College Football Rankings: Bleacher Report's Week 8 Top 25
The best slate of games of the 2015 college football season lived up to its billing and then some. We got major upsets, convincing victories and a few thrilling finishes, one of which ended in a way we've never seen before.
As a result, we have significant movement in the Bleacher Report Top 25.
Eighteen of our college football staff voted in this week's Top 25: writers Greg Couch, Ed Feng, Justin Ferguson, Bryan Fischer, David Kenyon, Ben Kercheval, Adam Kramer, Brian Leigh, Mike Monaco, Brian Pedersen, David Regimbal, Barrett Sallee, Brad Shepard, Greg Wallace and Christopher Walsh; video expert Michael Felder; and editors Eric Bowman and Eric Yates.
First-place votes were worth 25 points, with each subsequent rank worth one fewer point, all the way down to one for 25th place. The 25 highest vote-getters made our list, with the rest falling into the "others receiving votes" category.
See where everyone falls after seven weeks, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Others Receiving Votes
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Georgia needed a 34-yard field goal from Marshall Morgan with 1:44 left to avoid a three-game losing streak, pulling out a 9-6 home win over Missouri. The Bulldogs had lost to Alabama and Tennessee in the previous two weeks.
The win wasn't enough to get Georgia back into the Top 25, though.
Here's the list of teams that received votes but didn't get enough to be ranked after Week 7.
- Georgia (12)
- Mississippi State (8)
- Utah State (7)
- UCLA (6)
- North Carolina (5)
- USC (5)
- Texas Tech (3)
- Northwestern (2)
- Arizona State (1)
- BYU (1)
- Navy (1)
- Western Kentucky (1)
No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers
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Voting points: 19
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 7 result: Won 31-28 at Georgia Tech
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Syracuse
Pittsburgh (5-1, 3-0 ACC) got a 56-yard field goal from Chris Blewitt with 1:11 left for its third straight victory.
Nathan Peterman threw for 162 yards and three touchdowns for the Panthers. Last season they fumbled on their first five possessions in a 56-28 home loss to Georgia Tech. They were outgained 482-391 by the Yellow Jackets (2-5, 0-4), giving up 376 rushing yards, but in the second half they yielded only one touchdown.
Tyler Boyd had eight catches for 68 yards with two TDs as part of his 154 all-purpose yards, including a 29-yard pass.
No. 24 Temple Owls
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Voting points: 39
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 7 result: Won 30-16 vs. UCF
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 22 at East Carolina
Temple (6-0, 3-0 American) continued its best start since 1974, but it wasn't easy, as the Owls needed to rally in the fourth quarter at home against a winless opponent.
The Owls scored 16 points in the final period, getting two touchdown runs from Jahad Thomas as well as two two-point conversions. Thomas ran for 199 yards and three TDs on 31 carries.
Temple didn't allow an offensive TD and held UCF (0-7, 0-3) to 134 yards, but P.J. Walker had an interception returned by the Knights for a score in the second quarter.
No. 23 Ole Miss Rebels
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Voting points: 55
Last week's ranking: 14th
Week 7 result: Lost 37-24 at Memphis
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Texas A&M
Ole Miss (5-2, 2-1 SEC) looked on pace to easily win at Memphis after taking a quick 14-0 lead, but by the third quarter it was trailing by 17 points and ended up falling by double digits for the fourth time since November.
Though it came on the road against an unbeaten Memphis team that has won 13 straight, Greg Wallace of Bleacher Report wrote that "it isn't something that a serious SEC contender or playoff contender does."
A major turning point for the Rebels came early in the second quarter when defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche ran the ball on offense and suffered a concussion. After that point, Memphis scored on four of five possessions to take a 31-14 lead.
Chad Kelly threw for 372 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions, and Ole Miss only managed 40 rushing yards on 24 carries.
No. 21 (tie) Duke Blue Devils
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Voting points: 88
Last week's ranking: 23rd
Week 7 result: Bye
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Virginia Tech
Duke (5-1, 2-0 ACC) is a win away from being bowl-eligible for the fourth consecutive year, extending its school record. The Blue Devils have gotten to this point with defense, holding four of six opponents to seven or fewer points and allowing only 9.3 points per game for the season.
Quarterback Thomas Sirk averages 264.2 yards of total offense, rushing for a team-high 325 yards with two touchdowns along with seven passing TDs.
No. 21 (tie) California Golden Bears
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Voting points: 88
Last week's ranking: 25th
Week 7 result: Bye
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 22 at UCLA
California (5-1, 2-1 Pac-12) is coming off its first loss of the season, a 30-24 setback at Utah in which quarterback Jared Goff threw five interceptions. The Golden Bears turned it over six times but still had a chance to win in the final minute.
Despite the bad night, Goff is still having a big season. The junior has thrown for 1,970 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Cal has intercepted 12 passes, as many as it did in 2014, and has yielded only three TDs in the air after opponents threw for 42 last season.
No. 20 Houston Cougars
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Voting points: 97
Last week's ranking: 24th
Week 7 result: Won 42-7 at Tulane
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at UCF
Houston (6-0, 3-0 American) scored the final 28 points of the game en route to its seventh straight victory, topping 40 points for the fourth time this season.
Greg Ward Jr. again paced the Cougars offense, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown to go with 77 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. Ward has an FBS-leading 14 rushing TDs along with nine TD passes.
Demarcus Ayers added 283 all-purpose yards and two TDs, one on a run and another on a punt return, and Houston held Tulane (2-4, 1-2) to 262 yards.
No. 19 Toledo Rockets
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Voting points: 111
Last week's ranking: 22nd
Week 7 result: Won 63-20 vs. Eastern Michigan
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Massachusetts
Toledo (6-0, 3-0 Mid-American) won its ninth straight game and is off to its best start since 1997. It scored 56 consecutive points after trailing 6-0 after one quarter.
The Rockets got 327 passing yards and four touchdowns from Phillip Ely, an Alabama transfer, while three rushers scored on the ground as part of a 238-yard performance with the run game. They also got a blocked field-goal return for a TD from Chase Murdock.
Ely's TD passes included an 88-yard strike to Cody Thompson and a 55-yard throw to Corey Jones, both in the third quarter.
No. 18 Memphis Tigers
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Voting points: 166
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Week 7 result: Won 37-24 vs. Ole Miss
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 23 at Tulsa
Memphis (6-0, 2-0 American) won its 13th straight game in what might have been its biggest triumph in program history, bouncing back from a 14-0 deficit to shock Ole Miss.
The Tigers scored 31 unanswered points and then turned to their defense, which had allowed 752 yards in a game last month, to hold the lead. In doing so, the Tigers have made themselves the top contender for the "Group of Five" bid to a major bowl game, while also causing coach Justin Fuente's already high stock to skyrocket.
"Honestly didn't think Memphis had the defense to slow down Ole Miss," Bleacher Report's Bryan Fischer tweeted. "Only giving up 24 points is a win all day with that Tigers offense."
Memphis got 384 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Paxton Lynch, who also threw his first interception of the year.
No. 17 Oklahoma Sooners
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Voting points: 171
Last week's ranking: 19th
Week 7 result: Won 55-0 at Kansas State
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Texas Tech
Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) seems to have made the most of a lengthy delay because of airplane mechanical issues Friday, as the extra film study done at the Oklahoma City airport came in handy in a romp over Kansas State.
The Sooners held the Wildcats (3-3, 0-3) to 110 yards while gaining 568 themselves, getting 282 passing yards and five touchdowns from Baker Mayfield. All five came in the first half.
Oklahoma added a 38-yard interception-return TD from Zack Sanchez in the second half, one of three turnovers forced.
The win avenges last season's 31-30 home loss to K-State and helps Oklahoma rebound from last week's loss to rival Texas.
No. 16 Texas A&M Aggies
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Voting points: 185
Last week's ranking: 7th
Week 7 result: Lost 41-23 vs. Alabama
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Ole Miss
Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1 SEC) struggled to defend the run and couldn't prevent Alabama from returning interceptions for touchdowns, a deadly combination that led to its first loss of the season.
The Aggies allowed Derrick Henry to run for 236 yards and two TDs while also seeing three of Kyle Allen's passes returned for TDs. Allen completed 20 of 40 passes for 263 yards and a TD, but he had a throw brought back 33 yards for a score midway through the first quarter and then another returned 93 yards midway through the second quarter to put A&M down 28-6.
After the Aggies made a game of it in the second half, Allen had a third interception returned for a score. Before Saturday, Allen had thrown only two picks on 139 pass attempts.
Even though the Aggies allowed 258 rushing yards, they registered 15 tackles for loss. They also got another big game from freshman Christian Kirk, who had 212 all-purpose yards, including a 68-yard punt-return TD.
No. 15 Michigan Wolverines
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Voting points: 191
Last week's ranking: 11th
Week 7 result: Lost 27-23 vs. Michigan State
Week 8 matchup: Bye
Michigan (5-2, 2-1 Big Ten) had its five-game win streak snapped in the most unbelievable fashion imaginable, as punter Blake O'Neill muffed a snap with 10 seconds left and Michigan State returned it 38 yards for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
The Wolverines had stopped the Spartans (7-0, 3-0) on fourth down with 1:47 left for what seemed like a game-clinching play, but after running a few plays they were forced to punt one last time. O'Neill had been great for all of the game, booting one punt 80 yards, but after muffing the snap he was swarmed by Michigan State players and lost the ball.
The crazy finish kept Michigan from beating the Spartans for just the second time in eight games, despite being outgained 386-230. The Wolverines had shut out their previous three opponents and had their consecutive scoreless quarter run end at 13.
No. 14 Oklahoma State Cowboys
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Voting points: 197
Last week's ranking: 16th
Week 7 result: Bye
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Kansas
Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) has won its past three games in dramatic fashion, on last-second field goals to beat Texas and Kansas State and then claiming a 33-26 overtime victory at West Virginia before the bye.
The Cowboys are averaging 37.3 points per game behind Mason Rudolph's 315.3 passing yards per game, though the sophomore has thrown seven interceptions, with six of those coming in Big 12 play.
OK State's defense is fifth in the nation with 59 tackles for loss and is second nationally with 25 sacks.
No. 13 Florida Gators
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Voting points: 233
Last week's ranking: 9th
Week 7 result: Lost 35-28 at LSU
Week 8 matchup: Bye
Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC) battled back from a 14-point halftime deficit but wasn't prepared for LSU's fake field goal that resulted in a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Gators, playing without suspended quarterback Will Grier, led 7-0 after the first quarter on the first of two TD passes from Treon Harris to Jake McGee but then gave up 21 unanswered points. They trailed 28-21 late in the third quarter when Antonio Callaway returned a punt 72 yards for a score.
Harris threw for 271 yards and two TDs on 17-of-32 passing, but the Gators only managed 55 rushing yards. They allowed 221 on the ground, with Leonard Fournette going for 180 yards and two scores.
No. 12 Iowa Hawkeyes
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Voting points: 240
Last week's ranking: 17th
Week 7 result: Won 40-10 at Northwestern
Week 8 matchup: Bye
Iowa (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) continued its best start since 2009 despite losing star running back Jordan Canzeri to injury early on. In his absence, sophomore backups Akrum Wadley and Derrick Mitchell Jr. continued the Hawkeyes' dominant run production.
Wadley ran for 204 yards on 26 carries and a school record-tying four touchdowns, while Mitchell added 79 yards and a score. The pair entered the game with 87 yards and one TD this season.
"Nearly unthinkable before the season, it is no longer unreasonable to suggest that Iowa could run the table," Chris Johnson of Sports Illustrated wrote. "It should be favored in every game remaining on its schedule."
Iowa limited Northwestern (5-2, 1-2) to 198 yards and forced three turnovers, its best defensive performance of the season.
No. 11 Stanford Cardinal
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Voting points: 270
Last week's ranking: 15th
Week 7 result: Won 56-35 vs. UCLA
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Washington
Stanford (5-1, 4-0 Pac-12) won its fifth straight game and has increased its scoring every week since putting up six points in an opening loss at Northwestern. In this one, the Cardinal pulled out trick plays—including one that receiver Francis Owusu turned into the play of the year—and unleashed a heavy dose of Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey set a school record with 243 yards with four touchdowns on 25 carries, and along with receiving and kick-return yardage, he had 369 all-purpose yards on 28 touches.
Kevin Hogan threw for 131 yards and three TDs, including a 41-yard bomb to Owusu that he caught blindly while pinning the ball to his defender's back.
The Cardinal allowed 506 yards but intercepted two passes, including one that Alijah Holder returned 31 yards for a TD.
No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Voting points: 289
Last week's ranking: 12th
Week 7 result: Won 41-31 vs. USC
Week 8 matchup: Bye
Notre Dame (6-1) used a 17-0 fourth quarter to rally for its second straight win, knocking off USC at home for the second time in a row.
The Fighting Irish trailed 31-24 through the third, and it remained that way until early in the fourth when C.J. Prosise scored his second rushing touchdown of the game. Prosise finished with 143 yards and two TDs on 19 carries.
DeShone Kizer threw for 227 yards and two TDs, including a 75-yard pass to Will Fuller, who finished with three catches for 131 yards. Notre Dame also scored on a blocked punt that Amir Carlisle returned five yards for a TD in the first quarter.
The Irish were outgained 590-476 but intercepted USC's Cody Kessler twice.
No. 9 Florida State Seminoles
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Voting points: 298
Last week's ranking: 13th
Week 7 result: Won 41-21 vs. Louisville
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Georgia Tech
Florida State (6-0, 4-0 ACC) won its 28th consecutive game against a conference opponent behind Everett Golson's best performance as a Seminole, continuing his season-long care of the ball.
The senior quarterback threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns on 26-of-38 passing, hooking up nine times with Kermit Whitfield for 172 yards and a TD. The passing was balanced by 163 rushing yards and two TDs from Dalvin Cook, despite the sophomore having to leave the game multiple times after tweaking his injured hamstring.
FSU trailed 7-6 at the half but dominated the final 30 minutes, and throughout the game it kept Louisville (2-4, 1-2) from getting any rushing production from QB Lamar Jackson. Jackson had come in with three 100-yard rushing games this season.
No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide
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Voting points: 331
Last week's ranking: 8th
Week 7 result: Won 41-23 at Texas A&M
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Tennessee
Alabama (6-1, 3-1 SEC) had one of the best defensive performances in program history, despite allowing the second-most points this season, as it forced four turnovers and returned three interceptions for touchdowns.
Two of those pick-sixes were by Minkah Fitzpatrick, the first a 33-yard score midway through the first quarter and the other with 5:18 left in the fourth to ice the road victory. Eddie Jackson also brought back an interception 93 yards for a TD midway through the second quarter, giving the Crimson Tide a 28-6 lead.
Derrick Henry did the rest for the Tide, rushing for a career-high 236 yards and two TDs on 32 carries. He scored on a 55-yard TD in the first quarter and added a short score in the second.
Alabama held A&M to a season-low 316 yards and had six sacks, though poor special teams popped up again as the Aggies scored on a punt return just before halftime.
No. 7 Michigan State Spartans
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Voting points: 352
Last week's ranking: 10th
Week 7 result: Won 27-23 at Michigan
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Indiana
Michigan State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) did not lead in its rivalry clash until the clock had no time left on it, only after a freak final play that saw Jalen Watts-Jackson return a botched punt 38 yards for a game-winning touchdown.
The Spartans had turned the ball over on downs with less than two minutes left but prevented Michigan (5-2, 2-1) from running out the clock and thus forced a punt with 10 seconds left. But the snap was muffed by punter Blake O'Neill, and after he recovered the ball there were several MSU players right on top of him.
"Everybody on that field thought they were going to block that punt," MSU defensive end Shilique Calhoun said, per ESPN's College GameDay.
Watts-Jackson was the one who ended up with the ball, and after he hit the ground in the end zone he was piled on by teammates. In the melee, Watts-Jackson apparently suffered a serious hip injury and had to be taken to a hospital, per Kyle Austin of MLive.com.
MSU managed only 58 rushing yards but got 328 passing yards and a TD from Connor Cook, while its defense held Michigan to 230 yards.
No. 6 LSU Tigers
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Voting points: 370
Last week's ranking: 6th
Week 7 result: Won 35-28 vs. Florida
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Western Kentucky
LSU (6-0, 4-0 SEC) went to its bag of tricks to break a fourth-quarter tie, executing a fake field goal for a touchdown with 10:40 left. Kicker Trent Domingue scored the 16-yard TD, and he benefited from coach Les Miles' fondness for such plays in clutch situations.
"We had it and it was [an] opportunity to get seven, and seven is [a] whole lot more than three," Miles said, per ESPN's Brett McMurphy.
LSU led 28-14 at halftime thanks to two rushing TDs from Leonard Fournette and two TD passes from Brandon Harris to Malachi Dupre, but its offense was stifled in the second half other than the fake field goal.
Fournette finished with 180 rushing yards on 31 carries, while Harris threw for 202 yards on 13-of-19 passing. Dupre's four receptions went for 115 yards.
The Tigers held Florida (6-1, 4-1) to 55 rushing yards on 31 carries.
No. 5 Utah Utes
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Voting points: 386
Last week's ranking: 5th
Week 7 result: Won 34-18 vs. Arizona State
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at USC
Utah (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) tried to give its game away with a pair of major special teams mistakes, but the Utes rallied to score 20 fourth-quarter points to remain unbeaten.
Leading 14-13 in the third quarter, Utah inexplicably attempted a trick play on the ensuing kickoff but ended up getting called for an illegal forward pass in the end zone. That resulted in a safety, and Arizona State (4-3, 2-2) then added a field goal for a four-point lead.
It was then that Devontae Booker, who had been quiet for three quarters, took over. The senior scored two touchdowns in the fourth, the go-ahead 25-yard TD with 10:41 left and then a 62-yard scoring run with 1:11 remaining to ice the victory. Booker finished with 118 yards and two TDs on 21 carries.
Travis Wilson threw for 297 yards and two TDs, and Utah's defense held ASU to only 15 rushing yards. The Utes did allow a 100-yard kickoff-return TD in the first quarter, though.
No. 4 TCU Horned Frogs
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Voting points: 389 (one first-place vote)
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Week 7 result: Won 45-21 at Iowa State
Week 8 matchup: Bye
TCU (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) weathered another round of injuries, this time to its receiving corps, as well as early defensive struggles. But rather than have to make a late comeback, it took control early in the second half.
The Horned Frogs held Iowa State (2-4, 1-2) scoreless over the final three quarters while forcing two turnovers.
With the defense buckling down, Trevone Boykin was able to overcome not having top receivers Josh Doctson and KaVontae Turpin at times because of injury. Boykin threw for 436 yards with four touchdowns while adding 74 rushing yards and a score.
Doctson was able to still manage 10 catches for 190 yards and two TDs, setting the school record for receiving scores in a season with 12, while Kolby Listenbee added six catches for 101 yards and a score.
No. 3 Clemson Tigers
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Voting points: 394 (two first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 4th
Week 7 result: Won 34-17 vs. Boston College
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Miami (Florida)
Clemson (6-0, 3-0 ACC) had little trouble with a Boston College defense that hadn't allowed a touchdown in its previous two games, as quarterback Deshaun Watson provided the Tigers with four such scores en route to their ninth straight victory.
Watson threw for a career-high 420 yards with three TDs on 27-of-41 passing, and he added a rushing score. The Tigers outgained the Eagles (3-4, 0-4) 532-246, and they only allowed seven completions on 23 pass attempts.
Artavis Scott had 10 catches for 162 yards and a TD for Clemson.
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes
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Voting points: 410 (seven first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Week 7 result: Won 38-10 vs. Penn State
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 at Rutgers
Ohio State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) had arguably its most complete performance of the season, dominating on the ground against one of the best defenses in the country en route to its 20th straight victory.
The Buckeyes ran for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 50 carries, doing so against a Nittany Lions team that came in allowing 117 yards per game on the ground. Ezekiel Elliott went for 153 yards and a TD, while J.T. Barrett—who played most of the second half at quarterback—added 102 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.
Barrett also threw two TD passes, one each to Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller.
OSU held Penn State (5-2, 2-1) to 315 yards and limited Christian Hackenberg to 13 pass attempts.
No. 1 Baylor Bears
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Voting points: 429 (eight first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Week 7 result: Won 62-38 vs. West Virginia
Week 8 matchup: Oct. 24 vs. Iowa State
Baylor (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) put forth another awesome offensive display, gaining 693 yards and topping 60 points for the fifth straight game. Per Stewart Mandel of Fox Sports, that tied Oklahoma's FBS record for consecutive games scoring 60 or more set in 2008.
Corey Coleman caught 10 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 16 scores on just 41 receptions this season. That's already a school record and puts him in great shape to challenge the FBS mark of 27.
Those TD passes came from Seth Russell, who had five TD throws along with 380 yards on 20-of-33 passing. He also ran for a team-high 160 yards and a score. The Bears threw for 389 yards and ran for 304, the fifth time in six games in 2015 they've topped 300 both rushing and passing.
All Slides written by Brian J. Pedersen. Follow the author on Twitter at @realBJP.
