Miami’s grip on the top spot looks safe after a weekend that shook up the rankings everywhere else.
The Hurricanes rolled past Pitt 52-23, and with that, they appear set to remain No. 1 in the AP poll after Week 8. In a 2026 season that has already seen plenty of turnover at the top, Miami answered its latest test in emphatic fashion.
It was the first time Miami played as the AP No. 1 team since 2002, and the offense delivered another huge showing from quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney. Toney set a school record with 16 catches and finished with 194 receiving yards, while Mensah threw for 387 yards and accounted for four touchdowns.
Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi summed up the day with a blunt assessment: “A buzz saw,” was how Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi described Miami on the day, coming out on the wrong end of the 52-23 decision.
Miami’s win should put an end to a messy three-week run at No. 1.
Texas lost to unranked Oklahoma and dropped, then Georgia fell after a loss to unranked Auburn. Miami, meanwhile, took care of business and avoided becoming the next team to lose the top billing.
The bigger shakeup may come just behind the Hurricanes, where BYU took a stunning hit on the road. After moving up to No. 2 following a dramatic win over then-No.
2 Notre Dame, the Cougars had a chance to strengthen their spot against unranked UCF. Instead, UCF pulled off a double-overtime upset at the Bounce House, throwing the top of the Big 12 picture into even more chaos.
That loss opens the door for Ohio State, which was idle after beating Indiana last week, to move into the No. 2 spot. Beyond that, the AP voters have a tougher puzzle.
BYU’s drop will force a decision on how to handle Notre Dame, which is currently No. 4 after falling by four points to the Cougars last week. Pollsters could slide BYU below the Irish, but that would create obvious head-to-head questions.
Another possibility is keeping BYU one spot ahead of Notre Dame at No. 3.
There’s also a path that pushes Indiana into the top four after its road win over Michigan, lifts Georgia over BYU because of its stronger win against Alabama, and keeps Notre Dame behind the Cougars.
Those are the kinds of decisions the AP pollsters have to untangle. The one thing that looks clear is this: Miami is staying at No. 1.
In Other News...
BYU Has A Bigger Problem Than The UCF Loss
BYUs wild 39-31 double-overtime loss to UCF left plenty to sort through, but the biggest concern may have come after the final whistle. Cornerback Evan Johnson was hurt on the field and had to be carried off by trainers, turning a painful defeat into something potentially more significant for a defense already dealing with pressure points.
Kalani Sitake confirmed the injury and said the Cougars are still evaluating Johnsons status, leaving an already thin margin for error even tighter as the season moves forward. The loss also featured a costly roughing-the-kicker penalty and other injuries that affected BYUs performance, a reminder that the Cougars are not just trying to clean up one result but manage the fallout from a game that took a physical toll. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs First Loss Came Down To A Brutal Late Mistake
BYUs first loss of the season came in a game that swung on one costly late sequence, as the Cougars fell to UCF 39-31 in double overtime. The offense had chances, but the night also reflected the challenge of playing without star running back LJ Martin, leaving Bear Bachmeier to shoulder more of the load through the air and on the ground.
After Bachmeier finished with 257 passing yards and one interception, BYU was still within reach in the extra sessions before a roughing-the-kicker penalty on defensive end Kendal Wall extended UCFs drive. The Knights cashed in with a touchdown to end it, turning a hard-fought road result into a frustrating reminder of how quickly one late mistake can decide a conference game. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Stunning Collapse At UCF Demands One Painful Explanation
BYUs trip to the Bounce House turned into one of the most jolting results in the country, as No. 2 BYU fell 39-31 in overtime to UCF after a game packed with swing moments and frustration. The Knights found enough offense behind Keyone Jenkins, who threw for 293 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns, all while UCF was working without its starting quarterback.
The Cougars had chances to steady the night, but the game kept tilting the wrong way with a fumble overturn, costly penalties, a blocked field goal and, finally, a goal-line stand in overtime that sealed it for UCF. For BYU, the loss leaves behind a simple but painful question: how did a top-ranked team let so many breaks slip away in one of the most chaotic games of its season? [Read more 🡒]