Louisville reenters top five of Power Rankings after Week 8
Saturday was a perfect example of the wonderful volatility of college football. My colleague Gabriel Baumgaertner described the day as “sleepy” before Penn State upset Ohio State and sent 107,000 crazed fans rushing onto the Beaver Stadium field, Oklahoma and Texas Tech combined for more yards than anyone ever in a single game, Leonard Fournette once again hit Peak Fournette and Washington State-Arizona State brought us that #Pac12AfterDark goodness.
Other major storylines included West Virginia continuing its ascent into College Football Playoff contender status, Houston continuing its descent from said status, Alabama running away from Texas A&M, Auburn’s remarkable dismantling of Arkansas and tons more.
Five teams from last week’s rankings lost and three dropped out, paving the way for the debut of Penn State and the returns of Washington State and Virginia Tech.
Before we get into a jam-packed Week 9, here’s how the pecking order shakes out following Week 8:
• STAPLES: Penn State turning the corner under James Franklin
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
PREVIOUS: 1
RECORD: 8-0
Last week: Beat Texas A&M 33–14Next week: Off
2. Clemson Tigers
PREVIOUS: 3
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday at Florida State
3. Washington Huskies
PREVIOUS: 4
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Oregon State 41–17Next week: Saturday at Utah
4. Michigan Wolverines
PREVIOUS: 5
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Illinois 41–8Next week: Saturday at Michigan State
5. Louisville Cardinals
PREVIOUS: 7
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Beat NC State 54–13Next week: Saturday at Virginia
6. Ohio St. Buckeyes
PREVIOUS: 2
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Lost to Penn State 24–21Next week: Saturday vs. Northwestern
7. Nebraska Cornhuskers
PREVIOUS: 8
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat Purdue 27–14Next week: Saturday at Wisconsin
8. West Virginia Mountaineers
PREVIOUS: 12
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: Beat TCU 34–10Next week: Saturday at Oklahoma State
9. Texas A&M Aggies
PREVIOUS: 6
RECORD: 6-1
Last week: Lost to Alabama 33–14Next week: Saturday vs. New Mexico State
10. Wisconsin Badgers
PREVIOUS: 10
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Iowa 17–9Next week: Saturday vs. Nebraska
11. Baylor Bears
PREVIOUS: 9
RECORD: 6-0
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday at Texas
12. Florida St. Seminoles
PREVIOUS: 13
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday vs. Clemson
13. Boise St. Broncos
PREVIOUS: 14
RECORD: 7-0
Last week: Beat BYU 28–27Next week: Saturday at Wyoming
14. Auburn Tigers
PREVIOUS: 22
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Arkansas 56–3Next week: Saturday at Ole Miss
15. Oklahoma Sooners
PREVIOUS: 15
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Texas Tech 66–59Next week: Saturday vs. Kansas
16. Florida Gators
PREVIOUS: 16
RECORD: 5-1
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday vs. Georgia
17. Utah Utes
PREVIOUS: 18
RECORD: 7-1
Last week: Beat UCLA 52–45Next week: Saturday vs. Washington
18. Tennessee Volunteers
PREVIOUS: 19
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: OffNext week: Saturday at South Carolina
19. LSU Tigers
PREVIOUS: 25
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Ole Miss 38–21Next week: Off
20. Western Michigan Broncos
PREVIOUS: 20
RECORD: 8-0
Last week: Beat Eastern Michigan 45–31Next week: Off
21. Colorado Buffaloes
PREVIOUS: 24
RECORD: 6-2
Last week: Beat Stanford 10–5Next week: Off
22. North Carolina Tar Heels
PREVIOUS: 23
RECORD: 6-2
Last week: Beat Virginia 35–14Next week: Off
23. Washington St. Cougars
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Arizona State 37–32Next week: Saturday at Oregon State
24. Penn St. Nittany Lions
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Ohio State 24–21Next week: Saturday at Purdue
25. Virginia Tech Hokies
RECORD: 5-2
Last week: Beat Miami 37–16Next week: Thursday at Pitt
Dropped out: Houston, Arkansas, Ole Miss
Next five: Navy, Houston, Oklahoma State, San Diego State, USC
