AP top 25 poll released following Week 8
The theme of the college football season continues to take shape. In Week 8, it was just survive and advance.
Five ranked teams lost in upset fashion. It took nine overtimes — the most in college football history — but Illinois knocked off Penn State. Oklahoma State fell on the road at Iowa State after a fourth down run fell short of a first down. And a week after knocking off the No. 2 team in the nation, Purdue looked pedestrian against Wisconsin.
Georgia had its bye week, and the Bulldogs will continue to be the No. 1 overall team in the nation until they falter. Alabama let Tennessee hang around for three quarters before putting up 28 points in the fourth quarter. Bryce Young showed he can scramble, and while this Crimson Tide team is not Nick Saban’s best, they are complete.
After falling to Oregon at home in September, Ohio State was in crisis mode. The Buckeyes had to make changes to their defensive scheme and play-calling duties. Quarterback C.J. Stroud looked hurt, too. That all seems far in the past. The Buckeyes have now won five straight, including a 54-7 beatdown of Indiana on Saturday night. Their offense looks like the best in the nation as they have outscored opponents 172-37 in their last three games.
On the West Coast, Oregon showed why it beat the Buckeyes back in September. The Ducks almost let UCLA tie the game in the final seconds, but a timely interception sealed their 34-31 win. Their defense is playing its best ball of the season, too, with Kayvon Thibodeaux back to nearly full health.
Oklahoma nearly lost at one-win Kansas. The Sooners’ slow starts do not seem to be going anywhere, and yet again Caleb Williams bailed them out.
Cincinnati survived a scare from an upstart Navy team, escaping Annapolis with a tight 27-20 win. Wake Forest hung 70 on Army, putting its electric offense on full display in a 70-56 win. If the Demon Deacons continue to run the table, the College Football Playoff committee will have to give them a hard look.
Elsewhere in the ACC, Pitt walked all over Clemson. DJ Uiagalelei threw two interceptions, including a pick six on a shovel pass, while Kenny Pickett threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers are now 6-1 and are running away with the ACC Coastal Division title.
Notre Dame played like the team many expected the Fighting Irish to be, drubbing USC in South Bend, 31-16. And Ole Miss blew past LSU 31-17; the Rebels could finish the regular season 11-1.
The AP Poll voters have voted. Here is where the top-25 stands after the some major movement over the weekend.
The full AP Poll can be found below.
AP Poll (Oct. 24)
- Georgia (7-0) (63)
- Cincinnati (7-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- Oklahoma (8-0)
- Ohio State (6-1)
- Michigan (7-0)
- Oregon (6-1)
- Michigan State (7-0)
- Iowa (6-1)
- Ole Miss (6-1)
- Notre Dame (6-1)
- Kentucky (6-1)
- Wake Forest (7-0)
- Texas A&M (6-2)
- Oklahoma State (6-1)
- Baylor (6-1)
- Pittsburgh (6-1)
- Auburn (5-2)
- SMU (7-0)
- Penn State (5-2)
- San Diego State (7-0)
- Iowa State (5-2)
- UTSA (8-0)
- Coastal Carolina (6-1)
- BYU (6-2)