College Football Rankings 2021: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 8

Oct 16, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners tight end Jeremiah Hall (27) celebrates with wide receiver Mario Williams (4) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 9, 2021; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Are you tired of the James Franklin vs. Kirk Ferentz drama this week? So are we, but that’s what happens when you have a bye week and there’s nothing else to talk about.

OK, the status of Sean Clifford is important after he was injured in the first half of the Iowa game and missed the second half. It was clear that the offense wasn’t nearly as effective without Clifford and if he’s out for the long term, the playoff committee may take that into consideration and rank the Nittany Lions lower.

Luckily, the playoff rankings don’t come out for three weeks and AP voters are still going to give the Nittany Lions plenty of respect out of the bye — they only dropped them three spots after a road loss to Iowa last week.

Penn State has one of the best defenses in the country and the Nittany Lions are arguably as good as any team in the Big Ten, but the East gauntlet is going to be wild over the next month and a half.

The Nittany Lions still have to play Michigan, Michigan State, and Ohio State.

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