College Football Rankings 2020: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 8

SMU was stretched to the limit on Friday night in New Orleans, but they still emerged victorious and became the first team in the country to improve to 5-0 in the standings. The Mustangs needed overtime against Tulane in a back-and-forth 37-34 thriller, and they will remain somewhere in the mid-teens of the next AP Top 25 as a result of their survival on the road in Week 7.

It was the first game SMU was forced to play without running back TJ McDaniel and wide receiver Reggie Roberson; both were injured in the win over Memphis and will not return in 2020. Ulysses Bentley IV picked up the slack in the backfield, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Shane Buechele connected with his other targets in the aerial attack, finishing with 384 yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air on 23-of-37 passing.

Now SMU turns its attention to a huge conference showdown against Cincinnati in Week 8. Of course, that depends on whether the Bearcats can get the COVID-19 outbreak in their locker room in check in time to play the game. If the Mustangs don’t get to play next weekend, they will next take the field on Halloween at home against Navy.