The halfway point of the 2025 college football season just reminded everyone why Saturdays are sacred. From South Beach heartbreaks to SEC chaos and Big Ten bullies doing what they do best, Week 8 was a fever dream wrapped in drama. The rankings are about to get a facelift, and this time, no one’s safe. Because when No. 2 Miami gets punched in the mouth at home by Louisville, and half the top 10 decides to self-destruct, you know the AP voters will have a tough time deciding the new order come Sunday morning.

Predicting AP Top 25 after Week 8

Let’s dive into what the new AP Top 25 could look like after a weekend that reminded us why college football is the greatest show on turf.

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)

Result: 34-0 win vs. Wisconsin

Luke Fickell needed a miracle to keep Wisconsin from spiraling, but Ohio State showed up to quash any further dreams. Julian Sayin was surgical with four touchdown passes and zero turnovers. Two of those scores went to Carnell Tate, who’s suddenly making a case for the best WR2 in the nation.

Ohio State suffocated Wisconsin. The defense pitched a shutout, holding the Badgers to a measly 144 yards and turning Camp Randall into a morgue before halftime. If there was any doubt, the Buckeyes are the most complete team in America. Penn State’s next on the chopping block and James Franklin is probably breathing a sigh of relief he wouldn’t have to face this team.

2. Indiana Hoosiers (7-0)

Result: 38-13 win vs. Michigan State

Still weird to say undefeated Indiana, right? But these Hoosiers aren’t a fluke. Curt Cignetti’s squad initially came out flat. But as the game went on, Fernando Mendoza went off. The Cal transfer completed 24-of-28 passes for 332 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Indiana’s defense held Michigan State to just 3 second-half points. The Hoosiers look disciplined, dynamic, and dangerous. They also locked down their head coach with an eight-year, $93 million deal before Penn State could even pick up the phone. Smart move, because this team is looking like it can go the distance.

3. Texas A&M Aggies (7-0)

Result: 45-42 win vs. Arkansas

Texas A&M survived a bar fight in Fayetteville, and honestly, that’s what championship-caliber teams do. Mike Elko’s squad gave up 527 yards but found ways to win ugly. Marcel Reed threw for 280, ran for 55, and combined for four scores. Rueben Owens II sealed it with a clutch touchdown late.

Taylen Green almost broke Aggie hearts with five total touchdowns for Arkansas, but somehow the Aggies defense held on. Texas A&M are now the SEC’s last unbeaten team, something no one had on their bingo card in August.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1)

Result: 37-20 win vs. Tennessee

Alabama bullied Tennessee. Ty Simpson’s 253-yard, two-touchdown day was crisp and efficient. The highlight of the day belongs to Zabien Brown’s 99-yard pick-six at the end of the second quarter that caused the crowd at Bryant-Denny to erupt.

The Tide are back in full force, climbing from No. 21 after Week 1 to likely No. 4 after Week 8. Kalen DeBoer has this squad humming. Suffocate on defense, stay efficient on offense, and make teams regret every third down. South Carolina’s next, and they might want to fake an injury to avoid the ensuing destruction.

5. Georgia Bulldogs (6-1)

Result: 43-35 win vs. Ole Miss

“Hard to kill,” Kirby Smart said postgame. He wasn’t kidding. Georgia trailed 26-35 heading into the fourth before making their comeback. Gunner Stockton threw for 289 yards, four touchdowns, and a clean sheet on turnovers. He also ran for 59 yards for another score to add onto his already impressive stats for the day.

The Bulldogs outscored Ole Miss 17-0 in the fourth to seal the comeback, their fifth under Smart when down multiple possessions in the final quarter. The defense is still suspect up front, but their resolve is unquestionable.

6. Oregon Ducks (6-1)

Result: 56-10 win vs. Rutgers

It was a sorry sight for Rutgers. After a fumble on their first drive, Oregon reeled off seven straight scoring possessions. Dante Moore dropped 290 yards and four touchdowns, and the ground game averaged 11.5 yards per carry. 

This was the reset Oregon needed after losing to Indiana. Moore looks dialed in again, and the Ducks look like the best one-loss team in the country.

7. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-0)

Result: 27-18 win vs. Duke

For the first time since 1966, Georgia Tech is 7-0. Haynes King was electric against Duke. He racked up 205 yards through the air, 120 on the ground, one touchdown, and enough grit to fill Bobby Dodd Stadium twice.

A 95-yard fumble return from Omar Daniels set the tone early, but it was the late-game execution that stole the show. Back-to-back fourth-quarter touchdowns sealed it, proving this team knows how to close.

8. Ole Miss Rebels (6-1)

Result: 35-43 loss vs. Georgia

Did anyone see this coming? Up 35-26 entering the fourth, Ole Miss looked ready to cement itself as the SEC’s new alpha. Then the wheels fell off. Trinidad Chambliss played well, but the Rebels couldn’t finish drives when it mattered most.

Still, a road loss to Georgia doesn’t bury them. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but the schedule eases up. If they can regroup, Ole Miss could still crash the CFP party. Oklahoma’s the next test ahead.

9. Miami Hurricanes (5-1)

Result: 21-24 loss vs. Louisville

Carson Beck’s Heisman campaign just got torched. Four interceptions. Sixty-three rushing yards as a team. Miami went from ACC frontrunner to self-sabotaging soap opera overnight.

Louisville out-toughed the Canes in their own backyard. This is still a top-10 team talent-wise, but mental mistakes killed them. If they can shake this one off, the playoff path remains, but barely.

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-2)

Result: 34-24 win vs. USC

Jeremiyah Love ran wild like a man possessed. 228 yards, one touchdown, and a whole lot of payback. When USC took the lead, Notre Dame immediately answered with a 100-yard kick return. That’s what resilience looks like.

The Irish defense picked off Jayden Maiava twice and shut down the run. It wasn’t pretty, but it was gritty and enough to put Notre Dame back on the playoff fringe.

11. Oklahoma Sooners (6-1)

Result: 26-7 win vs. South Carolina 

After an ugly loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma found some rhythm again. QB John Mateer, just 17 days removed from hand surgery, looked far sharper, going 18-of-26 for 150 yards and a touchdown while managing the game efficiently. RBs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson combined for 159 rushing yards and two scores, helping Oklahoma dominate time of possession and regain its footing in the Big 12 race.

12. BYU Cougars (7-0)

Result: 24-21 win vs. Utah

The Cougars survived another thriller, this time in the Holy War. Tanner Wall’s late interception flipped momentum, and QB Bear Bachmeier’s 22-yard touchdown run sealed it. BYU now stands unbeaten through seven weeks, a testament to their resilience in close games. With Iowa State and Texas Tech looming, Kalani Sitake’s squad has little margin for error but they’ve shown they can thrive under pressure.

13. Vanderbilt Commodores (6-1)

Result: 31-24 win vs. LSU

Vanderbilt hasn’t been this relevant in decades. Diego Pavia did it all. 160 through the air, 86 on the ground, and three total touchdowns as the Commodores stunned LSU for their first win over the Tigers since 1990. Clark Lea’s vision for Vandy is materializing faster than anyone expected, and with a dominant ground game producing 239 rushing yards, this team looks built to last in the SEC grind.

14. Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-1)

Result: 26-22 loss vs. Arizona State

Tech’s dream start met its first speed bump in Tempe. Without QB Behren Morton, the offense sputtered to just 276 yards, and the defense couldn’t get the final stop. Freshman Will Hammond showed grit late, momentarily giving Tech the lead before Arizona State stole it back with a game-winning drive. Still, this team’s ceiling remains high once it’s healthy again.

15. Missouri Tigers (6-1)

Result: 23-17 win (2 OT) vs. Auburn

It wasn’t pretty, but it counts. Missouri leaned on Ahmad Hardy’s late touchdown and Beau Pribula’s overtime heroics to survive at Auburn. The Tigers’ defense was shaky early but delivered key stops late. At 6-1, Missouri remains one of the SEC’s most quietly consistent teams.

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16. Virginia Cavaliers (6-1)

Result: 22-20 win vs. Washington State

Virginia reached bowl eligibility in wild fashion thanks to a late field goal, a botched kickoff, and a safety all in the final three minutes. Their fifth straight win has Tony Elliott’s team eyeing an ACC title run, a sentence no one expected to write this fall.

17. LSU Tigers (5-2)

Result: 31-24 loss vs. Vanderbilt

LSU’s vaunted defense crumbled, giving up 31 points to Vanderbilt in a game that raises serious concerns about Brian Kelly’s direction. Once considered playoff hopefuls, the Tigers now face two brutal weeks ahead against Texas A&M and Alabama. A third loss could send this season into freefall.

18. Tennessee Volunteers (5-2)

Result: 37-20 loss vs. Alabama

The Vols fell behind early and never recovered against a suffocating Tide defense. DeSean Bishop’s 123 rushing yards were the lone bright spot in an otherwise flat offensive showing. Tennessee still controls its destiny but must win out to stay alive in the playoff picture.

19. South Florida Bulls (6-1)

Result: 48-13 win vs. Florida Atlantic

QB Byrum Brown dazzled again, amassing 367 total yards and four touchdowns as the Bulls rolled to another dominant win. With Memphis’ loss, South Florida now leads the Group of Five chase and looks like the best non-Power program in the country.

20. Texas Longhorns (5-2)

Result: 16-13 (OT) win vs. Kentucky
Arch Manning and Texas escaped with an ugly overtime win, but questions linger about this offense. Despite back-to-back victories, the Longhorns haven’t looked convincing. They’ll need sharper execution to hang on in the rankings.

21. Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1)

Result: 49-17 win vs. Oklahoma State

Cincinnati dominated from the jump, led by Brendan Sorsby’s four-touchdown outing. The Bearcats are quietly becoming one of the Big 12’s most balanced teams, with both sides of the ball clicking at the right time.

22. Michigan Wolverines (5-2)

Result: 24-7 win vs. Washington

The Wolverines’ defense suffocated Washington, picking off Demond Williams Jr. three times. Freshman QB Bryce Underwood continues to mature quickly, and Michigan is inching back toward the Top 25 conversation.

23. Arizona State Sun Devils (5-2)

Result: 26-22 win vs. Texas Tech

Sam Leavitt’s return changed everything for Arizona State. He threw for 319 yards and led the late touchdown drive that sealed Tech’s fate. This was a much-needed statement win for Kenny Dillingham’s group after the Utah debacle.

24. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2)

Result:  Bye Week
The Illini were idle but benefited from chaos below them. At 5-2 and sitting just outside the rankings, they’re poised to reenter the Top 25 if they can handle Washington next week.

25. Tulane Green Wave (6-1)

Result: 24-17 win vs. Army

Tulane survived a late scare from Army thanks to Jake Retzlaff’s composure down the stretch. The BYU transfer led back-to-back 75-yard touchdown drives to secure the comeback, keeping the Green Wave’s New Year’s Six dreams very much alive.