So, the AP Poll Week 8 just dropped, and honestly? It’s a complete mess. If you thought the early season was weird, welcome to the mid-October "I can't believe that just happened" phase of college football. We’ve got blue bloods falling out of the rankings, previously unranked teams jumping into the top 20, and a team from the Big Ten that basically everyone ignored for years suddenly looking like they might actually win the whole thing.
Football is funny like that. One Saturday you're on top of the world, and the next, you're "receiving votes" alongside teams you’ve never heard of.
The Ohio State Grip and the Indiana Rocket
Ohio State is still sitting at No. 1. No surprises there. They took down Illinois 34-16, which sounds like a blowout, but the Illini actually made them sweat a little. It was the first time anyone scored double digits on the Buckeyes all season.
Still, they grabbed 50 first-place votes. They're the safe bet.
But the real story of the AP Poll Week 8 isn't at the top; it’s at No. 3. Indiana. Yes, the Hoosiers. After they went into Autzen Stadium and beat Oregon 30-20, the pollsters finally stopped treating them like a fluke. They jumped four spots. They even pulled in three first-place votes!
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If you told me back in August that Curt Cignetti would have Indiana sitting higher than Georgia and Alabama in mid-October, I would’ve told you to go back to sleep. But here we are. The Hoosiers are 6-0, they’re physical, and they’re making people realize the Big Ten isn't just a two-team race anymore.
The Red River Aftermath: Texas and Oklahoma
The Red River Shootout usually ruins someone's season. This year, it sort of saved one and wrecked another. Texas was actually unranked heading into that game—which was crazy—but after they thumped Oklahoma 23-6, they vaulted back into the poll at No. 21.
Arch Manning didn’t put up video game numbers, but he was efficient. 21 of 27 passing. He looked like he actually belonged there, which is a big relief for Steve Sarkisian after that Florida disaster.
Oklahoma, on the other hand, is the biggest loser of the AP Poll Week 8. They fell eight spots down to No. 14. Their offense looked totally lost. John Mateer came back from that hand injury, but he didn't look right—three interceptions and five sacks.
And look at their schedule. It's brutal.
- Next up: at South Carolina
- Then hosting Ole Miss
- Road games at Tennessee and Alabama
- Finishing with Missouri and LSU
Honestly, there isn't a "gimme" left for the Sooners. Brent Venables is 5-1 right now, but that record is as fragile as glass.
Chaos in the Middle: The Risers and Fallers
Michigan is out. Let that sink in. The defending champs are officially unranked in the AP Poll Week 8 for the first time this season. Sherrone Moore is sitting at 1-2 against Power Four teams with winning records. They just haven't found an identity, and the pollsters finally ran out of patience after that loss to USC.
Speaking of USC, they're back. No. 20. Lincoln Riley’s defense—a sentence I never thought I’d say—is actually keeping them in games.
The Big 12 is also doing Big 12 things. Arizona State and Iowa State both got booted from the top 25 after losing to unranked teams. It's the most "wild west" conference in the country right now. Meanwhile, Texas Tech moved up to No. 7. They’re 6-0, and nobody is talking about them, but they’re quietly destroying everyone in their path.
The Full AP Poll Week 8 Top 10
- Ohio State (50 first-place votes) – Still the king.
- Miami (13 first-place votes) – Had an open date, still looks dominant.
- Indiana (3 first-place votes) – The "Cinderella" that might just be a "Queen."
- Texas A&M – Mike Elko has them playing mean.
- Ole Miss – A little sleepy in their last win, but still dangerous.
- Alabama – Ty Simpson is looking like the real deal.
- Texas Tech – The most underrated 6-0 team in America.
- Oregon – Down five spots after the IU loss.
- Georgia – Looking beatable, but still Georgia.
- LSU – Defense is lights out; offense is still buffering.
Why Some Rankings Make No Sense
If you look closely at the votes, there’s some weird stuff going on. Illinois got kicked out of the poll entirely just because they lost to the No. 1 team in the country. That feels wrong. They’re the only team that’s even challenged Ohio State, yet they’re behind teams like Virginia and Nebraska?
Virginia is at No. 18, and sure, they’re 5-1, but their "best" win is against a Florida State team that is basically a dumpster fire this year. The pollsters love a good record, but sometimes they forget to look at who those wins actually came against.
What This Means for the Playoff
The AP Poll Week 8 is usually where the "Pretenders" get separated from the "Contenders." With the 12-team playoff, being at No. 14 isn't a death sentence like it used to be. Oklahoma is still in the hunt, but they have zero margin for error.
The SEC has 10 teams in the top 25. Ten! That's almost half the poll. It's getting to the point where they're just going to beat each other up until only two or three are left standing.
If you're a betting person, keep an eye on those "others receiving votes."
- Illinois (113 votes)
- Michigan (73 votes)
- Washington (36 votes)
- UNLV (30 votes)
One big win next week and any of these teams are right back in the mix.
Actionable Insights for Week 9
If you’re following the rankings to help with your picks or just to win an argument at the bar, here is what you need to do.
First, stop betting on "name brand" teams just because of the logo on the helmet. Michigan and Oklahoma are struggling for a reason—quarterback play and offensive line depth.
Second, watch the turnover margin for Indiana. They aren't winning by accident; they're winning because they don't make mistakes. Until they do, they're a top-five team.
Finally, keep an eye on the Big 12. Texas Tech at Arizona State is going to be a massive game for the AP Poll Week 9. If Tech loses, the Big 12 might not have a team in the top 10 next week.
The rankings are a snapshot, not a crystal ball. Everything changes next Saturday. Stay tuned.