B/R's 2026 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 8

Another week, another round of absolute chaos.

With BYU and Texas Tech both suffering their first loss of the season to unranked opponents, the Big 12 race has been turned upside down, and so has the top of the Top 25 rankings.

Tennessee, USC, Iowa and James Madison were also on the wrong end of upset losses, opening the door for multiple newcomers to the Top 25 and further muddying the College Football Playoff picture.

Ahead is an updated look at how the college football experts here at B/R line up the nation's top 25 teams following Week 8 action.

Editor's Note: These rankings will be updated after the conclusion of Houston vs. Utah.

Week 8 Result: WIN at Tulane (42-19) Next Week: BYE

A 30-6 loss to Texas when they were No. 1 in the AP poll is the only blemish on UTSA's resume, and they are steadily playing their way into the Group of Six conversation as they march through AAC play. The rushing attack shouldered the load against Tulane, as they finished with 223 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. If they can run the table over their final four games, they might be the next team up if Boise State falters.

Week 8 Result: LOSS at Wisconsin (7-24) Next Week: vs. Ohio State

The Trojans entered Saturday's game averaging 36.4 points per game as one of the most potent offenses in the country, but they were held to just seven points, the fewest points ever by a Lincoln Riley coached team. They finished with negative-17 rushing yards on 25 carries, and quarterback Jayden Maiava was unable to pick up the slack, completing 31-of-50 pass attempts for 258 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Two missed field goals and two turnovers on downs was all they produced after halftime.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. USC (24-7) Next Week: at Iowa

A stout Wisconsin defense entered Saturday's game allowing just 16.7 points per game, and they put together a dominant performance against a high-powered USC offense. The Trojans finished with negative-17 rushing yards and turned it over twice to go along with two turnovers on downs, and that was enough for the Badgers to cruise to victory despite just 200 total yards and 58 passing yards. Who's ready for an ugly one next weekend against Iowa?

Full details following the conclusion of tonight's game.

21. Northwestern (6-1, Previous Rank: 24)

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Rutgers (42-14) Next Week: at Oregon

Aidan Chiles had 219 passing yards, 83 rushing yards and five total touchdowns in a dominant victory, and Northwestern is 6-1 for the first time since the abridged 2020 season. The Wildcats' schedule gets significantly more difficult going forward with Oregon, Iowa and Ohio State on the calendar the next three weeks, but they have been one of college football's biggest surprises after being picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten's preseason media poll.

Week 8 Result: BYE Next Week: at Georgia

The Gators have top-10 wins over Ole Miss and Texas sandwiched around a two-game losing streak against Missouri and South Carolina, making them one of the tougher teams to nail down. Next week's matchup with Georgia will be a major test, and they will need a big performance from star running back Jadan Baugh (135 carries, 763 yards, 13 TD) against a Bulldogs defense that allowed just 91.4 rushing yards per game.

Week 8 Result: LOSS at Cincinnati (24-37) Next Week: vs. Arizona

The Red Raiders had three turnovers, three punts, a turnover on downs and a missed field goal, and that was ultimately too many empty possessions for them to overcome a Cincinnati offense that had four passing touchdowns and 255 rushing yards. Will Hammond (24/37, 227 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT) had an inefficient day through the air, lost a fumble and managed just 23 rushing yards on 14 carries. Next week's matchup with Arizona now becomes a must-win for Texas Tech if they are going to stay alive in the playoff picture.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. California (59-20) Next Week: at Syracuse

Kevin Jennings became SMU's all-time leader in passing touchdowns when he connected with Derek McFall in the third quarter, surpassing Tanner Mordecai on the all-time leaderboard, and he is already the school's leader in completions and passing yards. The Mustangs actually trailed 20-17 at halftime, but scored 42 unanswered points after halftime to come away with the blowout win and improve to 4-1 in ACC play.

17. Boise State (6-1, Previous Rank: 21)

Week 8 Result: WIN at Washington State (31-10) Next Week: vs. Texas State

The Broncos scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to turn a 10-10 game into a lopsided victory, starting with a 10-play, 70-yard drive that chewed more than seven minutes off the clock. A staggering 258-53 advantage in rushing yardage was the story of the game, as Boise State allowed just 1.6 yards per carry and dominated the line of scrimmage. That run defense will be put to the test next weekend when Pac-12 leading rusher Torrance Burgess Jr. and Texas State come to town.

16. Wake Forest (6-1, Previous Rank: 18)

Week 8 Result: BYE Next Week: vs. Virginia

Ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2022, the Demon Deacons' playoff outlook might boil down to who comes out on top in their Nov. 14 matchup with SMU. North Carolina transfer Gio Lopez has been one of this season's biggest breakout quarterbacks, leading the ACC in total yards (2,200) and total touchdowns (23) to help Wake Forest average 37.4 points per game.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Iowa State (39-3) Next Week: at Texas Tech

Noah Fifita and the Arizona offense have been the story for much of the season, but it was the Wildcats' defense that turned in a dominant performance in Week 8. The Cyclones kicked a field goal on their second drive of the game and didn't put points on the board the rest of the way, with 80 of their 221 total yards coming on that one scoring drive. Fifita (27/34, 308 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) had another efficient performance under center, while Isaiah Mizell (8 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD) had his second straight 100-yard receiving game.

Week 8 Result: LOSS at Texas (27-34) Next Week: vs. Auburn

The Rebels battled back after falling behind 24-3 in the first half, but their comeback bid ultimately fell short as Trinidad Chambliss' third interception of the game came on a Hail Mary heave as time expired. The Texas secondary limited Chambliss to 25-of-52 passing and had eight pass deflections to go along with the three interceptions, and with running back Kewan Lacy (16 carries, 36 yards) held in check that was the story of the game.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Ole Miss (34-27) Next Week: vs. Mississippi State

The Texas defense held strong against Ole Miss star Trinidad Chambliss on the final drive of the game to halt any potential heroics, and for the fifth time in seven games the outcome of a Longhorns game was seven points or fewer. It looked like things were headed for a more lopsided finish when they built a 24-3 halftime lead, but the Rebels stormed back. Arch Manning had a passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns, but also turned it over three times in another uneven performance.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Texas A&M (31-20) Next Week: BYE

Keelon Russell had 311 passing yards and three touchdowns, including a pair of fourth-quarter strikes to flip a 20-17 deficit into a 31-20 victory. The Crimson Tide managed just 68 rushing yards, which put more pressure on Russell's arm to shoulder the offensive load, and he stepped up to help avoid a potentially devastating third loss. They get a bye next week before what could amount to a playoff elimination game with fellow two-loss SEC contender LSU on Nov. 7.

Week 8 Result: LOSS at South Carolina (24-27) Next Week: BYE

The Volunteers had a 24-17 lead and the football with 8:13 remaining, and while they ran plenty of clock with a nine-play, 59-yard drive, they ultimately turned it over on downs. South Carolina seized that opportunity with a touchdown drive that tied the game with 1:17 remaining, and a fumble by Tennessee quarterback George MacIntyre gave the Gamecocks the ball back with enough time to kick the game-winning field goal. Workhorse running back DeSean Bishop (32 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD) was held to 3.8 yards per carry, well below his 6.0 season average.

Week 8 Result: WIN at Auburn (38-17) Next Week: BYE

The Tigers had four first-half touchdowns to build a 31-10 halftime lead, taking care of business against an Auburn team coming off a huge win against Georgia a week ago. Sam Leavitt (32/45, 387 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 1 rush TD) had a huge game on the offensive side of the ball, while the LSU defense did a great job limiting dual-threat quarterback Byrum Brown to 181 total yards and one touchdown while surrendering 1.9 yards per carry. With Alabama, Texas and Tennessee up next after the bye week, the SEC gauntlet continues.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Vanderbilt (34-17) Next Week: BYE

The Wildcats are 7-1 for the first time since 2018 when they finished 10-3 and won the Citrus Bowl, and now they get a week to rest before a three-week stretch against Tennessee, Florida and Missouri that will ultimately determine the ceiling of their season. Kenny Minchey had 203 passing yards, 23 rushing yards and two touchdowns as he continues to be one of the bigger breakout stories in the SEC this year after transferring from Notre Dame.

A one-loss Notre Dame team still fits comfortably into the projected College Football Playoff field, especially considering that loss came against another playoff-caliber opponent in BYU, but their margin for error the rest of the way has shrunk considerably. They have home games against Miami (Nov. 7) and SMU (Nov. 21) to navigate. Losing one of those would put them squarely on the bubble, and losing both would likely eliminate them from consideration for a spot in the 12-team field.

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Michigan State (28-10) Next Week: vs. Nevada

The Bruins defense allowed just 156 total yards, forced seven punts and had three takeaways, stifling a Michigan State team that is still searching for its first Big Ten conference win. Anthony Woods (14 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD) anchored a rushing attack that piled up 48 carries for 245 yards and three touchdowns, and UCLA is 7-0 for the first time since 2005. The only ranked team left on their schedule is the regular-season finale against USC, so this team is a legitimate candidate to crash the playoff picture.

Week 8 Result: LOSS at UCF (31-39, 2OT) Next Week: vs. Arizona State

Fresh off one of the biggest wins in school history last week against Notre Dame, the Cougars crashed back to earth with a double-overtime loss to a 4-3 UCF team. They went three-and-out twice in the fourth quarter with the game tied, and needed a blocked field goal to force overtime. The defense couldn't come up with a stop on either of UCF's overtime possessions, and Bear Bachemier threw three straight incompletions from the UCF 4-yard line to end the game. They still have a strong one-loss resume, but the Nov. 7 matchup with Utah might now be a must-win game if they want to be part of the playoff picture.

Week 8 Result: vs. Houston Next Week: at Cincinnati

4. Indiana Hoosiers (7-1, Previous Rank: 5)

Week 8 Result: WIN at Michigan (13-6, OT) Next Week: vs. Minnesota

Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover completed his first pass since the second quarter when he connected with Brock Schott for 21 yards to begin overtime. He then scored on a keeper on the next play and the Indiana defense held on Michigan's ensuing possession to avoid the upset.

The Indiana offense finished with just 11 first downs against seven punts, with Hoover completing 8-of-18 pass attempts for 81 yards and an interception, but the defense was able to carry the day.

The Wolverines' rushing attack was bottled up for just 57 yards on 42 carries, and that forced true freshman quarterback Tommy Carr to attempt 32 passes while averaging just 5.2 yards per attempt. It wasn't pretty, but road wins in the Big House are never easy.

3. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1, Previous Rank: 4)

Week 8 Result: BYE Next Week: vs. Florida

After suffering their first loss of the season at home against Auburn in Week 7, the Bulldogs get a week to regroup and for what will be a grueling stretch of games on the other side of their bye.

Florida, Ole Miss and Missouri are on deck the next three weekends, and they will almost certainly need to go at least 2-1 in those games to stay in the projected College Football Playoff field.

Through seven weeks, quarterback Gunner Stockton led the SEC in completion percentage (74.1), yards per attempt (9.9) and passer rating (185.9), though he will need to bounce back from a three-turnover performance in the loss to Auburn.

2. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1, Previous Rank: 3)

The Buckeyes have won five straight since their Week 2 loss to Texas, outscoring the opposition 196-67 during that stretch while picking up road wins over Iowa and Indiana to solidify their College Football Playoff resume.

Star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (52 catches, 984 yards, 12 TD) is the Heisman Trophy betting favorite entering Week 8, while quarterback Julian Sayin entered this week's action leading the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (19), yards per attempt (10.5) and passer rating (184.5).

However, Sayin is sidelined indefinitely and could miss the rest of the season after suffering an injury to his throwing arm in Week 7 that saw him end the game with his arm in a sling on the sidelines. Can true freshman Luke Fahey or sophomore Tavien St. Clair pick up the slack in his absence?

1. Miami Hurricanes (7-0, Previous Rank: 1)

Week 8 Result: WIN vs. Pittsburgh (52-23) Next Week: at North Carolina

The Hurricanes built a 17-0 lead early and opened things up to 38-7 when they scored on the opening drive of the second half before cruising to victory to improve to 5-0 in ACC play and stay undefeated on the year.

The Pitt defense had no answer for the Darian Mensah (31/37, 387 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) and Malachi Toney (16 catches, 194 yards, 3 TD) connection, while the Hurricanes rushing attack combined for 119 yards and three scores to help pile on in the lopsided win.

An upset-minded North Carolina team awaits next weekend in what looks like a classic trap game ahead of the high-profile showdown with Notre Dame on Nov. 7.

Others receiving votes: Cincinnati, Iowa