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College Football Rankings 2022: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 8

By Connor Muldowney

Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) reacts to a score against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Joe Milton III (7) reacts to a score against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 15, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) with the football during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2022; Durham, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) with the football during the first half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports /

I’m not sure NC State wins at Syracuse on Saturday if Devin Leary is healthy, but the Wolfpack would probably look much better than they did. Jack Chambers wasn’t terrible, but he just isn’t Leary and the Wolfpack dropped in a poor offensive effort, 24-9. This is a Top 25 team with Leary healthy and voters know that.

Since there aren’t many teams deserving of jumping into the AP Top 25 this week, I think Mississippi State will hang on to a spot despite a 10-point road loss to Kentucky. The offense was disappointing, but Mike Leach will surely have them back on track next week. Is this a Top 25 team? Maybe, but voters will keep them in surely this week.

There aren’t many teams outside of the AP Top 25 that deserve to jump in after Week 7, but Purdue is one of them. The Boilermakers escaped an upset against Nebraska at home in a shootout and they just continue to win. Thanks to teams like BYU, Coastal Carolina, Notre Dame, Baylor, Florida, and Florida State losing, the Boilermakers get the nod as an ‘others receiving votes’ team from last week jumping into the rankings.

A few weeks ago when North Carolina lost to Notre Dame, I didn’t think the Tar Heels would be in good shape for the remainder of the year and I was questioning Mack Brown’s future. Now, I’m all the way back in on the Tar Heels. They beat an improved Duke team on the road in a rivalry game and they’ll jump right into the AP Top 25 for Week 8.

Penn State had Michigan in a tough spot after picking JJ McCarthy off and returning it for a touchdown to take a 14-13 lead, but after that it was all Michigan. The Wolverines dominated Penn State in the second half and won 41-17. This loss will drop the Nittany Lions out of the top 10 and I could see them take a pretty healthy spill.

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