SteemSports Presenter:@thesportsguy
SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets
This past weekend saw all kinds of movement throughout the top 25 as four teams ranked in the top 10 all lost this past Saturday. In fact, even those who were fortunate enough to win did so in close fashion - for the most part. We start atop the rankings where even Alabama struggled early in a home game against Missouri. The Crimson Tide led just 13-10 after the 1st quarter, but went on to outscore the Tigers 17-0 in the 2nd quarter on their way to a 39-10 victory to stay at # 1. # 2 Ohio State also struggled early at home, against Minnesota, but shutout the Gophers in the 2nd half en route to a 30-14 victory. Clemson was idle and remains in the #3 spot. The marque matchup of the week took place in Baton Rouge as # 4 Georgia visited # 10 LSU. The Tigers ended up thrashing the Bulldogs in surprising fashion, 36-16 and have made their case as the top 1-loss team in the country. The victory sent the Tigers up to # 5 in this week's rankings - right behind Notre Dame, who moved up a spot and took Georgia's place at # 4. The Fighting Irish survived a scare at home against Pitt, rallying for a 19-14 victory.
Central Florida remains at 6 after getting a dramatic come-from-behind victory at Memphis, 31-30 to stay unbeaten. West Virginia was surprisingly dominated by Iowa State in Aimes, IA, Washington lost in OT at Oregon, and Penn State was upset by Michigan State at home in the closing moments, 21-17, causing all kinds of movement throughout the rankings. Texas survived against Baylor, 23-17 and moved up four spots to 7, Oregon outlasted Washington at home in OT 30-27, and were the big movers of the week, shooting up 10 spots to # 8. The Huskies missed a short FG as time expired in regulation to force OT. The Michigan Wolverines moved up four spots as well and into the top 10 at # 9 after they dominated Wisconsin at home, 38-13. The previously # 12 Badgers fell behind big in the second half and failed to play with any kind of urgency in a disappointing performance. The loss dropped Wisconsin to 4-2 and all the way down to # 25 - for now. Georgia lands at # 10 after their blowout loss at LSU. The Bulldogs are a good football team, but if you look at the actual teams they have defeated, their most impressive victory to date is a 43-29 victory over a 3-3 Missouri squad. Georgia will get their chances, however in the coming weeks to bolster their resume and prove they are worthy of a higher ranking as they take on # 12 Florida this Saturday, then visit # 13 Kentucky and host previously-ranked Auburn. This will be the stretch that will make - or break - the Bulldogs' season.
Oklahoma was idle and moved up four spots to # 11, followed by the Gators at 12, Kentucky at 13, N.C. State, who was also idle up to 14, with West Virginia settling at # 15, followed by Washington at 16, and Penn State at 17. 6-0 Cincinnati was a big mover without even playing a game - taking advantage of developments in front of them to move up 7 spots from 25 to 18. They are followed by Mississippi State up to # 19, South Florida, who survived 25-24 at Tulsa, to remain unbeaten at # 20, Michigan State, who is back in the rankings at 21 after an upset of Penn State in Happy Valley, and Washington State who were also idle, remains at 22. The Iowa Hawkeyes are back in the rankings, in at 23, followed by Texas A&M, who jumps into the rankings for the first time at # 24, and the previously discussed Badgers, who round out the poll this week at # 25. Let's get to it, here is Week 8's top 25:
TOP 25
1 ALABAMA (7-0)
2 OHIO ST. (7-0)
3 CLEMSON (6-0)
4 NOTRE DAME (7-0)
5 LSU (6-1)
6 UCF (6-0)
7 TEXAS (6-1)
8 OREGON (5-1)
9 MICHIGAN (6-1)
10 GEORGIA (6-1)
11 OKLAHOMA (5-1)
12 FLORIDA (6-1)
13 KENTUCKY (5-1)
14 N.C. ST. (5-0)
15 WEST VIRGINIA (5-1)
16 WASHINGTON (5-2)
17 PENN ST. (4-2)
18 CINCINNATI (6-0)
19 MISSISSIPPI ST. (4-2)
20 SOUTH FLORIDA (6-0)
21 MICHIGAN ST. (4-2)*
22 WASHINGTON ST. (5-1)
23 IOWA (5-1)*
24 TEXAS A&M (5-2)*
25 WISCONSIN (4-2)
* - New to the rankings this week
Dropped out: 14 Miami FL, 20 Colorado, 21 Auburn
Duke, Army, Houston, Miami FL, Appalachian St., Utah St., and Utah are the next teams just outside of the top 25. Colorado had a disappointing trip to southern California and were routed by USC to drop from the rankings. Auburn suffered what might have been the biggest surprise of the week, losing at home to previously 2-3 Tennessee, 30-24 and also dropped from the rankings.
Looking ahead to this weekend, # 9 Michigan visits # 21 Michigan State in a huge rivalry showdown in the Big Ten East Division. Both are coming off huge conference victories last week, and will be looking to take a step up to challenge Ohio State for the East. Oklahoma has a tricky game at TCU, who is off to a disappointing 3-3 start, but have a huge opportunity Saturday to change the trajectory of their season. Tennessee will try to make it two upsets in a row as they welcome the top ranked Crimson Tide to Knoxville. In the marque showdown of the week in the ACC, unbeaten # 14 N.C. St. visits fellow unbeaten, # 3 Clemson. Back in the SEC, # 19 Mississippi State visits # 5 LSU as the Tigers will attempt defeat yet another team ranked in the top 25. Finally, # 8 Oregon visits # 22 Washington St. in the marque game of the week in Pac 12. There are once again a plethora of big-time matchups this Saturday with plenty at stake, so be sure to check back next week as we continue to cover all of the college football action. Enjoy the games!
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