College Football 2017: What did we learn from Week 8 action?

1. Rich Rod, Todd Graham have coached their way off the hot seat

At the start of the season, there were a few coaches around the country that you could’ve pegged to be placed on the hot seat throughout the season. Two guys in particular who have struggled at this are Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez.

Here we are, almost to the end of October and both Graham and Rodriguez have their schools in prime position to make some noise in the second half of the season.

Although Arizona State is sitting at 4-3 on the season, they are tied for second with Arizona in the Pac-12 South division with identical 3-1 records. Arizona goes to Strawberry Canyon and upends Cal in overtime, meanwhile Arizona State keeps their strong few weeks going by going to Utah and beating up on the Utes in Salt Lake City. 

Next week, both Arizona and Arizona State host conference foes with a ton on the line and it’s very possible that by the end of Sunday night into Sunday morning, both schools from the valley of the sun will be leading the Pac-12 South.

Arizona State hosts USC in what seems to be like a season saving game for the Trojans but if you have been reading this so far, you’d know I’ve already ended USC’s season. Thanks Notre Dame. For the Arizona Wildcats, there is a double whammy of pleasure that could come with a victory over Washington State next Saturday. With a win, the Wildcats would be bowl eligible and be tied for the division lead going into the month of November.

Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: First round after Week 7

Even if both teams lose on Saturday, it’s clear that both Graham and Rodriguez have gotten to their teams and tapped into some potential that many had known was there but we just didn’t see it in 2016. Now, in 2017 we you can make the case that the two best teams in the south division right now are Arizona and Arizona State.

College Football, stay weird forever.