Amway College Football Poll 2015: Week 9 Top 25 Rankings Announced

Thank you, college football.

Thank you for the wild finishes and the shocking upsets. Thank you for the conference clashes and the unexpected unbeaten teams. Thank you for something unexpected every week. 

Week 8 certainly didn't disappoint. Week 9 is unlikely to as well. Let's take a look back at how this weekend's action shaped the Amway coaches poll and the Bleacher Report rankings, along with a closer look at some of the biggest results in college football.

Analysis

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

"What a time to be alive."

That was the call from ESPN play-by-play announcer Mark Jones after Georgia Tech's Lance Austin returned a blocked field goal 78 yards for a game-winning touchdown as time expired, giving the Yellow Jackets a shocking 22-16 win over Florida State.

It was a surreal moment, as Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson could be seen from the sideline waving his players away from the blocked kick, clearly content with heading to overtime. But Austin either didn't see his coach or simply decided to try to make a play, and boy, did he ever, racing down the sideline behind a convoy of Yellow Jackets before reaching the end zone.

"When I picked it up and started running up the field, I saw a lot of green," Austin said, per the Associated Press. "So I was like, 'OK, I can return it.'"

Florida State was in a position to win the game, as star kicker Roberto Aguayo attempted a 56-yard field goal with just six seconds remaining. But Patrick Gamble managed to block the kick and, well, the rest is history. 

History seems to repeat itself in college football these days. It was only two years ago that Auburn returned a missed field goal the length of the field for a game-winning touchdown against hated rival Alabama. And it was just a week ago that Michigan State scored off a fumbled punt by Michigan as time expired to win in most improbable fashion. 

There's just nothing quite like college football. 

Of course, Florida State won't be feeling whimsical or awestruck after a loss that could cost it a berth in the ACC title game or the College Football Playoff. Utah is in the same boat, as the previously unbeaten Utes suffered their first loss against USC as the Trojans continued a season of dramatic highs and lows. 

The other top contenders managed to escape the week without losses, though Alabama cut it close against Tennessee and Baylor may have lost starting quarterback Seth Russell to injury after he broke a bone in his neck against Iowa State.

Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports thinks the Bears will be in good hands without him, however:

"

Assuming the leading quarterback in the nation in pass efficiency is out, someone else will lead the top offense in the country. That someone is Jarrett Stidham, a blue-chip recruit who enrolled early, went through spring practice and has an even higher efficiency rating than Russell this season. Stidham is 23 of 27, a ridiculous 85 percent accuracy rate, for 319 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.

"

It's always good to have a strong backup plan.

While Baylor won't be in action next week, a slew of ranked teams are set to clash. Week 9 doesn't look chock-full of promising contests on paper—Notre Dame facing Temple might be the premier matchup, if you can believe that—but this season has proved to be so unpredictable that it's safe to say none of the top teams in the nation can rest on their laurels. 

This week, it was Florida State and Utah. Next week it might be TCU or Clemson. At this point, any contender is one crazy play on special teams away from earning a shocking loss.