NCAAF Rankings after Week 9

 NCAA Football Top 25 Rankings

Updated: Week 9, 1 NOV 2021

(Delta Calc'd from Week 8, 25 OCT 2021)

(Click here for a more detailed explanation of my NCAAF rating system)

Some of these rankings my surprise you, but keep in mind that there is no bias towards any team or preconceived notions, and the only thing considered is what each team has accomplished so far.

(For those viewing from a phone, tap the rankings and rotate to enlarge)

Notes:

• Georgia is ranked #1, with two top 20 victories and the #22 strength of schedule.
• Michigan St. jumped 12 spots to #2 after beating michigan (who fell 6 spots to #8 after the loss)
• Oklahoma is the only team with 9 wins, but it hasn't been rewarded as much as other teams due to it's poor strength of schedule.
• Speaking of poor strength of schedule, #5 Cincinnati is ranked just below #4 ND. Cincinnati's 102th ranked schedule (out of 130) isn't doing them any favors. Remember, SoS is not an input to my rating systems, but an output. Cincinnati isn't getting rewarded as much as other teams are for their victories over higher quality opponents. Sorry Bearcats, you have a good one win, but your next best victory was over #53 UCF.
• Alabama comes in at #10 when you look at their accomplishments without an SEC bias...
• Ohio State comes in just outside the top 10 at #11, ahead of #17 Oregon, who beat them in week 2. Oregon is in a similar situation as Cincinnati. Despite having one really nice win, Oregon's overall SoS (including Ohio State!) is 103 (out of 130).
• See below for a comparison of my rankings to the human polls. Currently, they are overrating Alabama (surprise!), Oregon, Ohio State, and Cincinnati for what they have achieved so far. That's not to say that in the end, they won't be worthy of those rankings. However, as of now, they haven't achieved their rankings yet in the human polls.
• Top 10 // Top 25  Teams for each conference:
• ACC: 1 // 1 
• Big 12: 3 // 3
• Big Ten: 2 // 6
• Pac 12: 0 // 1
• SEC: 2 // 6

Poll Comparison

As always, please leave questions/comments below! If you would like to see more than just the Top 25, or any ratings for Div I-AA, Div-II, or Div-III, just let me know!