AP College Football Poll 2026 Week 10 Rankings Released with Top Risers and Fallers

Ohio State is down in 11th in the newest Associated Press Top 25 poll following the Buckeyes' 30-18 upset at the hands of USC.

The Trojans catapulted back into the Top 25 (No. 18) after being unranked.

Miami remains in the No. 1 spot after surviving a scare on the road against North Carolina. Indiana likewise snatched victory from the jaws of defeat but paid a price in the poll, falling out of the top five.

2026 AP Poll Week 9

1. Miami (8-0)

2. Georgia (7-1)

3. Utah (8-0)

4. Notre Dame (7-1)

5. UCLA (8-0)

6. Indiana (8-1)

7. BYU (7-1)

8. Kentucky (7-1)

9. Alabama (6-2)

10. Texas (6-2)

11. Ohio State (6-2)

12. Ole Miss (6-2)

13. Texas Tech (7-1)

14. Wake Forest (7-1)

15. LSU (6-2)

16. Tennessee (6-2)

17. Houston (6-2)

18. USC (7-2)

19. Missouri (6-2)

20. Boise State (7-1)

21. Iowa (6-2)

22. New Mexico (7-1)

23. South Carolina (5-3)

24. Arizona (6-1)

25. Florida (5-3)

Utah is a top-five squad for the first time since 2019 after coasting past Cincinnati 49-25. Their efforts are now starting to be recognized by the AP voters in a big way.

The same goes for UCLA, the last of the three FBS teams without a loss. Shutting out Nevada 27-0 was impressive in its own way because the Bruins weren't seriously threatened on a day when their offense wasn't clicking.

They claimed a top-five ranking for the first time since 2001.

Ohio State almost certainly has a path to the College Football Playoff as long as it wins out. Your confidence in the Buckeyes is much shakier, however, after seeing Luke Fahey's first start at quarterback.

Fahey did reasonably well as a true freshman making his first start on the road in rainy conditions. He went 21-of-38 for 260 yards and one touchdown.

Ohio State Buckeyes - USC Trojans Highlights

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But the offense clearly suffered without Julian Sayin under center, and Fahey's showing only raised additional questions about former 5-star recruit Tavien St. Clair remaining glued to the bench.

Even more concerning than the QB situation is how the game reinforced so many of the existing narratives around coach Ryan Day. The lack of urgency in the fourth quarter was particularly glaring. When you're down multiple scores, you can't afford to have two drives take 12 minutes.

It seems ludicrous that a coach with an .863 career winning percentage would have to hear calls for him to get fired. Ohio State keeps falling short in a lot of the same ways, though. You can understand why the critics are asking whether, after eight full seasons of him in charge, Day is failing to get the most out of his teams.