Chris ‘The Bear’ Fallica’s 2026 College Football Top 10 — Week 9

We’ve got four teams on this week’s list that didn’t make an appearance last week. And, we’ve got a new squad in the top three after BYU’s shocking loss to UCF. Here are my latest college football rankings, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Last Week: Not RankedTo Make CFP: -135Title Odds: +4000 It will not surprise me if the Utes lose this weekend in Cincinnati as Texas Tech just did. About the best thing you can say about the last two weeks is that Utah was tested and came out with wins. But I don’t feel great about the Utes surviving the next three games — at Cincy, against Utah and at Arizona — without a loss. And the Big 12 tie-breaker looks like it’s going to be messy … surprise! Last Week: NRTo Make CFP: -165Title Odds: +1000 I think LSU has the most upside of any two-loss team. Having Bama and Texas up next ain’t easy, but if you’re looking for a long shot to make some Playoff noise, LSU might be the team for you. High ceiling, high risk. Last Week: NRTo Make CFP: +180Title Odds: +6500 The Wildcats fell behind Vandy but came roaring back for a solid win in what could have been a very tricky spot. Now they have an idle week before three straight ranked opponents, which will determine if the Cats are CFP bound. Last Week: NRTo Make CFP: -125Title Odds: +1500 There isn’t a team out there that has three wins the quality of what Texas has, with the Longhorns getting past Ohio State, Tennessee and most recently, Ole Miss. Last Week: 4To Make CFP: -800Title Odds: +460 The Irish have a warm-up for Miami with Navy in Foxboro this week. Big picture, the Miami game means everything for the Irish. A win forgives the loss in Provo and helps realize the expectations people had for them. A loss puts them in a potential 10-2 logjam where their résumé might not even stack up with some 9-3 teams. But that’s still at least a week away (if at all) from coming into conversation. Last Week: 2To Make CFP: +145Title Odds: +6500 BYU was ripe for an upset last week and that’s exactly what happened. I think the Cougars are the best team in the Big 12, but that Holy War against Utah will shape the CFP picture even further. Let’s just say hypothetically it comes to this, but a 10-2 BYU better get a nod over a 10-2 Notre Dame. Last Week: 7To Make CFP: -1250Title Odds: +850 It doesn’t feel like Indiana is the fourth-best team in the country, but right now I’m OK with slotting the Hoosiers here. The health of QB Josh Hoover is a question after a really poor game Saturday and, honestly, the last three weeks. The IU defense — especially the front — remains the strength of the team. Against the remaining schedule, that unit can carry the Hoosiers to 11-1 and another CFP berth. Last Week: 5To Make CFP: -650Title Odds: +550 We’ll have a much better idea of where the Buckeyes stand and what their future might hold after the game at USC. Everyone is looking forward to seeing what Luke Fahey has to offer in his first career start against a USC defense that is pretty mediocre. The Ohio State defense, however, is not mediocre. Last Week: 3To Make CFP: -1250Title Odds: +420 The Dawgs were off last week ahead of the Cocktail Party in Atlanta. Gunner Stockton should be good to go after a shaky performance against Auburn. There’s still no doubt who the best team in the SEC is. Last Week: 1To Make CFP: -4000Title Odds: +650 There really shouldn’t be any debate that Miami is No. 1 right now. Yeah, the SOS is worse than teams with a loss, but that will change as the season progresses. The Canes were utterly dominant against Pitt, even with the same injury concerns they have been dealing with in the secondary and OL. Bottom line is that they have Malachi Toney and you don’t. Toney has been the best all-around offensive weapon in the sport this season and is squarely in the Heisman mix. Next up is a trip to North Carolina ahead of the game in South Bend. Could be a little uneasy trip this week, as the Irish discovered a few weeks back.