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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 after Week 8

By Zach Bigalke

Oct 22, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) carries the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Damien Harris (34) carries the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) sacks Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Garrett Sickels (90) sacks Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) during the third quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

After a tough game in Madison last week, Ohio State came out flat and wasn’t able to sustain their momentum. A young team took its lumps in Happy Valley, losing 24-21 against Penn State to fall down the AP Top 25. The defense did its job, holding the Nittany Lions under 300 total yards of offense. But while J.T. Barrett was fine through the air, throwing for 245 yards and a touchdown, he couldn’t get anything going on the ground. The Buckeyes totaled just 168 rushing yards as a team, and an undisciplined effort cost them a chance to remain unbeaten.

Urban Meyer and his team return to the friendly confines of Columbus over the next fortnight. Northwestern comes to the Horseshoe next week, with Nebraska to follow on the first Saturday of November. The Buckeyes head back out on the road for showdowns against Maryland and Michigan State before their regular-season finale at home against Michigan. That game will no longer be a battle of unbeaten rivals, though it will still almost certainly serve as a play-in game for the Big Ten championship.

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