AP Top 25: Top four unchanged after Week 9 as Colorado gets ranked for the first time in 2024

Colorado is ranked again.

The 6-2 Buffaloes became bowl-eligible with a 34-23 win over Cincinnati late Saturday night. Sunday afternoon, Colorado jumped into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 2024 at No. 23.

It’s the first time Colorado has been ranked since it was No. 19 ahead of its Week 4 matchup vs. Oregon in 2023. The Buffaloes were blown out in that game and never ranked again during a 4-8 season.

This year, Colorado is in the mix for the Big 12 title and has four winnable games to finish the season. Colorado plays Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State in November. Those four teams have a combined Big 12 record of 5-15 so far this season and the Red Raiders have three of those wins.

At the top of the poll, the top four teams were unchanged. Oregon stayed at No. 1 after beating Illinois and Penn State and Ohio State stayed at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively following wins. The two Big Ten teams play each other in the marquee game of Week 10.

That game between top-five teams is one of just two matchups next weekend between ranked teams. The other is in the ACC as No. 18 Pitt plays No. 20 SMU.

Miami moved up a spot to No. 5 after a big win over Florida State at home. The Hurricanes swapped places with Texas after the Longhorns beat Vanderbilt 27-24 on the road.

Texas A&M jumped up four spots to No. 10 thanks to its 38-23 win over LSU. The Tigers dropped eight places to No. 16 in the rankings.

All eight undefeated teams remaining are ranked in the post-Week 9 poll and the lowest team is Army at No. 21. Navy and Liberty were undefeated entering the week, but the Midshipmen lost to Notre Dame and Liberty lost to previously-winless Kennesaw State.

AP Top 25

1. Oregon (8-0)

2. Georgia (6-1)

3. Penn State (7-0)

4. Ohio State (6-1)

5. Miami (8-0)

6. Texas (7-1)

7. Tennessee (6-1)

8. Notre Dame (7-1)

9. BYU (8-0)

10. Texas A&M (7-1)

11. Clemson (6-1)

11. Iowa State (7-0)

13. Indiana (8-0)

14. Alabama (6-2)

15. Boise State (6-1)

16. LSU (6-2)

17. Kansas State (7-1)

18. Pitt (8-0)

19. Ole Miss (6-2)

20. SMU (7-1)

21. Army (7-0)

22. Washington State (7-1)

23. Colorado (6-2)

24. Illinois (6-2)

25. Missouri (6-2)