Ohio State Slides to No. 9 After USC Loss in 2026 College Football Rankings; UCLA Rise, Georgia Named

Ohio State’s sharp drop

Ohio State slid seven places to No. 9 after losing 30-18 at USC. Klatt said the Buckeyes made too many mistakes, including on special teams and in defending big plays.

Klatt said he kept Ohio State in his top 10, disagreeing with the AP’s decision to place the team outside it. The article’s headline says Georgia rose, but the story does not give Georgia a ranking or explain its movement.

UCLA rises after shutout

UCLA moved up one spot to No. 5 after blanking Nevada 27-0. Coach Bob Chesney became the first UCLA coach to begin his tenure 8-0. Klatt pointed to the Bruins’ defense, including 26 takeaways and a plus-15 turnover margin, as well as their Big Ten-leading rushing. He noted that Nevada was not a strong opponent.

Miami and Notre Dame set to meet

Miami remained No. 1, while Notre Dame held No. 4 after coming back to beat Navy 35-13. The teams are scheduled to play next Saturday. Klatt described Notre Dame’s slow start against Navy as concerning but said he was looking forward to the Miami matchup.

Other teams in the top ten

Indiana held No. 3 after beating Minnesota 23-16 in overtime. Backup quarterback Grant Wilson entered at halftime and threw the game-winning touchdown. Utah climbed to No. 6 after a 49-25 win over Cincinnati, while Texas rose to No. 7 after beating Mississippi State 31-3. Kentucky moved to No. 8 despite being off, and Alabama returned at No. 10 before facing LSU.