like they counted.

The poll is compiled from five reporter ballots on a 25-to-1 scale. Miami received all five first-place votes and finished with 125 of a possible 125 points. Ohio State was next at 120. Georgia finished third at 113.

Out — USC (was 14).
In — Arizona.
Also receiving votes — USC 4, Wisconsin 3.

Biggest movers: ↑ Texas +7, Wake Forest +5, SMU +4, LSU +5, Florida +6. ↓ BYU −6, Texas Tech −7, Ole Miss −7, Tennessee −7, Iowa −9.

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1. Miami Hurricanes (7-0)
Previous ranking: 1 —
Week 8: W 52–23 vs. Pittsburgh
Week 9: at North Carolina

Miami stayed perfect and looked the part against Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes kept the top spot with a clean win on a day when other ranked teams slipped. A 7-0 team that continues to win does not need to explain the ranking.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)
Previous ranking: 3 ↑1
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at USC

Ohio State used the bye and moved up a spot. The earlier road win at Indiana remains the best résumé piece among one-loss teams. A bye does not change that.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)
Previous ranking: 6 ↑3
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Florida

Georgia sat and climbed three spots while teams around them lost. The earlier loss to Auburn is still there, but the rest of the body of work kept the Bulldogs near the top.

4. Indiana Hoosiers (7-1)
Previous ranking: 9 ↑5
Week 8: W 13–6 (OT) at Michigan
Week 9: vs. Minnesota

Indiana went to Michigan, won in overtime, and moved up five spots. The earlier loss to Ohio State remains the only blemish. A road win in Ann Arbor still counts as a road win in Ann Arbor.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)
Previous ranking: 8 ↑3
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Navy

Notre Dame sat and climbed three spots. The loss at BYU is still on the résumé, but the Irish stayed in the top five because other one-loss teams had worse weeks.

6. UCLA Bruins (7-0)
Previous ranking: 7 ↑1
Week 8: W 28–10 vs. Michigan State
Week 9: vs. Nevada

UCLA stayed perfect and moved up one spot. The Bruins already had a win over Oregon earlier in the year. An undefeated Power conference team does not need to apologize for being sixth.

7. Utah Utes (7-0)
Previous ranking: 11 ↑4
Week 8: W 21–13 vs. Houston
Week 9: at Cincinnati

Utah beat Houston and stayed undefeated. The Utes have been one of the steadiest teams all year, and the board rewarded it with a four-spot climb.

8. BYU Cougars (6-1)
Previous ranking: 2 ↓6
Week 8: L 31–39 (2OT) at UCF
Week 9: vs. Arizona State

BYU lost on the road in double overtime to UCF and dropped six spots. The earlier win over Notre Dame is still the signature result on the résumé, but a loss to an unranked team moves a team down. The board treated the result like it counted.

9. Kentucky Wildcats (7-1)
Previous ranking: 12 ↑3
Week 8: W 34–17 vs. Vanderbilt
Week 9: at Tennessee

Kentucky beat Vanderbilt and climbed three spots. The Wildcats have been one of the more consistent teams in the SEC this year. A one-loss team that keeps winning stays in the top 10.

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2)
Previous ranking: 13 ↑3
Week 8: W 31–20 vs. Texas A&M
Week 9: vs. LSU

Alabama beat Texas A&M and moved up three spots. Two losses earlier in the year still limit the ceiling, but the Crimson Tide looked improved. A win over a ranked opponent is still a win over a ranked opponent.

11. Texas Longhorns (5-2)
Previous ranking: 18 ↑7
Week 8: W 34–27 vs. Ole Miss
Week 9: vs. Mississippi State

Texas beat Ole Miss at home and jumped seven spots. The earlier loss to Florida is still there, but the win over a ranked team was enough for the board to move them back into the top 12.

12. Ole Miss Rebels (5-2)
Previous ranking: 5 ↓7
Week 8: L 27–34 at Texas
Week 9: vs. Auburn

Ole Miss lost at Texas and dropped seven spots. The earlier 31-3 win over Missouri is still on the résumé, but a road loss to a ranked opponent carries a cost. The board treated the result like it counted.

13. LSU Tigers (6-2)
Previous ranking: 18 ↑5
Week 8: W 38–17 at Auburn
Week 9: at Alabama

LSU went to Auburn and won by 21. Two earlier losses keep them from climbing higher, but the Tigers looked sharp and moved up five spots. A road win in the SEC is still a road win in the SEC.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1)
Previous ranking: 19 ↑5
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Virginia

Wake Forest sat and climbed five spots. The Demon Deacons have quietly put together a strong year in the ACC. A one-loss team that keeps winning does not need to explain why it is ranked in the top 15.

15. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-1)
Previous ranking: 8 ↓7
Week 8: L 24–37 at Cincinnati
Week 9: vs. Arizona

Texas Tech lost on the road to Cincinnati and dropped seven spots. The Red Raiders had been one of the cleaner undefeated teams until Saturday. A loss to an unranked team moves a team down. The board treated the result like it counted.

16. SMU Mustangs (6-1)
Previous ranking: 20 ↑4
Week 8: W 59–20 vs. California
Week 9: at Syracuse

SMU beat California and moved up four spots. The Mustangs have been one of the more consistent teams in the ACC this season. A one-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

17. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)
Previous ranking: 10 ↓7
Week 8: L 24–27 at South Carolina
Week 9: vs. Kentucky

Tennessee lost at South Carolina and dropped seven spots. The earlier win over Alabama is still the best result on the résumé, but a loss to an unranked team carries a cost. The board treated the result like it counted.

18. Houston Cougars (6-2)
Previous ranking: 15 ↓3
Week 8: L 13–21 at Utah
Week 9: Bye

Houston lost at Utah and dropped three spots. The earlier win over Oklahoma State is still on the résumé, but a road loss to an undefeated team moves a team down.

19. Florida Gators (5-2)
Previous ranking: 25 ↑6
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: vs. Georgia

Florida sat and climbed six spots. The earlier win at Texas is still the best result on the résumé. A team that already beat a ranked opponent does not need to apologize for being ranked in this range after a bye.

20. Missouri Tigers (5-2)
Previous ranking: 24 ↑4
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: at Arkansas

Missouri sat and moved up four spots. The earlier loss at Ole Miss is still the biggest blemish, but the Tigers stayed ranked because other teams lost.

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-2)
Previous ranking: 21 —
Week 8: W 57–24 vs. Colorado
Week 9: at Iowa State

Oklahoma State beat Colorado and held its spot. The earlier loss at Houston is still there, but the Cowboys received enough support to stay ranked. A one-loss team that rebounded with a win stays in the conversation.

22. Northwestern Wildcats (6-1)
Previous ranking: 22 —
Week 8: W 42–14 vs. Rutgers
Week 9: at Oregon

Northwestern beat Rutgers and held its spot. The Wildcats have been one of the more consistent surprises in the Big Ten this year. A one-loss team that keeps winning does not need to explain why it is still ranked.

23. Boise State Broncos (6-1)
Previous ranking: 23 —
Week 8: W 31–10 at Washington State
Week 9: vs. Fresno State

Boise State won at Washington State and held its spot. The Broncos remain one of the better Group of Five teams. A clean win on the road is still a clean win on the road.

24. Arizona Wildcats (6-1)
Previous ranking: NR
Week 8: W 39–3 vs. Iowa State
Week 9: at Texas Tech

Arizona enters the poll after beating Iowa State. The Wildcats have been solid all year in the Big 12. A one-loss team that continues to win does not need to explain why it is ranked.

25. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2)
Previous ranking: 16 ↓9
Week 8: L 10–13 at Minnesota
Week 9: vs. Wisconsin

Iowa lost at Minnesota and dropped nine spots. The Hawkeyes remain a tough, physical team, but a loss to an unranked opponent moves a team down. The board treated the result like it counted.

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Also receiving votes: Wisconsin 4, USC 3.

Miami is the clear No. 1. Three undefeated teams remain. Arizona is in. USC is out. The rest of the board moved based on what happened Saturday.