RANKINGS: Miami Stays Perfect, USC Returns After Upset Win in the JPWest Media Week 10 Top 25

Miami stayed perfect. Ohio State did not. USC is back in. The board treated the results like they counted.

The poll is compiled from six reporter ballots on a 25-to-1 scale. Miami received all six first-place votes and finished with 150 of a possible 150 points. Georgia was next at 144. Notre Dame finished third at 132.

Out — Northwestern (was receiving votes).
In — South Carolina.
Also receiving votes — Northwestern 6, New Mexico 5, Iowa State 4, Virginia Tech 4, SMU 2.

Biggest movers: ↑ Utah +2, UCLA +1, BYU +1, LSU +2, USC +8. ↓ Ohio State −8, Alabama −1, Texas −2.

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1. Miami Hurricanes (8-0)
Previous ranking: 1 —
Week 9: W 38–35 at North Carolina
Week 10: at Notre Dame

Miami stayed perfect and survived a late scare in Chapel Hill. The Hurricanes kept the top spot with a win on a day when other ranked teams slipped. An 8-0 team that continues to win does not need to explain the ranking.

2. Georgia Bulldogs (7-1)
Previous ranking: 3 ↑1
Week 9: W 27–8 vs. Florida
Week 10: at Ole Miss

Georgia handled Florida in Atlanta and moved up a spot. The earlier loss to Auburn is still there, but the rest of the body of work kept the Bulldogs near the top.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-1)
Previous ranking: 5 ↑2
Week 9: W 35–13 vs. Navy
Week 10: vs. Miami

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

4. Indiana Hoosiers (8-1)
Previous ranking: 4 —
Week 9: W 23–16 (OT) vs. Minnesota
Week 10: at Penn State

Indiana survived Minnesota in overtime and held its spot. The earlier loss to Ohio State remains the only blemish. A one-loss team that keeps winning stays ranked this high.

5. Utah Utes (8-0)
Previous ranking: 7 ↑2
Week 9: W 49–25 at Cincinnati
Week 10: vs. BYU

Utah rolled past Cincinnati and stayed undefeated. The Utes have been one of the steadiest teams all year, and the board rewarded it with a two-spot climb.

6. UCLA Bruins (8-0)
Previous ranking: 6 —
Week 9: W 27–0 vs. Nevada
Week 10: at Washington

UCLA stayed perfect and held its 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. BYU Cougars (7-1)
Previous ranking: 8 ↑1
Week 9: W 27–20 vs. Arizona State
Week 10: at Utah

BYU handled Arizona State and moved up one spot. The earlier win over Notre Dame is still the signature result on the résumé. A one-loss team that keeps winning stays in the top 10.

8. Kentucky Wildcats (7-1)
Previous ranking: 9 ↑1
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Tennessee

Kentucky sat and climbed one spot. 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.

9. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2)
Previous ranking: 10 ↑1
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. LSU

Alabama sat and moved up one spot. Two losses earlier in the year still limit the ceiling, but the Crimson Tide looked improved before the bye. A ranked opponent is next.

10. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-2)
Previous ranking: 2 ↓8
Week 9: L 18–30 at USC
Week 10: vs. Oregon

Ohio State lost at USC and dropped eight spots. The earlier road win at Indiana remains the best résumé piece among two-loss teams. A loss to a ranked opponent carries a cost. The board treated the result like it counted.

11. Texas Longhorns (6-2)
Previous ranking: 11 —
Week 9: W 31–3 vs. Mississippi State
Week 10: at Vanderbilt

Texas handled Mississippi State and held its spot. The earlier loss to Florida is still there, but the win over a ranked team earlier in the year keeps them in the top 12.

12. Ole Miss Rebels (6-2)
Previous ranking: 12 —
Week 9: W 45–15 vs. Auburn
Week 10: vs. Georgia

Ole Miss handled Auburn and held its spot. The earlier 31-3 win over Missouri is still on the résumé. A ranked opponent is next.

13. LSU Tigers (6-2)
Previous ranking: 15 ↑2
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: at Alabama

LSU sat and climbed two spots. Two earlier losses keep them from climbing higher, but the Tigers looked sharp before the bye. A road game in the SEC is next.

14. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-1)
Previous ranking: 14 —
Week 9: W 51–7 vs. Virginia
Week 10: at SMU

Wake Forest handled Virginia and held its spot. 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 (7-1)
Previous ranking: 15 —
Week 9: W 34–26 vs. Arizona
Week 10: at Houston

Texas Tech handled Arizona and held its spot. The earlier loss to Cincinnati is still there, but a one-loss team that continues to win stays ranked.

16. Tennessee Volunteers (6-2)
Previous ranking: 16 —
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Kentucky

Tennessee sat and held its spot. The earlier win over Alabama is still the best result on the résumé. A ranked opponent is next.

17. USC Trojans (7-2)
Previous ranking: 25 ↑8
Week 9: W 30–18 vs. Ohio State
Week 10: at Nebraska

USC beat Ohio State and jumped eight spots. The earlier loss to Wisconsin is still there, but a win over a top-five team moves a team up. The board treated the result like it counted.

18. Houston Cougars (6-2)
Previous ranking: 18 —
Week 9: Bye
Week 10: vs. Texas Tech

Houston sat and held its spot. The earlier win over Oklahoma State is still on the résumé. A ranked opponent is next.

19. Boise State Broncos (7-1)
Previous ranking: 20 ↑1
Week 9: W 46–45 vs. Texas State
Week 10: at San Diego State

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

20. Missouri Tigers (6-2)
Previous ranking: 20 —
Week 9: W 34–10 vs. Arkansas
Week 10: at Oklahoma

Missouri handled Arkansas and held its spot. The earlier loss to Ole Miss is still there, but a win over a ranked opponent earlier in the year keeps them in the top 20.

21. Iowa Hawkeyes (6-2)
Previous ranking: 21 —
Week 9: W 30–0 vs. Wisconsin
Week 10: at Oregon

Iowa shut out Wisconsin and held its spot. The earlier loss to Indiana is still there, but a ranked opponent is next.

22. Oregon Ducks (5-3)
Previous ranking: 23 ↑1
Week 9: W 34–26 vs. Northwestern
Week 10: at Ohio State

Oregon handled Northwestern and moved up one spot. Two earlier losses keep them from climbing higher, but the Ducks looked sharp. A ranked opponent is next.

23. Florida Gators (5-3)
Previous ranking: 22 ↓1
Week 9: L 8–27 at Georgia
Week 10: vs. Mississippi State

Florida lost at Georgia and dropped one spot. The earlier win over Texas is still the best result on the résumé. A loss to a ranked opponent carries a cost.

24. South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3)
Previous ranking: NR
Week 9: W 42–25 vs. Oklahoma
Week 10: at Texas A&M

South Carolina beat Oklahoma and entered the rankings. The Gamecocks have put together enough wins to crack the top 25. A ranked opponent is next.

25. Arizona Wildcats (6-2)
Previous ranking: 22 ↓3
Week 9: L 26–34 at Texas Tech
Week 10: vs. Cincinnati

Arizona lost at Texas Tech and dropped three spots. The earlier win over Houston is still on the résumé. A loss to a ranked opponent moves a team down.