Rankings Shake as Three Top Teams Fall

College football has entered a period of intense unpredictability.

Three teams ranked in the top two positions have lost to unranked opponents over the last three weeks. This is the first time such a pattern has occurred since the 2007 season. Texas, Georgia, and BYU all suffered upsets during this stretch.

No. 1 Miami travels to North Carolina on Saturday. The Hurricanes hold a 30-0 record against unranked teams when they are the top-ranked squad in the AP Poll. North Carolina is 0-11 all-time against the No. 1 team. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said the team must remain focused. "If not, you're putting a win at risk," he said. A victory over the Tar Heels sets up a matchup at Notre Dame next week.

No. 2 Ohio State visits USC with a quarterback uncertainty. Julian Sayin is out indefinitely, and the Buckeyes have not announced a starter. Luke Fahey and Tavian St. Clair competed for the role during the bye week. Fahey may play near his home in Mission Viejo, California. USC needs a win as questions arise regarding coach Lincoln Riley's future.

Only three teams remain unbeaten entering Week 9: Miami, No. 7 UCLA, and No. 6 Utah. This is the lowest number this early in a season since 1977. Utah plays at Cincinnati, which just defeated then-undefeated Texas Tech. Cincinnati can become the first unranked team since St. Mary's in 1938 to beat ranked teams at a 6-0 or better clip in consecutive games.

Minnesota visits No. 4 Indiana. The Gophers hold all three rivalry trophies for the first time since 1978. Indiana has not scored 21 points in three straight games. The Hoosiers rely on defense and game management under head coach Curt Cignetti, who frequently uses his punt unit on short fourth downs.

No. 3 Georgia plays No. 17 Florida in Atlanta. This is the first time the rivalry has been played in that location. Georgia is coming off a home loss to unranked Auburn. The Bulldogs aim to avoid becoming only the second No. 1 team in history to lose back-to-back games. Texas achieved that feat earlier this month.

Bettings lines reflect the volatility. Arizona is favored to beat Texas Tech by 3.5 points. The under of 41.5 is the pick for Minnesota at Indiana. Georgia is a 12.5-point favorite against Florida. The under of 51.5 is the selection for Ohio State at USC. The under of 52.5 is the pick for Miami at North Carolina.