Central Florida’s 39-31 double-overtime win over BYU on Saturday looks like the kind of result that could tilt the top of the polls in Miami’s favor when Sunday’s rankings come out.
That’s because Miami backed up its own case with a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh, while BYU - which had been sitting second behind No. 1 Miami in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the AFCA Coaches Poll - took the hit.
Miami entered Week 8 with 1,697 points and 40 first-place votes in the AP poll, plus 1,791 points and 50 first-place votes in the coaches poll. BYU had 1,675 points and 20 first-place votes in the AP rankings, along with 1,698 points and 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll.
The rest of the top-end picture also shifted on Saturday. Ohio State and Texas Tech were the only other teams to earn first-place votes in the Week 8 polls.
The Buckeyes checked in third in the AP poll with 1,649 points and nine first-place votes, then second in the coaches poll with 1,725 points and 13 first-place votes. Texas Tech sat eighth in the AP poll with 1,336 points and one first-place vote, while landing fifth in the coaches poll without a first-place vote.
Cincinnati’s 37-24 win over Texas Tech made for a rough day for the Big 12.
With BYU and Texas Tech both losing and Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame all on bye, the Week 9 top five is set for a shuffle. Ohio State should climb to No. 2 in the AP Top 25, with Notre Dame fourth and Georgia fifth in the Week 8 AP rankings. In the coaches poll, Georgia was fourth, Texas Tech fifth, Indiana sixth, Mississippi seventh and Notre Dame eighth.
Miami is positioned to pick up most of the first-place votes BYU had last week. Ohio State has now won five straight since its 24-23 loss at Texas in Week 2. Texas, meanwhile, is 4-2 and hosts Mississippi on Saturday night, with a win there threatening to stir up the top 10 even more.
In Other News...
Ohio States Bye Week Boost Comes With A Serious New Concern
BYUs double-overtime loss to UCF shook up the AP Top 25 and opened the door for some movement near the top, but Ohio States bigger concern has little to do with the rankings. The Buckeyes are coming out of the bye week with questions attached to two key pieces of the offense, as injuries to quarterback Julian Sayin and running back JaKobi Jackson threaten to affect how much the team can lean on its usual rhythm.
Miami stayed at No. 1 after handling Pitt, while Ohio State is left sorting through the more immediate reality of how it will look in the games ahead. The Buckeyes have had enough stability to stay in the national conversation, but the timing of these injuries adds a real layer of uncertainty at a point in the season when every week starts to feel more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Complicated Ranking Drop After Costly Upset
Miami held onto the No. 1 spot in the AP college football rankings after a convincing win over Pittsburgh, with quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney leading the way. The bigger shift, at least for the teams chasing the top, came from BYUs upset loss to unranked UCF in double overtime, a result that is expected to send the Cougars sliding after they had been sitting at No. 2.
For Ohio State, the ripple effect could be significant. The Buckeyes are projected to move up to No. 2 as pollsters reshuffle the upper tier after a chaotic weekend, with several top teams now under closer scrutiny depending on how they handled their latest tests. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Faces A Season-Defining Test After Julian Sayin Injury
Julian Sayins injury has forced Ohio State into a different kind of stretch run, one that now hinges on how the Buckeyes handle a sudden change at quarterback. Luke Fahey is stepping in, and with the bye week arriving at a key moment, the staff has a little time to stabilize the offense and keep the season on track while the rest of the roster tries to carry the load.
There is still a path here for Ohio State to finish strong, make the College Football Playoff and stay in the national title conversation, but the margin for error is tighter now. The bigger picture also leaves room for long-term optimism, from Jeremiah Smiths Heisman-level ceiling to the idea that Sayin could eventually reclaim the job down the road, even if this season has already taken a sharp turn. [Read more 🡒]