AP Top 25: The top four remains unchanged after Week 9 as Colorado enters the rankings for the first time in 2024

Colorado is back in the rankings.

The 6-2 Buffaloes earned bowl eligibility with a 34-23 win over Cincinnati late Saturday. On 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 ranked No. 19 before its Week 4 game against Oregon in 2023. The Buffaloes were eliminated in that game and never ranked again in an eventual 4-8 season.

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

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

This game between the top five teams is one of only two meetings between the ranked teams next weekend. The other is in the ACC as No. 18 Pitt plays No. 20 SMU.

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

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

All eight remaining undefeated teams are ranked in the poll after Week 9, 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)

21st Army (7-0)

22. Washington State (7-1)

23. Colorado (6-2)

24. Illinois (6-2)

25. Missouri (6-2)