Miami remained No. 1 on my Associated Press Top 25 poll, as the Hurricanes were one of only three unbeatens to survive the weekend.
UCLA and Utah also avoided upsets, but BYU and Texas Tech both suffered Big 12 losses.
Behind Miami on my ballot are Georgia, Ohio State, UCLA and Indiana. Rounding out my Top 10 are BYU, Kentucky, Utah, Notre Dame and Ole Miss.
Oklahoma State is the only new team on my ballot this week.
My AP Top 25 poll after Week 8.
In their first game since taking first place, the Hurricanes hit Pitt 52-23. W.R. Malachi Toney had a school record 16 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns. QB Darian Mensah threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns as Miami racked up 506 yards on offense.
The Bulldogs, absent last week, play with their rivals Florida Saturday in Atlanta. The game is held annually in Jacksonville, but this year’s contest was moved while EverBank Stadium is being renovated. Next year’s Georgia-Florida game will be played in Tampa before returning to Jacksonville in 2028. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back from their 24-21 loss to Auburn two weeks ago, ending their 53-game winning streak against unranked teams.
The Buckeyes, who were away last week, visit U.S.C. SATURDAY. This will be the first meeting between the Buckeyes and Trojans as Big Ten opponents and the first since the 2017 Cotton Bowl. It will also be Ohio State’s first game since losing the starting QB. Julien Sayin was injured two weeks ago against Indiana.
4. UCLA (7-0)
In his second start, the UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach led the Bruins ahead Michigan State 28-10. UCLA improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2005. Dieffenbach threw for 198 yards and a TD. R.B. Antoine Bois had 112 yards on 14 carries and Wayne Knight added 56 yards. The Bruins outscored the Spartans 443-156.
The Hoosiers outlasted Michigan in a 13-6 overtime road victory. Indiana’s offense struggled with just 212 total offensive yards. A four-yard touchdown run by QB Josh Hoover in overtime, it was the difference in the match. Michigan had a chance to tie in overtime, but a fourth-down pass from Tommy Carr fell short.
6. BYU (6-1)
The Cougars lost to UCF 39-31 in two overtimes as BYU came out flat after its upset of Notre Dame the previous week. Bachmeier Bear threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 37 yards and a score. Kyler Kasper had 129 yards on six receptions, but the Cougars were passed by nearly 100 yards by UCF.
QB Kenny Minchey threw for 203 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another as the Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt 34-17. The win avenged UK’s 28-point loss to Vanderbilt last season. R.B. Jovantae Barnes paced the Wildcats with 68 rushing yards and Jason Patterson added 44. Kenny Darby had 71 yards on four receptions.
8. Utah (7-0)
The Utes survived a scare to defeat Houston 21-13. Utah overcame a 13-7 fourth-quarter lead to remain undefeated. Quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 204 yards and rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns to improve to 17-2 in two years as the Utes’ starting quarterback.
The Fighting Irish, absent last week, play Navy Saturday in Foxboro, Mass., in college football’s longest continuous intersectional rivalry, dating back to 1927. Notre Dame has won the last eight meetings against the Midshipmen. Despite the defeat at BYU two weeks ago, Notre Dame still had the No. 1 seed in the country. 1 defense, allowing only 235 yards per game.
The Rebels’ frantic recovery failed in a 34-27 loss to Texas. Ole Miss trailed 24-3 at halftime, but tied it at 24 with 14 minutes remaining. Trailing 34-27, Ole Miss recovered an onside kick, but Trinidad Chambliss the final pass was intercepted in the end zone. Chambliss threw two touchdowns, but also threw a career-high three interceptions. Devil Alexander led the Rebels with eight catches for 87 yards and Horatio Fields caught two touchdowns.
11.Alabama (6-2)
Result: Winning 31-20 against. Texas A&M
12. Texas (5-2)
Result: Winning 34-27 against. Ole Mademoiselle
13. Tennessee (5-2)
Result: Lost 27-24 in overtime at South Carolina
14. Texas Tech (6-1)
Result: Lost 37-24 to Cincinnati
15. Houston (6-2)
Result: lost 21-13 at Utah
16. LSU (6-2)
Result: Win 38-17 at Auburn
17. SMU (6-1)
Result: Winning 59-20 against. Cal
18. Wake Forest (6-1)
Result: I didn’t play
19. Arizona (6-1)
Result: Winning 39-3 against. Iowa State
20. Florida (5-2)
Result: I didn’t play
21. Boise State (6-1)
Result: Win 31-10 at Washington State
22. North-West (6-1)
Result: Winning 42-14 against. Rutgers
23. New Mexico (6-1)
Result: Winning 21-16 against. North Dakota State
24. Iowa (5-2)
Result: Lost 13-10 at Minnesota
25. Oklahoma State (5-2)
Result: Winning 57-24 against. Colorado
Removed from last week’s ranking: U.S.C.
Gn headline
