Steppe’s Week 9 AP ballot: Big Ten teams claim top three spots after Texas’ loss

EAST LANSING, Mich. — All signs point toward the SEC being the deepest conference in college football again this year, with nine teams from the league on my ballot for this week’s AP Poll. (That’s more than the Big Ten and Big 12 combined.)

The Big Ten, however, appears to be home to the three teams with the top resumes at this point in the year.

There are two power-conference teams remaining that still are undefeated while also having a ranked win on their resume -- Oregon and Penn State. Those teams are No. 1 and No. 2 on my ballot.

Looking at the next tier of teams -- one-loss Ohio State, Georgia and Texas -- the Buckeyes took the No. 3 spot considering their loss was only by one point on the road against the team that now is my No. 1. Georgia did receive serious consideration, though, given its pair of ranked wins (including over then-No. 1 Texas).

Undefeated Miami (Fla.) and Indiana both made notable jumps on my ballot after their wins. The Hoosiers especially looked impressive as they dismantled Nebraska, which previously received votes from many of my colleagues.

LSU leapfrogged Iowa State to get to No. 9 after the Cyclones barely held on to beat UCF -- the same UCF team that had three straight losses to unranked teams (including two losses at home).

Alabama took the biggest fall on my ballot from No. 5 to No. 15 after suffering its second loss of the season. The Crimson Tide remain the highest-ranked two-loss team on my ballot, though, in large part because of its win against Georgia.

Navy entered my ballot with a 6-0 record, replacing Michigan. The reigning national champion Wolverines, now with three losses, have some soul-searching to do after their lackluster offensive performance against Illinois.

John Steppe’s Week 9 AP ballot

Also under consideration: Washington State, Army, UNLV

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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