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.
MORE: Sporting News Midseason All-America team
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.
MORE: Projecting the College Football Playoff after Week 8
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:
| RANK | SCHOOL | RECORD | PVS | WEEK 8 RESULT |
| 1 | Oregon | 7-0 | 2 | Beat Purdue 35-0 |
| 2 | Georgia | 6-1 | 4 | Beat Texas 30-15 |
| 3 | Penn State | 6-0 | 3 | Bye |
| 4 | Texas | 6-1 | 1 | Lost to Georgia 30-15 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 5-1 | 5 | Bye |
| 6 | Miami, Fla. | 7-0 | 6 | Beat Louisville 52-45 |
| 7 | Clemson | 6-1 | 7 | Beat Virginia 48-31 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 6-1 | 12 | Beat Alabama 24-17 |
| 9 | Iowa State | 7-0 | 9 | Beat UCF 38-35 |
| 10 | LSU | 6-1 | 11 | Beat Arkansas 34-10 |
| 11 | BYU | 7-0 | 10 | Beat Oklahoma State 38-35 |
| 12 | Notre Dame | 6-1 | 13 | Beat Georgia Tech 31-13 |
| 13 | Indiana | 7-0 | 15 | Beat Nebraska 56-7 |
| 14 | Texas A&M | 6-1 | 14 | Beat Mississippi State 34-24 |
| 15 | Pitt | 6-0 | 16 | Bye |
| 16 | Kansas State | 6-1 | 17 | Beat West Virginia 45-18 |
| 17 | Alabama | 5-2 | 8 | Lost to Tennessee 24-17 |
| 18 | SMU | 6-1 | 18 | Beat Stanford 40-10 |
| 19 | Illinois | 6-1 | 19 | Beat Michigan 21-7 |
| 20 | Missouri | 6-1 | 20 | Beat Auburn 21-17 |
| 21 | Boise State | 5-1 | 22 | Bye |
| 22 | Ole Miss | 5-2 | 21 | Bye |
| 23 | Navy | 6-0 | 23 | Beat Charlotte 51-17 |
| 24 | Army | 7-0 | 25 | Beat East Carolina 45-28 |
| 25 | Syracuse | 5-1 | NR | Bye |
