College football top 25 rankings for Week 9: Should Oregon or Georgia be No. 1?

There is a chance that Georgia could re-take the No. 1 spot in the polls heading into Week 9 after a 30-15 victory at Texas in Week 8.

The Bulldogs have the strength-of-schedule argument knowing they have played in two top-five showdowns in the last four weeks, not to mention a Week 1 opener against Clemson. Georgia also has a top-10 matchup against No. 8 Tennessee and a road trip to No. 22 Ole Miss left on the schedule. That is more than enough underdog fuel – real or imaginary – for Georgia coach Kirby Smart to work with.

All that said, we are keeping Georgia at the No. 2 spot in our Sporting News Top 25 rankings. Oregon is No. 1. The Ducks beat Purdue 35-0 on a short week after winning their top-five showdown against Ohio State in Week 7. Dillon Gabriel is moving up in the Heisman Trophy discussion, and the Ducks have a favorable remaining Big Ten schedule.

Texas dropped to No. 4 and Ohio State remains at No. 5. No. 3 Penn State will get their shot at a top-five showdown on Nov. 2 against the Buckeyes. Yes, the entire top-five is composed of SEC and Big Ten teams.

No. 6 Miami and No. 7 Clemson – teams that are on a collision course in the ACC championship game – hold the next two spots. No. 8 Iowa State, No. 9 LSU and No. 10 BYU round out the top 10.

Here is a closer look at The Sporting News top 25 rankings:

Sporting News Top 25 rankings for Week 9

Here is a closer look at our latest top 25 ranking heading into Week 9:

RANKSCHOOLRECORDPVSWEEK 8 RESULT

1Oregon7-02Beat Purdue 35-0

2Georgia6-14Beat Texas 30-15

3Penn State6-03Bye

4Texas6-11Lost to Georgia 30-15

5Ohio State5-15Bye

6Miami, Fla.7-06Beat Louisville 52-45

7Clemson6-17Beat Virginia 48-31

8

6-112Beat Alabama 24-17

9Iowa State7-09Beat UCF 38-35

10LSU6-111Beat Arkansas 34-10

11BYU7-010Beat Oklahoma State 38-35

12Notre Dame6-113Beat Georgia Tech 31-13

13Indiana7-015Beat Nebraska 56-7

14Texas A&M6-114Beat Mississippi State 34-24

15Pitt6-016Bye

16Kansas State6-117Beat West Virginia 45-18

17Alabama5-28Lost to Tennessee 24-17

18SMU6-118Beat Stanford 40-10

19Illinois6-119Beat Michigan 21-7

20Missouri6-120Beat Auburn 21-17

21Boise State5-122Bye

22Ole Miss5-221Bye

23Navy6-023Beat Charlotte 51-17

24Army7-025Beat East Carolina 45-28

25Syracuse5-1NRBye