{"id":252335,"date":"2025-10-26T08:44:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T08:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/252335\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T08:44:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T08:44:08","slug":"brett-mcmurphys-college-football-ap-top-25-ballot-after-week-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/252335\/","title":{"rendered":"Brett McMurphy&#8217;s college football AP Top 25 ballot after Week 9"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ohio State remains No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot, but Texas A&amp;M jumped Indiana into the No. 2 spot by the narrowest of margins. Indiana crushed UCLA, but Texas A&amp;M had the more impressive victory, routing LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge.<\/p>\n<p>Undefeated BYU moved up to No. 9 on my ballot after winning at Iowa State. Four new teams are on my ballot this week: Utah, Michigan, Washington and Memphis.<\/p>\n<p>My Top 25 ballot after Week 9:<\/p>\n<p>The Buckeyes did not play last week. Ohio State hosts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/penn-state-nittany-lions\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Penn State<\/a> on Saturday. Of the Buckeyes\u2019 final five games, only Michigan has a winning record.<\/p>\n<p>The Aggies remained perfect by pulling away from LSU 49-25. A&amp;M trailed 18-14 at halftime, but dominated the second half. Quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/marcel-reed-82333\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marcel Reed<\/a> (202 yards passing, 108 yards rushing) had two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/kevin-concepcion-146422\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">KC Conception<\/a> added a TD reception and returned a punt 79 yards for another score.<\/p>\n<p>The Hoosiers blasted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/ucla-bruins\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UCLA<\/a> 56-6. Wide receiver <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/ej-williams-40248\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">E.J. Williams<\/a> had 109 receiving yards, including two touchdowns. Quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/fernando-mendoza-43783\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fernando Mendoza<\/a> threw for only 168 yards, but had three TD passes. The Hoosiers held the Bruins to 201 yards, while rolling up 475.<\/p>\n<p>After winning four consecutive games against ranked opponents, the Crimson Tide barely survived at unranked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/south-carolina-gamecocks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">South Carolina<\/a> 29-22. Heisman favorite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/ty-simpson-117106\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ty Simpson<\/a> threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-tying TD with 2:16 remaining. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/germie-bernard-45965\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Germie Bernard\u2019s<\/a> 25-yard score with 39 seconds remaining was the difference.<\/p>\n<p>The Bulldogs did not play last week. Georgia faces <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/florida-gators\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Florida<\/a> on Saturday in Jacksonville in the Gators\u2019 first game since firing coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/coach\/billy-napier-131395\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Billy Napier<\/a>. Of Georgia\u2019s final five games, only two are in Athens \u2013 Nov. 15 vs. Texas and Nov. 22 vs. Charlotte.<\/p>\n<p>Even with Oklahoma fans mocking Ole Miss coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/coach\/lane-kiffin-135051\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lane Kiffin<\/a> with the Gator chomp, the Rebels pulled away from the Sooners 34-26. Ole Miss watched a 26-13 third-quarter lead disappear, but the Rebels outscored OU 10-0 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/trinidad-chambliss-250566\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trinidad Chambliss<\/a> threw for 315 yards and rushed 53 yards. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/winston-watkins-jr-121699\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Winston Watkins <\/a>had 111 yards receiving on only four receptions. Ole Miss hosts South Carolina on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>The Commodores kept their magical season alive with a 17-10 win against Missouri. Quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/diego-pavia-36926\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Diego Pavia<\/a> was limited to 129 yards passing and 20 yards rushing as the Tigers outgained Vanderbilt 376-265. The Commodores visit Texas on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>The Hurricanes rebounded from their first loss of the season by blasting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/stanford-cardinal\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Stanford<\/a> 42-7. Tied at seven at halftime, the Hurricanes outscored the Cardinal 35-0 in the second half. Running back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/mark-fletcher-83394\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mark Fletcher Jr.<\/a> rushed for 106 yards, including a career-high three touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>9.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/byu-cougars\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">BYU<\/a> (8-0)<\/p>\n<p>The Cougars rallied from a 14-point second quarter deficit and pulled away at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/iowa-state-cyclones\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Iowa State<\/a> 41-27. The Cougars dominated in the second half, outscoring the Cyclones 24-3. BYU was actually outgained by Iowa State, but forced four turnovers, including a pick-six by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/faletau-satuala-158051\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Faletua Satuala<\/a> to account for the final margin. Quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/bear-bachmeier-150597\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bear Bachmeie<\/a>r had 307 yards passing and two touchdowns and 49 yards rushing. Wide receivers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/parker-kingston-146212\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Parker Kingston<\/a> (seven receptions, 133 yards) and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/chase-roberts-20811\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Chase Roberts<\/a> (eight receptions, 128 yards) both exceeded 100 yards receiving.<\/p>\n<p>The Ducks defeated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/wisconsin-badgers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Wisconsin<\/a> 21-7. Starting quarterback Dante Moore left in the second half with an apparent nose injury. Running back <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/rivals\/jordon-davison-147046\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jordon Davison<\/a> ran for 102 yards and a pair of TDs.<\/p>\n<p>11.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/georgia-tech-yellow-jackets\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia Tech<\/a>\u00a0(8-0)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 41-16 vs.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/syracuse-orange\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Syracuse<\/a><\/p>\n<p>12. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/texas-tech-red-raiders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas Tech<\/a> (7-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 42-0 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/oklahoma-state-cowboys\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oklahoma State<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>13.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/cincinnati-bearcats\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cincinnati<\/a>\u00a0(7-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 41-20 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/baylor-bears\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Baylor\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>14.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/notre-dame-fighting-irish\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Notre Dame<\/a>\u00a0(5-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Did not play\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>15.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/virginia-cavaliers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Virginia<\/a>\u00a0(7-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 17-16 in OT vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/north-carolina-tar-heels\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">North Carolina<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>16. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/louisville-cardinals\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Louisville <\/a>(5-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 38-24-21 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/boston-college-eagles\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Boston College<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>17. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/houston-cougars\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Houston<\/a> (7-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 24-16 at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/arizona-state-sun-devils\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arizona State<\/a><\/p>\n<p>18.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/missouri-tigers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Missouri<\/a>\u00a0(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Lost 17-10 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/vanderbilt-commodores\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vanderbilt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>19.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/texas-longhorns\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texas<\/a>\u00a0(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 45-38 in OT at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/mississippi-state-bulldogs\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mississippi State<\/a><\/p>\n<p>20.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/tennessee-volunteers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tennessee<\/a>\u00a0(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 56-34 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/kentucky-wildcats\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kentucky<\/a><\/p>\n<p>21.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/utah-utes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Utah\u00a0<\/a>(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 53-7 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/colorado-buffaloes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Colorado<\/a><\/p>\n<p>22.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/oklahoma-sooners\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oklahoma<\/a>\u00a0(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Lost 34-26 vs. Ole Miss<\/p>\n<p>23.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/michigan-wolverines\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michigan<\/a>\u00a0(6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 31-20 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/michigan-state-spartans\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Michigan State<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/florida-atlantic-owls\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>24. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/washington-huskies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Washington<\/a> (6-2)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 42-25 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/illinois-fighting-illini\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Illinois<\/a><\/p>\n<p>25.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/memphis-tigers\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Memphis<\/a> (7-1)<br \/>Result:\u00a0Win 34-31 vs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.on3.com\/college\/usf-bulls\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">South Florida<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ohio State remains No. 1 on my Associated Press ballot, but Texas A&amp;M jumped Indiana into the No.&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":252336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67],"tags":[399,398,396,397,4504,99],"class_list":{"0":"post-252335","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-regwall","13":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=252335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/252335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=252335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=252335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=252335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}