RANKINGS: Miami Takes Over At No. 1 After Historic Chaos In The JPWest Media Week 8 Top 25

Five of the top seven teams lost on the same Saturday for the first time in the modern era. The board treated the results like they counted.

The poll is compiled from seven reporter ballots on a 25-to-1 scale. Miami received three first-place votes and finished with 172 of a possible 175 points. BYU and Ohio State were right behind at 165 and 164.

Out — Mississippi State (was 18), Oklahoma (was 24).
In — Wake Forest, Florida.
Also receiving votes — Oregon 8, Auburn 6, Arizona 2.

Biggest movers: ↑ BYU +8, UCLA +6, Kentucky +5, Tennessee +4, Houston +4. ↓ Texas −11, Missouri −12, Alabama −7, Notre Dame −6, Georgia −5.

1. Miami Hurricanes (6-0)

Previous ranking: 3 ↑2
Week 7: W 43–35 (2OT) vs. Florida State
Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh

Miami stayed perfect when almost nobody else in the top seven did. The double-overtime win over Florida State was messy, but it was a win, and that was enough on a day when Georgia, Notre Dame, and Indiana all lost. A 6-0 team that avoided the wreckage does not need to apologize for the top spot.

2. BYU Cougars (6-0)

Previous ranking: 10 ↑8
Week 7: W 28–24 vs. No. 2 Notre Dame
Week 8: at UCF

BYU went into the first top-10 matchup ever hosted in Provo and left with the win. The résumé now includes a signature victory over a team that was ranked No. 2 the week before. That result, plus a perfect record, is why the Cougars jumped eight spots.

3. Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1)

Previous ranking: 4 ↑1
Week 7: W 19–15 at No. 5 Indiana
Week 8: Bye

Ohio State went on the road, beat Indiana, and ended the Hoosiers’ long winning streak. The Buckeyes look like the clear best one-loss team even with Julian Sayin expected to miss time. A road win over a top-five team is still a road win over a top-five team.

4. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-0)

Previous ranking: 9 ↑5
Week 7: W 53–25 vs. Arizona State
Week 8: at Cincinnati

Texas Tech rolled Arizona State and stayed perfect. The Red Raiders have been one of the cleanest undefeated teams all year, and the board moved them up five spots because of it.

5. Ole Miss Rebels (5-1)

Previous ranking: 8 ↑3
Week 7: W 31–3 vs. No. 12 Missouri
Week 8: at Texas

Ole Miss dominated Missouri and looked like one of the more complete teams in the SEC. The earlier loss keeps them from climbing higher, but a 31-3 win over a ranked opponent is still a 31-3 win over a ranked opponent.

6. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)

Previous ranking: 1 ↓5
Week 7: L 24–27 vs. Auburn
Week 8: Bye

Georgia lost at home to Auburn and dropped five spots. The earlier road win at Alabama is still on the résumé, but a loss to an unranked team as the No. 1 team carries a cost. The board treated the result like it counted.

7. UCLA Bruins (6-0)

Previous ranking: 13 ↑6
Week 7: W 17–7 vs. Wisconsin
Week 8: vs. Michigan State

UCLA stayed perfect with a defensive win over Wisconsin. The Bruins already had a win over Oregon earlier in the year. An undefeated Power conference team in a week of chaos does not need to explain why it is ranked seventh.

8. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1)

Previous ranking: 2 ↓6
Week 7: L 24–28 at No. 10 BYU
Week 8: Bye

Notre Dame lost on the road to BYU and dropped six spots. The Irish still have a strong résumé overall, but a loss to a now top-tier opponent moves them down. The board did not treat the result as a small thing.

9. Indiana Hoosiers (6-1)

Previous ranking: 5 ↓4
Week 7: L 15–19 vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Week 8: at Michigan

Indiana’s long winning streak ended against Ohio State. The loss was close and on a big stage, which is why the Hoosiers only dropped four spots instead of more. A one-loss team that just played a top-five opponent still belongs in the top 10.

10. Tennessee Volunteers (6-1)

Previous ranking: 14 ↑4
Week 7: W 26–10 vs. No. 6 Alabama
Week 8: at South Carolina

Tennessee beat Alabama by 16 and moved up four spots. The Vols looked strong on both sides of the ball. A win over a top-10 team is still a win over a top-10 team.

11. Utah Utes (6-0)

Previous ranking: 11 —
Week 7: W 27–24 at Colorado
Week 8: vs. Houston

Utah escaped Colorado and stayed undefeated. The Utes have been steady all season, which is why they held their spot while teams around them moved.

12. Kentucky Wildcats (6-1)

Previous ranking: 17 ↑5
Week 7: W 21–13 at Oklahoma
Week 8: vs. Vanderbilt

Kentucky keeps winning and climbed five spots. The Wildcats have been one of the more consistent teams this year, and the board rewarded it.

13. Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2)

Previous ranking: 6 ↓7
Week 7: L 10–26 at No. 14 Tennessee
Week 8: vs. Texas A&M

Alabama lost at Tennessee and dropped seven spots. It was their second loss in three weeks. The talent is still there, but two losses move a team down.

14. USC Trojans (6-1)

Previous ranking: 15 ↑1
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Wisconsin

USC held steady with a bye and moved up one spot as teams around them lost. A one-loss Power conference team still belongs in this range.

15. Houston Cougars (6-1)

Previous ranking: 19 ↑4
Week 7: W 35–32 vs. No. 16 Oklahoma State
Week 8: at Utah

Houston beat Oklahoma State in a tight game and climbed four spots. The Cougars have been one of the better stories in the Big 12 this season.

16. Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1)

Previous ranking: 20 ↑4
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Minnesota

Iowa moved up four spots on a bye while other teams lost. The Hawkeyes remain a tough, physical team even after the earlier loss to Ohio State.

17. LSU Tigers (5-2)

Previous ranking: 21 ↑4
Week 7: W 31–0 vs. Mississippi State
Week 8: at Auburn

Lane Kiffin’s Tigers shut out Mississippi State and moved up four spots. Two losses earlier in the year keep them from climbing higher.

18. Texas Longhorns (4-2)

Previous ranking: 7 ↓11
Week 7: L 24–27 vs. Florida
Week 8: vs. Ole Miss

Texas lost at home to Florida and dropped eleven spots. Two losses put the Longhorns in a different tier. The board treated the result like it counted.

19. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1)

Previous ranking: NR
Week 7: W 41–7 at California
Week 8: Bye

Wake Forest keeps winning and enters the poll. The Demon Deacons have quietly put together a strong season.

20. SMU Mustangs (5-1)

Previous ranking: 22 ↑2
Week 7: W 23–13 vs. Virginia
Week 8: vs. California

SMU beat Virginia and moved up two spots. The Mustangs stay in the conversation with a competitive year so far.

21. Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-2)

Previous ranking: 16 ↓5
Week 7: L 32–35 at Houston
Week 8: vs. Colorado

Oklahoma State lost a close one at Houston and dropped five spots. The Cowboys still receive enough support to stay ranked.

22. Northwestern Wildcats (5-1)

Previous ranking: 25 ↑3
Week 7: W 24–21 at Michigan State
Week 8: vs. Rutgers

Northwestern moved up three spots after a road win at Michigan State. The Wildcats have been a pleasant surprise and stay ranked.

23. Boise State Broncos (5-1)

Previous ranking: 23 —
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: at Washington State

Boise State held its spot on a bye. The Broncos remain one of the better Group of Five teams.

24. Missouri Tigers (5-2)

Previous ranking: 12 ↓12
Week 7: L 3–31 at No. 8 Ole Miss
Week 8: Bye

Missouri lost by 28 at Ole Miss and dropped twelve spots. The result was decisive, and the board treated it that way.

25. Florida Gators (5-2)

Previous ranking: NR
Week 7: W 27–24 at No. 7 Texas
Week 8: Bye

Florida’s upset of Texas is enough to enter the poll. The overall body of work is mixed, but the win over a ranked team is on the résumé.

Also receiving votes: Oregon is the one that stings. The Ducks finished with eight points after earlier losses. Auburn and Arizona are the leftovers. The cut line was tight. Wake Forest and Florida had it. Nobody else did.