College Football Rankings 2016: Week 8 AP Poll winners and losers

Oct 15, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) celebrates his punt return for a 79yd touchdown against the Tennessee Volunteers during the fourth quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 17, 2016; Champaign, IL, USA; The Western Michigan Broncos defense celebrates after the interception by Western Michigan Broncos linebacker Robert Spillane (10) during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium. Western Michigan beat Illinois 34 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Mike Granse-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Western Michigan Broncos (No. 24 up to No. 20)

If you’ve followed football in the state of Michigan over the past few years, you’d think it was a two-team show. Michigan State and Michigan were the big kids on the block, but there’s a new second-best team in the state this season — sorry, Spartans.

Western Michigan has risen from nowhere, basically, and has become one of the best teams in the country from the MAC. The Broncos are now 7-0 thanks to a 41-0 thrashing of Akron on the road, and that wasn’t as easy of a victory as you might think. The Zips were a 4-2 team and had a solid offense.

The Broncos continue to be one of the most underrated teams in college football despite a 7-0 record. People are going to keep overlooking this team until they beat a Power Five opponent, and that might just happen if they continue to win. In fact, winning out would almost guarantee a New Year’s Six bowl, especially with how fast this team is climbing the rankings.

Zach Terrell continues to be one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the country, passing for another 207 yards and two scores, throwing 17 total touchdown passes in 2016 with zero interceptions.

Oh yeah, and Western running back Jarvion Franklin had the game of his life, rushing for 281 yards and a touchdown against the Zips.

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