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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected Top 25 after Week 8

By Michael Whitlow

Oct 22, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) rushes in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) rushes in the first half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama is still Alabama. Lamar Jackson is still Lamar Jackson. West Virginia is saying hello to most of the nation at 6-0. What will the college football rankings look like after Week 8?

By the time you begin to read these projected college football rankings for Week 9, Lamar Jackson probably scored two more times.

Jackson was his usual absurd self on Saturday afternoon for the Louisville Cardinals, who cruised through a big-time beatdown of NC State in Week 8.

Along with Jackson, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and the Tide rolled all over No. 6 Texas A&M at home, Jabrill Peppers and Michigan stomped Illinois at home, and West Virginia continued their improbable hot start with a 24-point win at home over TCU.

With the official College Football Playoff rankings still a little ways away, here’s a look at what the polls could look like heading into next week’s action that features No. 4 Clemson heading to Tallahassee to take on Florida State.

  1. Alabama – Jalen Hurts was good. The defense scored another touchdown. Who beats this team? There may not be an answer to that question this season.
  2. Michigan – Their season rides on the Ohio State game, which has been said once or twice in the history of the Wolverines program. But, they do have their annual meeting with in-state rival Michigan State to get through as well.
  3. Clemson – The Tigers enjoyed a much-needed bye week before their showdown with the Seminoles.
  4. Washington – It’s time to start respecting the Washington Huskies. This team is for real.
  5. Louisville – Lamar freakin’ Jackson. Enough said.
  6. Nebraska – We’ll find out how good the Huskers are after next Saturday night’s showdown with the Badgers.
  7. Baylor – A bye week for the Bears and they move up. Not bad.
  8. Texas A&M – The Aggies fought for a while and actually led in Tuscaloosa in the second half, but the Tide were too much.
  9. Ohio State – The Bucks left Happy Valley on a sad note after a late-game collapse. Their playoff hopes aren’t gone, but it just got tougher.
  10. West Virginia – How about the Mountaineers? Dana Holgorsen went from the hot seat to coaching one of the hottest teams in the nation.
  11. Wisconsin – The Badgers bounced back with a win over Iowa in Iowa City this week. Big game with Nebraska at home next week.
  12. Florida State – The ‘Noles need Derwin James back and they need a win vs. Clemson next week.
  13. Boise State – Houston lost again, Louisville still has to play at Houston, and the Broncos could crash the big party again.
  14. Florida – The Gators head to Jacksonville to have some cocktails with Georgia next week after another off week.
  15. Oklahoma – Baker Mayfield and the Sooners played a game of NCAA Football ’14 with Texas Tech this week, but Mayfield got some nice vengeance against the Red Raiders.
  16. Utah – The Utes went into the Rose Bowl and put on a show thanks to Joe Williams. Don’t sleep on the Utes in the Pac-12 race.
  17. Tennessee – The Vols got a needed week off after two tough losses to the Aggies and Crimson Tide. Next up: South Carolina.
  18. Auburn – The Tigers absolutely destroyed Arkansas at home on Saturday night. Goodness.
  19. Western Michigan – The Broncos weren’t rowing the boat this week, but they’re still in the non-Power 5 hunt for a New Year’s Six bowl.
  20. North Carolina – The Tar Heels won against Virginia this week. Mitch Trubisky is a sleeper Heisman contender.
  21. Navy – The Midshipmen kept winning with a win over Memphis.
  22. LSU – Coach O interim magic strikes again vs. Ole Miss. Oh, and Leonard Fournette happened.
  23. Houston – Houston didn’t take a huge hit after the loss to Navy, but losing badly to SMU might cost the Cougars some big-time poll positioning this week.
  24. Colorado – The Buffs are in the poll after a physical, but impressive 10-5 win over Stanford on the road.
  25. Arkansas – The Hogs got throttled by Auburn on Saturday, but they might just barely stick in the poll because of Miami’s loss to Virginia Tech. If not, Washington State could certainly land here too.

Next: Ranking The 25 Best Rivalries In College Football

The chaos is far from over, friends.

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