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

No one expected Iowa State to put up the kind of fight it did against Texas on the road, but sometimes that happens after an emotional win the week prior. The Longhorns beat Oklahoma 49-0 the previous week in a huge rivalry game and then limped to a 24-21 win over Iowa State on Saturday. This is a solid team, but it didn’t look like one in Week 7.

Illinois was somehow a home underdog against an unranked Minnesota team, but the Illini won the battle of West contenders to keep that momentum rolling in the right direction. I never thought we’d see Bret Bielema turn this program into a winner, let alone this quickly.

Luke Fickell’s team got the week off and they’ll have their work cut out for them in trying to represent in the Group of Five in a New Year’s Six bowl again this year. The Bearcats are coming on strong after a rough start to the year.

Kansas State had a bye week so we shouldn’t see a ton of movement from the Wildcats but a handful of teams ahead of them did lose. I still think Kansas State remains No. 17.

I’m still trying to forget that first half ever happened. A 3-3 tie at halftime wasn’t what anyone expected but the second half was much more of a shootout. Kentucky ended up toughing out a 27-17 win over No. 16 Mississippi State and it was nice to have Will Levis back.