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CBS Sports predicts major changes to the AP Top 25 after Week 8

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•10/23/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

The AP Top 25 rankings have undergone significant changes over recent weeks, and that doesn’t appear to be any different as we head from Week 8 into Week 9. Following Saturday’s action, CBS Sports predicts more major shake-ups to the next AP Top 25 poll.

Two top ten teams lost on Saturday, with the outcomes carrying a lot of significance. No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 Oregon fought off in an important Pac-12 matchup, and the Ducks pulled off the home victory in Eugene to hand the Bruins their first loss. Both teams now sit at 6-1, with Oregon poised to rise further up into the top ten. No. 7 Ole Miss lost to unranked LSU, and the Rebels are likely looking at a drop outside of the top ten. LSU has gone back and forth in the rankings over recent weeks, but the Tigers are poised for a major leap after Week 8.

No. 11 Oklahoma State defeated No. 20 Texas on Saturday, with the Cowboys likely to re-join the top ten. Texas, meanwhile, is in danger of falling out of the top 25 after suffering its third loss of the season. No. 8 TCU also defeated No. 17 Kansas State in another great Big 12 game, and the Horned Frogs will rise further as well after pulling off the victory.

Another game with big implications on Saturday was No. 5 Clemson vs. No. 14 Syracuse. The Orange led for a while, and the Tigers ultimately opted to pull quarterback DJ Uiagalelei in favor of Cade Klubnik. That proved to be the spart Clemson needed, as Klubnik led a late comeback and the Tigers won 27-21.

After losing to Tennessee last week, No. 6 Alabama got back on track in Week 8 with a convincing 30-6 win over No. 24 Mississippi State.

There aren’t likely to be a ton of changes in the top five or six in the post-Week 8 AP Top 25 poll, but beyond there we are likely to see major movement. If the predictions from CBS Sports are any indication, we’re in line for some big-time surprises.

Full AP Top 25 prediction, via CBS Sports

  1. Georgia Bulldogs (7-0)
  2. Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0)
  3. Tennessee Volunteers (7-0)
  4. Michigan Wolverines (7-0)
  5. Clemson Tigers (8-0)
  6. Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)
  7. TCU Horned Frogs (7-0)
  8. Oregon Ducks (6-1)
  9. Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-1)
  10. USC Trojans (6-1)
  11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-1)
  12. UCLA Bruins (6-1)
  13. LSU Tigers (6-2)
  14. Ole Miss Rebels (7-1)
  15. Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1)
  16. Utah Utes (5-2)
  17. Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1)
  18. Kentucky Wildcats (5-2)
  19. Syracuse Orange (6-1)
  20. Kansas State Wildcats (5-2)
  21. Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1)
  22. North Carolina Tar Heels (6-1)
  23. NC State Wolfpack (5-2)
  24. Tulane Green Wave (7-1)
  25. South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2)

CBS Sports predicts that LSU and South Carolina will join this week’s AP Top 25. It would be a monumental leap for LSU if they did in fact come in at No. 13. South Carolina also finds itself on the right side of the rankings after a 30-24 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday.

LSU and South Carolina take the spots of Texas (previously No. 20) and Mississippi State (previously No. 24).