Week 8 AP Top 25 Poll sees Big Ten gain equal footing on SEC and unbeaten Utah earn major respect
While Week 8 of the college football season couldn’t possibly live up to the total chaos that unfolded the week prior, we still saw three Top 10 teams in the country all fall on the road, which has yet again resulted in some serious shuffling in the latest AP Top 25 Poll.
To no surprise, the biggest faller in this week’s poll belongs to the BYU Cougars, who dropped six spots to No. 8 after losing to UCF on the road in double overtime. On the other side of the spectrum, Texas is this week’s biggest jumper, with the Longhorns moving up eight spots to No. 11 after holding on and beating Ole Miss at home, 34-27.
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Outside of Miami holding down the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week, every team featured in the Top 20 this week has a new number next to their name.
Miami Hurricanes mascot Sebastian the Ibis runs with the American Flag as he leads the players onto the field during the college football game against the University of Pittsburgh on October 24, 2026 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Week 8 AP Top 25 Poll
- Miami (FL)
- Ohio State
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Notre Dame
- Utah
- UCLA
- BYU
- Kentucky
- Alabama
- Texas
- Ole Miss
- Texas Tech
- Wake Forest
- LSU
- Tennessee
- Florida
- Houston
- SMU
- Boise State
- Northwestern
- Arizona
- Missouri
- Oklahoma State
- Wisconsin
The Big 12 saw a bit of cannibalization in Week 8, but when all the dust settled, Utah improved to 7-0 on the year after its late-night win over Houston, and was rewarded by moving up to No. 6 in the nation. Next up for the Utes is a huge matchup at Cincinnati, the same Cincinnati team that knocked off No. 8 Texas Tech on Saturday in a stunner.
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Devon Dampier #4 of the Utah Utes and Ricky Johnson #11 of the Utah Utes celebrate after the touchdown during the second half against the Houston Cougars at Rice-Eccles Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) (Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Utah received one first-place vote in Week 8, while Ohio State picked up 10, and the Hurricanes earned 59.
Meanwhile, the Big Ten and the SEC each have three teams inside the latest Top 10, and as absolutely nobody saw coming, UCLA and Kentucky sit at No. 7 and No. 9, respectively, with just five weeks left in the regular season.
Malik Hartford #12 of the UCLA Bruins celebrates with Scooter Jackson #1 after making an interception during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans at the Rose Bowl Stadium on October 24, 2026 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
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The upcoming college football Saturday happens to fall on Halloween, and it should be a doozy.
No. 3 Georgia takes on No. 17 Florida in Atlanta, No. 13 Texas Tech hosts No. 22 Arizona, No. 25 Wisconsin travels to Iowa, and No. 5 Notre Dame has what could be a unique matchup against Navy in New England.
