College Football Power Rankings: Clemson, TCU Survive College Football Playoff Scares
By Reed Wallach
After a chaotic Week 7, college football took a collective deep breath in Week 8, but not without some scares.
Clemson and TCU had their undefeated seasons threatened at home against ranked foes, but escaped with wins to keep their undefeated records intact. Meanwhile, UCLA lost their first game of the year against Oregon in a battle of PAC-12 heavyweights.
How does the College Football Playoff picture change? Let's check out the evolving picture by ranking all the teams relative to their National Championship Odds.
2022 College Football Power Rankings
1. Ohio State (+180)
The Buckeyes took advantage of a hapless Iowa offense, forcing six (!) turnovers in the 54-10 win at home. Ohio State only needed 364 yards of offense to put up the 50 burger.
Next Week: @ Penn State
2. Georgia (+180)
BYE
Next Week: Florida (N)
3. Clemson (+1600)
Clemson trailed by double digits in the second half, but Dabo Swinney went to freshman quarterback Cade Klubnik , who sparked the come from behind victory against Syracuse, 24-21.
The Tigers are still in the driver's seat of the ACC and have an undefeated record, but games like this show that they are far from a shoe-in for the College Football Playoff.
Next Week: BYE
4. Tennessee (+1800)
Well, if you thought there was a letdown coming for the Vols after beating Alabama, think again. Tennessee throttled FCS foe Tennessee-Martin 65-24.
Next Week: Kentucky
5. Alabama (+350)
Alabama continued their dominance over Mississippi State, winning 30-6 at home, responding off the loss to Tennessee. The Crimson Tide suffocated the Bulldogs offense , limiting less than 300 yards in the win.
Next Week: BYE
6. Michigan (+1600)
BYE
Next Week: Michigan
7. TCU (+10000)
The Horned Frogs erased another early deficit to take down Kansas State in a battle of two conference championship contenders. The Horned Frogs benefitted from both Wildcats quarterback Adrian Martinez and backup Will Howard going down with injuries, but wins are wins, and TCU is 7-0 and in control of the Big 12 title race.
Next Week: @ West Virginia
8. Oregon (+4000)
How long ago does it feel like the Ducks were getting demolished by Georgia, 49-3? The Ducks just won their sixth straight game, scoring 40+ in all of them behind the fine play of Bo Nix.
The Auburn transfer was dynamite in the statement win, completing 22-of-28 passes for 285 yards and five touchdown passes.
Next Week: @ Cal
9. USC (+6000)
BYE
Next Week: @ Arizona
10. Oklahoma State (+8000)
The Cowboys squandered a double digit lead to TCU last week, but responded in resilient fashion against Texas at home. Closing as six-point underdogs, the Pokes shut down the Texas offense in the second half, allowing only three points, to win 41-34 and keep themselves in the Big 12 title race.
Next Week: @ Kansas State
11. Ole Miss (+20000)
Ole Miss dropped their first game of the season, at LSU in a game that got away from them in the second half. After going up 14-3 early, Ole Miss fell apart, losing 45-20, allowing 21 points in the fourth quarter.
The Rebels were never seen as a CFP contender, but it's another unbeaten knocked off this weekend.
Net Week: @ Texas A&M
12. Wake Forest (+20000)
Wake's offense kept on humming, hanging 43 on Boston College in a 28-point victory. Sam Hartman passed for five touchdowns in the win as the one-loss Demon Decans continue their pursuit for a New Years Six Bowl.
Next Week: @ Louisville
13. Penn State (+20000)
Penn State took advantage of Minnesota's backup quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis and got a much needed blowout win, 45-17. Will the Nittany Lions be up to the test when No. 2 Ohio State comes to town next Saturday afternoon?
Next Week: Ohio State
14. UCLA (+25000)
UCLA was outclassed on the road by Oregon as the defense couldn't string together stops to give Dorian Thompson-Robinson a chance, losing 45-30. The Bruins allowed the Ducks to move the ball with ease, averaging over seven yards per play.
Next Week: Stanford
15. Utah (+25000)
BYE
Next Week: @ Washington State
16. Kansas State (+100000)
The Wildcats were snake bitten by injuries at quarterback in the loss to TCU, but still control their own destiny to a Big 12 Championship appearane with a home game against Oklahoma State next week.
Adrian Martinez exited the game last week with a leg injury and backup Will Howard, who was playing very well, was knocked from the game in the second half.
Next Week: Oklahoma State
17. Texas (N/A)
So maybe Texas isn't back? The Longhorns may have steamrolled an injured Oklahoma team with their backup quarterback two weeks ago, but since then have looked nothing but a talented, yet underwhelming Big 12 team, not a CFP level team with Quinn Ewers.
The Longhorns scored three points in the loss to Oklahoma State, making the road to a Big 12 Championship game very difficult.
18. Cincinnati (N/A)
Cincinnati held on to knock off SMU but it wasn't pretty, 29-27. There was high winds in the game making it very difficult to pass, Bearcats quarterback Ben Bryant completed 18-of-35 attempts for 200 yards.
A win is a win, though, and the Bearcats remain undefeated heading into a massive matchup at UCF next week.
Next Week: @ UCF
19. North Carolina (+13000)
BYE
Next Week: Pittsburgh
20. Syracuse (N/A)
Syracuse's dream undefeated season ended as the team couldn't execute down the stretch of the team's upset bid against Clemson, losing 24-21.
In Clemson's division, that likely ruins any chance of the Orange making the ACC Championship game as well.
Next Week: Notre Dame
21. Illinois (+20000)
BYE
Next Week: @ Nebraska
22. LSU (N/A)
It was a slow start for the Tigers, going down 14-3 with undefeated Ole Miss in town, but the team found its rhythm in the second half and blasted the Rebels 45-20.
Brian Kelly's team improved to 6-2 on the season and did it with a strong offensive performance, averaging 6.6 yards per play and controlling possession for 36 minutes. The LSU offense is rounding into form in time for the second half of the season.
Next Week: BYE
23. Kentucky (N/A)
BYE
Next Week: @ Tennessee
24. Tulane (N/A)
Tulane continues to build an AAC Championship case with a fourth straight conference win against Memphis. The Green Wave may have won by a final score of 38-28 but also led 35-0 at halftime.
Next Week: BYE
25. Baylor
Baylor's season is not going to reach the highs of last season's Big 12 title but the team looked the part of a upper conference team by taking care of business against Kansas at home, 35-23.
Next Week: @ Texas Tech
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.