The college football season has officially entered its stretch run, and the contenders are beginning to separate from the rest. With statement wins across the board, Week 8 showed us who’s ready to make a real playoff push — and who’s running out of time to prove they belong among the elite.
1. Ohio State (7-0) | Last Week: 1
Ohio State remains the crème de la crème of college football. Nothing changes here as they absolutely smoked Wisconsin 34-0 on Saturday. The Buckeyes continue to look like the clear favorite to win it all this season.
2. Indiana (7-0) | Last Week: 2
The Hoosiers continue to roll, taking care of Michigan State with ease. At this point, all signs point toward a potential Big Ten Championship showdown at Lucas Oil Stadium in December between Ohio State and Indiana.
3. Alabama (6-1) | Last Week: 5
Alabama keeps rolling. Even with one loss, the Crimson Tide look like the best team in the SEC and have their sights firmly set on returning to the National Championship stage.
4. Texas A&M (7-0) | Last Week: 4
It wasn’t pretty in Fayetteville, but the Aggies stayed unbeaten. The schedule doesn’t get any easier though, as a trip to Death Valley to face a desperate LSU team awaits.
5. Georgia (6-1) | Last Week: 8
The Dawgs fought until the very end and came out on top against previously undefeated Ole Miss. Next up is the annual rivalry game in Jacksonville against Florida in the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party.
6. Oregon (6-1) | Last Week: 12
Oregon bounced back in dominant fashion, dismantling Rutgers from start to finish. Time will tell if the Ducks can get revenge against Indiana down the line, but for now, they look like a team back on track.
7. Miami (5-1) | Last Week: 3
Carson Beck turned in his worst performance of the season as Miami was stunned at home by Louisville. The Hurricanes stay home again this week and should rebound against a struggling Stanford team.
8. Notre Dame (5-2) | Last Week: 11
The Irish passed their final major test of the regular season, taking care of USC with relative ease. Now 5-2, Notre Dame’s playoff hopes depend on how the committee views their two early losses, but this team looks strong heading into November.
9. BYU (7-0) | Last Week: NR
The Cougars are making serious noise. With a string of quality wins and a spotless record, BYU deserves real playoff consideration. This team knows how to win and has proven it every week.
10. Vanderbilt (6-1) | Last Week: NR
The Commodores’ unprecedented season continues. Saturday’s upset win over tenth-ranked LSU was their biggest statement yet. At 6-1, Vanderbilt is no longer a Cinderella story — they’re a legitimate playoff contender.
11. Georgia Tech (7-0) | Last Week: 10
Georgia Tech slides down a spot despite a solid win over Duke. The Yellow Jackets continue to dominate in a weak ACC but will need a statement win soon to climb higher.
12. Ole Miss (6-1) | Last Week: 7
Ole Miss gave Georgia everything it had in Athens but came up just short. The loss hurts, but the Rebels remain a top-tier team with a path to the playoff still open. They face a massive road test this weekend in Norman against Oklahoma.
Outside Looking In
Oklahoma (6-1)
The loss to Texas still stings, but the Sooners can vault right back into contention with a win over Ole Miss on Saturday.
Missouri (6-1)
Missouri grinded out another tough win, this time on the road at Auburn. The Tigers now travel to Nashville for a showdown with Vanderbilt — a game that could elevate them back into playoff contention.
Virginia (6-1)
UVA pulled out a hard-fought win over Washington State. The issue is the ACC’s overall weakness. That once-impressive Florida State win has lost its luster after the Seminoles dropped their fourth straight, this time to Stanford. Virginia’s best hope is to keep winning and hope chaos erupts in the Big 12 and SEC.
Closing Thoughts
Week 8 gave us more clarity than chaos, but the drama is just beginning. Ohio State and Indiana continue to lead the Big Ten charge, while Alabama and Georgia are reclaiming control of the SEC. With the playoff committee’s first rankings just around the corner, every drive, every snap, and every win matters now more than ever. The race to the 12 Team College Playoff is officially on.