Notre Dame and Georgia poised to dethrone Miami in AP poll

Notre Dame and Georgia are positioned to claim the number one ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday. The shift follows a decisive victory for the Fighting Irish over the previously ranked Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night. The outcome depends on how poll voters weigh the recent performances of the two contenders against the drop for the Hurricanes.

Notre Dame enters the ranking with a single loss on its record, a defeat to top ten BYU. Georgia, currently number two, presents a contrasting argument based on momentum. The Bulldogs defeated Mississippi 42 to 7 and have secured two convincing wins since losing to unranked Auburn three weeks ago. Utah, the number three team, also remains a candidate for a higher placement after defeating number seven BYU to stay undefeated.

Other teams stand to gain ground in the upcoming vote. UCLA reached a 9 and 0 record for the first time and may move up depending on the severity of Miami's drop. Alabama and Texas, ranked number nine and number ten respectively, are in line for promotions after their predecessors BYU and Kentucky both lost. Tennessee and Houston, ranked 16 and 17, are expected to rise after beating Kentucky and Cincinnati respectively.

Ohio State faces a steep decline after falling from number two to number 11 last week. The Buckeyes suffered a 41 to 28 home loss to Oregon, a result that likely triggers a major drop in the new poll. Florida, previously ranked number 25, lost 23 to 7 at home to Oklahoma and is projected to drop out of the rankings entirely.

Oregon's performance against Ohio State places it in the strongest position to receive a debut ranking. SMU and Oklahoma State are also candidates for return entries following lopsided victories. Duke has outscored Boston College and North Carolina State by a combined 88 to 5 over the last two weeks, a statistical run that may influence voter decisions.