Hlas' Top 25 AP ballot for Week 9: Kansas State 3rd, Notre Dame 4th

On who they've beaten, I'd rank Kansas State and Notre Dame above Alabama and Oregon.

On the eyeball test, it's 'Bama and the Ducks, with K-State and Notre Dame a very close third and fourth, respectively.

I had a hard, hard time putting Georgia as high as No. 10, but it beat Florida and both are 7-1, so what's a boy to do? Even though Georgia got brutalized at South Carolina three weeks ago. South Cackalacky got crushed at Florida last week, so since they're all 1-1 vs. the other two but Georgia is the only one who won away from home ...

My ballot:

1. Alabama (8-0)

2. Oregon (8-0)

3. Kansas State (8-0)

4. Notre Dame (8-0)

5. LSU (7-1)

6. Ohio State (9-0). The Buckeyes being unbeaten doesn't really do the Big Ten much good this year.

7. Florida State (8-1)

8. Clemson (7-1)

9. Oklahoma (5-2). Since the Sooners' only losses are to unbeaten K-State and unbeaten Notre Dame ...

10. Georgia (7-1)

11. Florida (7-1)

12. South Carolina (7-2)

13. Texas A&M (6-2)

14. Oregon State (6-1)

15. Stanford (7-2)

16. Mississippi State (7-1)

17. Louisville (8-0)

18. USC (6-2). The AP preseason No. 1 was USC. My preseason No. 1 was Alabama. Give it up for me.

19. Texas Tech (6-2)

20. Boise State (7-1)

21. Nebraska (6-2). Huskers are at Michigan State Saturday. If the Huskers win that, they'll have a great shot of playing Wisconsin in Indianapolis.

22. Oklahoma State (5-2)

23. Louisiana Tech (7-1)

24. Northern Illinois (8-1). Huskies have won 17 of their last 18 games. The only team to beat NIU in that span? Iowa.

25. Kent State (7-1)

The AP poll:

RANK TEAM RECORD PTS

1 Alabama (60) 8-0 1500

2 Oregon 8-0 1412

3 Kansas State 8-0 1382

4 Notre Dame 8-0 1344

5 LSU 7-1 1216

6 Ohio State 9-0 1158

7 Georgia 7-1 1145

8 Florida 7-1 1075

9 Florida State 8-1 1046

10 Clemson 7-1 914

11 South Carolina 7-2 823

12 Louisville 8-0 817

13 Oregon State 6-1 762

14 Oklahoma 5-2 758

15 Stanford 6-2 627

16 Texas A&M 6-2 580

17 Mississippi State 7-1 559

18 USC 6-2 418

19 Boise State 7-1 406

20 Texas Tech 6-2 388

21 Nebraska 6-2 249

22 Louisiana Tech 7-1 209

23 West Virginia 5-2 126

24 Arizona 5-3 106

25 UCLA 6-2 103

Dropped from rankings: Rutgers 18, Michigan 20, Ohio 23

Others receiving votes: Toledo 88, Rutgers 74, Oklahoma State 72, Texas 55, Kent State 33, Tulsa 17, Northern Illinois 12, Washington 8, Northwestern 7, Ohio 4, Wisconsin 4, Michigan 2, Louisiana-Monroe 1