Bleacher Report updates week‑9 college football top‑25 and highlights winners and losers

The latest B/R expert poll adds New Mexico and UTSA while a winners‑and‑losers roundup notes Texas Tech’s comeback and Georgia’s move to Atlanta.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 01 Nov 2026 05:16:21 GMT

Bleacher Report posted an updated top‑25 ranking for week 9 of the 2026 college football season and a separate winners‑and‑losers recap, both published on November 1. The rankings reflect USC’s loss to Ohio State, Texas Tech’s win over Arizona and the entry of Group of Six teams UTSA and New Mexico into the conversation.

What happened

The expert poll lists New Mexico (7‑1) at No. 25 after a 21‑16 win at San Jose State and UTSA (7‑1) moving up from No. 25 to No. 24 following a week‑9 bye. The rankings note that the list will be revised after the Boise State‑Texas State game later that night. In the winners‑and‑losers article, Texas Tech erased a 10‑point deficit to beat Arizona 34‑26, while Georgia defeated Florida 38‑20 in Atlanta. USC’s surprise loss to Ohio State is highlighted as the biggest upset of the weekend.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report’s ranking article provides specific game details for New Mexico, including a defensive record of allowing fewer than 20 points all season and a three‑interception effort by Toa Fa'avae, as well as a strong running performance by Kiefer Sibley (12 carries, 102 yards) and Scottre Humphrey (16 carries, 87 yards, 2 TD). The same outlet’s winners‑and‑losers piece adds that Texas Tech’s quarterback change—from Brendan Sorsby (ineligible) to Will Hammond and then to Thomas Castellanos—sparked the comeback against Arizona. It also notes that Georgia’s “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” moved indoors to Atlanta for the first time.

What was said

Bleacher Report’s ranking article notes that New Mexico’s only loss was a 14‑6 defeat to Oklahoma in week 3 and that the Lobos have not allowed 20 points in any game this season. The winners‑and‑losers story quotes the outlet’s analysis that “Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech Red Raiders expected to compete for a national championship this year with a transfer quarterback at the helm,” and that the fifth‑year senior Thomas Castellanos “was dynamic in a top‑25 showdown against Arizona, helping his team erase a 10‑point first‑half deficit and win a 34‑26 showdown.”

How it came about

Week 8 saw several upsets that opened the top‑25 to new entrants, including UTSA’s entry at No. 25 after a 42‑19 win over Tulane (Felo coverage). The AP poll shift in week 9 moved BYU down after an overtime loss to UCF (Felo coverage). Those developments set the stage for the current B/R expert rankings and the winners‑and‑losers narrative, which reflects the ongoing reshuffling of the poll as teams like New Mexico and UTSA add wins and Group of Six programs gain visibility.

Key facts

New Mexico (7‑1) entered the B/R top‑25 at No. 25 after a 21‑16 win at San Jose State. (bleacherreport.com)
UTSA (7‑1) moved up to No. 24 after a week‑9 bye. (bleacherreport.com)
Texas Tech beat Arizona 34‑26 after a 10‑point halftime deficit. (bleacherreport.com)
Georgia defeated Florida 38‑20 in Atlanta, moving the traditional “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” indoors. (bleacherreport.com)
USC lost to Ohio State, described as the biggest surprise of week 9. (bleacherreport.com)