Alabama continues its season-long run atop our system Index but the Crimson is now Tied in ranking points with Clemson and the surging Ohio State Buckeyes.
Oklahoma fell from third to fifth primarily because of a weak mid-season schedule as well as a tightening of the rankings over all. The Sooners have a chance to climb with games against Kansas State, Iowa State, Baylor, and TCU.
Notre Dame was idle and fell from seventh to ninth after strong showings by Georgia in a shut out of Kentucky and Oregon with a comeback win over 25th ranked Washington.
Ohio State is likely to take the top spot on our next week. The Buckeyes have the highest data set in our projections for playoff teams. They also play 15th ranked Wisconsin while both Alabama and Clemson play unranked opponents.
In the PAC-12 . . .
Oregon (6-1) rose from 10th to eighth but the Ducks now have company as Utah jumped from 15th to 10th following a convincing win over previously ranked Arizona State. The Ducks and Utes now enter blocks of cross-divisional games but none against each other.
Washington is the only other PAC-12 team remaining in our top 25 rankings. At 5-3, the Huskies have the worst record of any team in the Week 9 rankings but have strong performance metrics.
USC (4-3) is in control of its own Pac-12 South destiny but still must get by Colorado, Arizona State, and UCLA. The Index projects that the Trojans will win all three, lock up the PAC-12 South, and face Oregon in the PAC-12 championship game.
Much has been said of USC’s mediocre record but the Trojans have played the strongest schedule in America and their performance metrics in our Index have been strengthening each week.
For complete information on our Week 9 rankings, click here.
Our predictions for 2019: 390 – 112 78%
Our top 25 for Week 9
1. Alabama 7-0
2. Clemson 7-0
3. Ohio State 7-0
4. LSU 7-0
5. Oklahoma 7-0
6. Penn State 7-0
7. Georgia 6-1
8. Oregon 6-1
9. Notre Dame 5-1
10. Utah 6-1
11. Florida 7-1
12. Auburn 6-1
13. Minnesota 7-0
14. Michigan 5-2
15. Wisconsin 6-1
16. Iowa 5-2
17. Texas 5-2
18. Boise State 6-1
19. Appalachian State 6-0
20. Baylor 7-0
21. Iowa State 5-2
22. UCF 5-2
23. Cincinnati 6-1
24. Virginia Tech 5-2
25. Washington 5-3
25. T Missouri 5-2
