USA Today Coaches Poll top 25 released following Week 8
The latest USA Today AFCA Coaches Poll top 25 has been released following Week 8 of college football. Multiple teams previously ranked inside the top ten lost in Week 8, resulting in some major shakeups.
USA Today Coaches Poll top 25 after Week 8
- Georgia (7-0) (64)
- Cincinnati (7-0)
- Alabama (7-1)
- Oklahoma (8-0)
- Ohio State (6-1)
- Michigan (7-0)
- Michigan State (7-0)
- Oregon (6-1)
- Ole Miss (6-1)
- Iowa (6-1)
- Notre Dame (6-1)
- Kentucky (6-1)
- Wake Forest (7-0)
- Texas A&M (6-2)
- Oklahoma State (6-1)
- SMU (7-0)
- Penn State (5-2)
- Baylor (6-1)
- Pittsburgh (6-1)
- San Diego State (7-0)
- Auburn (5-2)
- UTSA (8-0)
- Iowa State (5-2)
- Coastal Carolina (6-1)
- NC State (5-2)
Five ranked teams lost in Week 8, resulting in shakeups in the poll
The Week 8 action got underway on Wednesday with a Sun Belt matchup between Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State. Coastal Carolina jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Appalachian State came away with the 30-27 victory.
Illinois and Penn State made history for being the first college football game to ever go to nine overtime periods. This game was an offensive struggle for both sides throughout the contest. Ultimately, Illinois came away with the 20-18 victory. Elsewhere in the Big Ten, Ohio State kept rolling with a 54-7 victory over Indiana. Michigan defeated Northwestern 33-7. With Ohio State and Michigan both being ranked highly in the polls after Week 8, an exciting Big Ten finish is in store.
Cincinnati didn’t look great against Navy, but does anybody? Stopping the triple option can be tough, and Navy’s defense played well against the Bearcats. It was a lot closer than they would have liked, but Cincinnati came away with a 27-20 victory. Oklahoma also survived an upset bid by Kansas. The Jayhawks led the Sooners 10-0 at halftime before Caleb Williams led another second half comeback to win 35-23. Cincinnati and Oklahoma avoiding the upsets helped them avoid major falls in the Week 8 poll.
Alabama fell behind early on against Tennessee, but a strong finish propelled the Crimson Tide to their seventh win of the season. Oregon also narrowly beat UCLA, while Ole Miss and Notre Dame came away with multi-score victories over LSU and USC.
Wake Forest dropped 70 points on Army, and Texas A&M had no issues against South Carolina. San Diego State and Pittsburgh earned close victories while UTSA rolled to another victory to improve to 8-0 on the season.
In addition to Penn State, multiple teams previously in the top 25 were knocked down in Week 8. Oklahoma State fell to Iowa State while Miami took down NC State. Purdue, fresh off of an upset victory over Iowa, lost 30-13 to Wisconsin. Those four losses resulted in serious drops in the poll following Week 8.
UL Lafayette, BYU, and Arkansas were just outside the top 25.