Let’s start with Utah. One of those was a pick-six that USC LB Cameron Smith returned 54 yards.
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USC, BYU and North Carolina are on the cusp of being ranked.
While Utah’s loss was a bludgeoning, No. 9 Florida State’s was an unexpected kick in the nether regions. The Seminoles allowed Georgia Tech to block and return a field goal attempt for a game-winning touchdown. When everyone is in one piece, this is the best team in college football – it just can’t be ranked ahead of Ole Miss or Memphis right now.
After Utah and Florida State lost and Baylor endured a major injury to its quarterback, do the Buckeyes seem like the best of the eight teams who remain undefeated?
The first College Football Playoff rankings are released November 3.
Ka’imi Fairbairn, UCLA: How was your Thursday? Notre Dame also has an unlikely key game in Philadelphia against the high-flying and unbeaten Temple Owls.
Washington State: Fear the Cougars. Barring another slip this week, both teams will be ranked in the Top 20 of both polls when they meet. Are the 2015 Cougars on that track?
League leader: Stanford. The Cardinal have improved dramatically since their embarrassing Week 1 loss to Northwestern, winning six straight by at least 10 points each, and are the only team that remains undefeated in conference play. OSU and Michigan State will play each other and the victor is likely going to the B1G Championship game where they could play an undefeated Iowa. Ohio State could probably lose one, say against Michigan, and still win the Big 10 and be considered for the playoff. Hackenberg completed only 13-of-29 passes, but he threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-30 win.
#18 Memphis (7-0) 66 Tulsa (3-4) 42: Quite the shootout in Tulsa although Memphis’ lead was never in any doubt. It is unbelievable to see what this offense is capable of when they better mix mid-range passing, and deep balls into the run heavy scheme. Yes, it’s been a three-week drought for Mizzou, which lost to Vanderbilt 10-3 on Saturday.
No college football team has looked more dominant through the first half of the season than the Bears, who have scored: 56, 66, 70, 63, 66, 62. And the Mizzou running game, which was so strong in 2014, is nonexistant.
This might be Dabo Swinney’s best team as the Tigers’ coach.
Massachusetts: After going into halftime up 28-10, Massachusetts had a big opportunity to register a huge upset over No. 19 Toledo, but the Minutemen laid an egg in the second half. Baylor remained at No. 2 but lost five first-place votes and now totals seven. With a 17-14 win vs. Boston College on Saturday, Louisville has won three of its past four games.
Michigan came into the game looking impressive with a 5-1 record including their lone loss on the road at 3rd-ranked Utah.
The results of week 8 will make more than just standings changes, but also to the eventual rankings and the projections of who wins the divisions.
Is Chip Kelly an option for the USC head coaching position?
Kansas State: Kansas State’s 23-9 loss to Texas marked the Wildcats fourth consecutive loss of the season and the first time that’s happened since 2005. Michigan State rose one, LSU jumped one spot, Clemson surged three. After December 5th, the B1G will have at most 1 undefeated team. That is 3 teams in the BCS conferences and 2 G5 teams.
Biggest hurdle: Alabama. The Tigers have two things working in their favor: Alabama already has a home loss to Ole Miss, so the Tide are playing from behind in the conference race, and LSU has a bye week to prepare for this road trip.
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Only one of the eventual four playoff teams – Florida State – was included in the top four, while eventual playoff teams Oregon (No. 5), Alabama (No. 6) and champion Ohio State (No. 16) were out of the picture.
