Florida climbs into top four in college football Power Rankings after Week 9

Hey, we’ve finally got rankings that sort of actually matter. No, not these ones. But whether you agree with the College Football Playoff selection committee’s rankings Tuesday night or not (and you probably won’t), the unveiling of the rankings means we’ve arrived at the portion of the season when playoff speculation isn’t just an idle waste of time—even if the only rankings that really matter are the ones at the end of the regular season.

With some major showdowns this weekend, the Big 12’s contenders finally starting to play one another, and rivalry week on the horizon, the stage is set for an awesome month of football. Here’s where things stand heading into it:

• NADKARNI: Three thoughts on AP poll after Week 9 | Complete AP Top 25

1. Clemson Tigers

PREVIOUS: 1

RECORD: 8-0

Next week: Saturday vs. Florida State

2. LSU Tigers

PREVIOUS: 2

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday at Alabama

3. Baylor Bears

PREVIOUS: 3

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Thursday at Kansas State

4. Florida Gators

PREVIOUS: 8

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Georgia 27-3 Next week: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt

5. Alabama Crimson Tide

PREVIOUS: 4

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. LSU • STAPLES: Florida in control of SEC East

6. Ohio State Buckeyes

PREVIOUS: 5

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. Minnesota

7. TCU Horned Frogs

PREVIOUS: 6

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat West Virginia 40-10 Next week: Saturday at Oklahoma State

8. Michigan State Spartans

PREVIOUS: 7

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday at Nebraska

9. Iowa Hawkeyes

PREVIOUS: 9

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Maryland 31-15 Next week: Saturday at Indiana

10. Stanford Cardinal

PREVIOUS: 11

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Washington State 30-28 Next week: Saturday at Colorado • ELLIS: Biggest takeaways from Week 9

11. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

PREVIOUS: 14

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Temple 24-20 Next week: Saturday at Pitt

12. Utah Utes

PREVIOUS: 10

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Oregon State 27-12 Next week: Saturday at Washington

13. Memphis Tigers

PREVIOUS: 12

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Tulane 41-13 Next week: Saturday vs. Navy

14. Oklahoma State Cowboys

PREVIOUS: 13

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Texas Tech 70-53 Next week: Saturday vs. TCU

15. Ole Miss Rebels

PREVIOUS: 16

RECORD: 7-2

Last week: Beat Auburn 27-19 Next week: Saturday vs. Arkansas • KRASNOO: Playoff bubble watch

16. Michigan Wolverines

PREVIOUS: 15

RECORD: 6-2

Last week: Beat Minnesota 29-26 Next week: Saturday vs. Rutgers

17. Oklahoma Sooners

PREVIOUS: 17

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Kansas 62-7 Next week: Saturday vs. Iowa State

18. Houston Cougars

PREVIOUS: 18

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Vanderbilt 34-0 Next week: Saturday vs. Cincinnati

19. Toledo Rockets

PREVIOUS: 20

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Tuesday vs. Northern Illinois

20. North Carolina Tar Heels

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Pitt 26-19 Next week: Saturday vs. Duke • ELLIS: UNC gets statement win over Pitt

21. Florida State Seminoles

PREVIOUS: 22

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Syracuse 45-21 Next week: Saturday at Clemson

22. Northwestern Wildcats

PREVIOUS: 24

RECORD: 6-2

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. Penn State

23. Texas A&M Aggies

PREVIOUS: 25

RECORD: 6-2

Last week: Beat South Carolina 35-28 Next week: Saturday vs. Auburn

24. Temple Owls

PREVIOUS: 23

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Lost to Notre Dame 24-20 Next week: Friday at SMU

25. Wisconsin Badgers

RECORD: 7-2

Last week: Beat Rutgers 48-10 Next week: Saturday at Maryland

Dropped out: Pittsburgh, Duke
Next five: Mississippi State, USC, Duke, UCLA, Pittsburgh