College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Week 8 AP Top 25 Poll

Michigan State maintained its place in the AP Top 25 on Saturday after surviving their trip to Minneapolis to face Minnesota. The No. 21 Spartans had little trouble with the Golden Gophers, jumping out to a 17-6 halftime lead and reaching 5-1 at the midway point of their year with a 30-27 victory.

Brian Lewerke was largely ineffective, finishing with 120 yards in the air on 9-of-18 passing and adding just nine rushing yards. LJ Scott was the catalyst on offense, rushing 25 times for 194 yards and two scores. But ultimately the Spartans took down Minnesota with defense. Michigan State held the Gophers to just 290 rushing yards. They also contained passers Conor Rhoda and Demry Croft, who combined to go just 16-of-32 for 216 passing yards. Croft, however, managed three touchdowns and an interception in the relief effort.

They will jump up into the teens in this week’s AP Top 25, and the Spartans are beginning to look like a possible Big Ten East spoiler. Games against Indiana and Northwestern close out the month of October, but things really heat up at the beginning of November as Michigan State will make or break its year in back-to-back showdowns with Penn State and Ohio State.