Maybe, but I think it's more likely they'll wait for the Wisconsin outcome to see whether we finish 8-4 or 9-3. Not many 8-4 teams are ranked after the conclusion of the regular season. Arkansas and Texas A&M were the only ones on the AP last year. USC and OK State were the only ones in 2019. There were four 9-3 teams ranked at the close of the regular season in both 2019 and 2021.
You can’t compare to other seasons you have to compare to this season.
If you’re 9-3 this year from a power 5 you’re ranked. Right now just 16 power 5 teams left with 2 or fewer losses already. There are still 2 weeks to play. At a minimum 2 of those 16 will pick up a loss next weekend because 4 teams play each other.
The only Non P5 teams in the mix for rankings are:
Notre Dame
UCF
Tulane
Cincinnati
Coastal Carolina
Between those 5 there will be at least two more losses due to the American conference schedule set up.
So there is 3 ranked teams between those 3.
There are only 16 left right now.
Assuming nobody loses any more games a minimum of 6 3 loss teams will be in the top 25.
But people are going to lose more games.
3 non power 5
16 teams two or fewer losses from power 5
8 3 loss teams in power 5 right now.
If you make it to 9-3 you’re going to be top 27 at worst.
Games remaining between power 5 and notre dame between teams with 3 or fewer losses:
NC State vs North Carolina
Michigan vs Ohio state
Michigan vs Illinois
Utah vs Oregon
UCLA vs USC
Oregon vs Oregon state
USC vs Notre dame