How do we think the top-25 teams in college football will be ranked after Week 8?
Every week, the AP Poll is anticipated. It shows where the Top 25 teams in the nation stand, including those with the best chance at the College Football Playoff.
Unlike Week 7, Week 8 was quiet. No one shocked the world and upset a top 10 team; Clemson, Washington, Auburn and Washington State all fell in Week 7 and slipped out of the playoff picture.
There were multiple ranked vs. ranked games, however, that impacted the latest Top 25. Who moved up from their win? How about the school that fell off? Let’s look at how the latest rankings may look.
No. 25: Iowa State (5-2)
Let’s give Iowa State some credit. After a miserable 2016 season, they roared back for five wins, one away from reaching bowl eligibility. Fill-in quarterback Kyle Kempt delivered another strong performance, with three touchdowns against Texas Tech. Plus, the defense held this stout Texas Tech offense to just 13 points. Will it be enough to earn a spot in the rankings?
No. 24: Memphis (6-1)
Memphis played before anyone else in Week 8 and won. Houston mounted a 17-0 lead at halftime, but the Tigers rallied for 42 points in the second half. This pushed them to 6-1 while keeping a spot in the College Football Rankings.
No. 23: LSU (6-2)
LSU has woken up. After falling to Troy, the Tigers have won three straight games and put any doubt on head coach Ed Orgeron’s status to rest. That’s just for this week, though, as Alabama awaits them in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 4. No matter what the talent difference is, this game is always competitive.
No. 22: USC (6-2)
USC vs. Notre Dame was expected to be a rivalry renewed. Both teams were in the top 15 and had just one loss each. The Trojans never stood a chance, however, as they fell 49-14. The lead was 28-0 at one point, and a shutout seemed in reach. Quarterback Sam Darnold had another turnover and the running game never produced momentum.
No. 21: West Virginia (5-2)
Another Big 12 win for West Virginia pushed them in the right direction. It didn’t come easy, with Baylor scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter, narrowing the final score to 38-13. A loss obviously would have taken the Mountaineers out of the rankings, but they survived and even moved up a few spots.