The REAL Coaches' Poll: Top 25 College Football Coaches Rankings (Week Eight)

This week produced a fair share of upsets, but unlike earlier upsets this season, the top five stayed intact. 

The bottom of the top 25 took a beating, though, and for the second time this season, five coaches have dropped from the rankings. 

By now, most of you know what the poll is about.  But for those of you who are new to the REAL Coaches' Poll "experience," this is how it works.

Much like the other college football polls, the coaches are ranked according to their performance for the current season.  No consideration is given to previous seasons. 

A coach moves up the poll by beating other ranked coaches or ranked opponents, and the strength of the win is considered.  A coach moves down in the poll by losing, and more consideration is given to a loss to another ranked coach or a ranked opponent.

Every week the reader comments left from the previous poll are also considered.  So tell me if you agree or disagree.  I listen!

There you have it.  Enjoy the REAL Coaches' Poll (Week Eight).

1. Mack Brown, Texas: beat No. 11 Missouri 56-31 (last week: 2)

Mild-mannered Mack has his Longhorns playing with passion and purpose.  Colt McCoy is the best quarterback in the Big 12 and perhaps the best in the country. His emotional play has lifted the rest of the team and made them all better.

2. Nick Saban, Alabama: beat Ole Miss 24-20 (last week: 1)

Another close call for the Tide, but Ole Miss can be a dangerous team...ask Urban Meyer.  Saban's bunch is still leading the SEC in rushing, and his defense is so much better than anyone thought they would be. 

3. Pete Carroll, USC: beat Washington State 69-0 (last week: 3)

Another masterful beatdown by Pete Carroll and the men of Troy.  Mark Sanchez became the first USC quarterback to score five touchdowns in the first half of a game...in history. 

You think Pete is thinking about style points in his his quest for a national championship berth?

4. Jim Tressel, Ohio State: beat No. 20 Michigan State 45-7 (last week: 4)

This is the Buckeye team we expected to see.  Jim Tressel has endured injuries and self-inflicted roster changes, but maybe the Sweater Vest knows what he is doing.

The Buckeyes dominated the Spartans on every level and look primed and ready to defend their Big Ten Championship next week when Penn State comes to Columbus.

5. Joe Paterno, Penn State: beat Michigan 46-17 (last week: 5)

The curse is over, if there ever was such a thing.  Maybe Joe Paterno just needed to be in the booth all along.

The Lions may have been looking ahead in the first half, or maybe the Wolverines had a good plan.  Either way, the great team will always find a way to win, and the Lions did just that.

6. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma: beat No. 16 Kansas 45-31 (last week: 6)

Stoops and his Sooners could have let last week's heartbreaker against Texas affect them in the Kansas game.  Instead, they rallied and beat a very good Kansas team to keep their national championship dreams alive.

7. Mike Leach, Texas Tech: beat Texas A&M 43-25 (last week: 7)

Could A&M really put an end to the magical Red Raider season?  It seemed so in the first half, but Leach and his team finally got the ball rolling in the second half and that is a sign of a great team.

8. Mark Richt, Georgia: beat No. 22 Vanderbilt 24-14 (last week: 10)

Richt's team has lost a little of the swagger they had to start the season and although they continue to win, they aren't putting teams away.  Could there be some lingering doubt in Athens?

9. Urban Meyer, Florida: BYE (last week: 8)

Meyer and his Gators must not let the momentum of their huge win over LSU last week disappear with the bye week.

10. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State: beat Baylor 34-6 (last week: 11)

Raise your hand if you had the 40-year-old man and his team undefeated at this point in the season.  Gundy is doing a masterful job this season and his Cowboys could be a threat in the Big 12.

11. Chris Petersen, Boise State: beat Hawaii 27-7 (last week: 12)

12. Kyle Whittingham, Utah: beat Colorado State 49-16 (last week: 15)

13. Brady Hoke, Ball State: BYE (last week: 13)

14. Les Miles, LSU: beat South Carolina 24-17 (last week: 20)

15. Jim Leavitt, South Florida: beat Syracuse 45-13 (last week: 21)

16. Bronco Mendenhall, BYU: lost to TCU 32-7 (last week: 9)

17. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: beat Clemson 21-17 (last week: unranked)

18. Rich Brooks, Kentucky: beat Arkansas 21-20 (last week: unranked) 

19. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern: beat Purdue 48-26 (last week: unranked) 

20. Mike Bellotti, Oregon: BYE (last week: 22)

21. Tim Brewster, Minnesota: BYE (last week: unranked)

22. Gary Patterson, TCU: beat No. 9 BYU 32-7 (last week: unranked)

23. Todd Graham, Tulsa: beat UTEP 37-31 (last week: 24)

24. Gary Pinkel, Missouri: lost to No. 1 Texas 56-31 (last week: 18)

25. Mark Dantonio, Michigan State: lost to No. 12 Ohio State 45-7 (last week: 14)

On the fence: David Cutcliffe, Duke; Bobby Bowden, Florida State; Ralph Friedgen, Maryland; Mike Stoops, Arizona; Jeff Jagodzinski, Boston College

Dropped out:  Jeff Tedford, Cal; Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech; Jim Grobe, Wake Forest; Mark Mangino, Kansas; Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt