College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 9

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Oct 29, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Washington Huskies defensive lineman Jaylen Johnson (92) tackles Utah Utes running back Joe Williams (28) during the second half at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Washington won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

The Utes lost their second game of the season, but because it came by just a touchdown against fourth-ranked Washington they should remain in the Top 25 another week. Joe Williams had another monster game after returning from his abbreviated retirement, racking up 172 yards and a score. The defense kept quarterback Jake Browning in check, but had a harder time with tailback Myles Gaskin. In the end it wasn’t enough to overcome the Huskies, as Dante Pettis returned a punt 58 yards for the winning score in the final four minutes.

Utah cannot mourn the defeat too long, as they still control their own fate in the Pac-12 South. Next week Kyle Whittingham’s team gets a bye before playing a Thursday night game at Arizona State in Week 11. Their home finale is the following week against Oregon, before they face Colorado in Boulder in what will likely be a winner-take-all affair for the division title. If Williams can keep pounding the rock on the ground and Utah’s defense can close out the year strong, the Utes could set up a rematch with the Huskies in Santa Clara on the first weekend of December.

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