Pool Poll Week 8: Seven Ranked Teams Fall and Two More Coaches Fired After Wild Saturday

 

Georgia put an end to a perfect season for Ole Miss.

    Another Saturday is in the books, and we are no closer to figuring out who's going to be headed for the playoffs outside of Ohio State. The Buckeyes continued to cruise through their worst of the Big Ten schedule that will include Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, and Rutgers. Michigan may be the only team they see that's ranked before their likely Big Ten Championship appearance. The SEC is wide open after Georgia took down Ole Miss, Alabama clobbered Tennessee, and Texas A&M held on to defeat Arkansas. The Aggies weren't the only close call for an undefeated team as BYU escaped the Holy War with a win over Utah, 24-21.

The Cardinals weathered the Hurricanes to ruin their perfect season.

    Ole Miss was one of five undefeated teams to earn its first loss of the season. Texas Tech was upended by Arizona State. Memphis was stunned by a UAB team that had just fired Trent Dilfer last week. Boise State dismantled UNLV. The biggest stunner came when Louisville snuck past Miami thanks to four interceptions.

Billy Napier was given his exit notice on Sunday despite winning.

    Those teams might have had a rough day, but for Billy Napier (Florida) and Jay Norvell (Colorado State). Napier led Florida to a 23-21 win over Mississippi State for their second win in three games, but those victories brought him to 22-23 overall. That was enough to add him to the growing list of giant buyouts as he's set to get $21 million to not coach the Gators. Norvell, meanwhile, struggled to get anything going at Colorado State going 18-26. Unlike Napier, he was fired after a loss to Hawaii at home to send the Rams to a 2-5 start.

    

The Tar Heels were this close to a win against Cal.

    The ACC after dark has taken over for the Pac-12 and produced some of the most memorable games that people likely didn't see. On Friday, Cal and UNC went back and forth with the Tar Heels going for the win late in the game when they fumbled at the goal line to keep the Bears' strong season alive. Virginia survived late against Washington State to stay in the Top 25 thanks to a go-ahead safety. Then the grand finale on Saturday featured a stunning win by Stanford over Florida State that had the Seminoles stuffed at 1-yard line as time expired to fall to the Cardinal.

Here's a look at this week's overhauled Top 25.

Carnell Tate put on a show in Madison to spur the Buckeyes' offense.

1. Ohio State (7-0, 63.7 WA, 0 LA)

Last Week Rank: 2

Last Week: A 34-0 beatdown of Wisconsin. The defense is allowing just 6 points per game this season.

Up Next: Bye

2. Texas A&M (7-0, 84.1, 0)

Last Week Rank: 3

Last Week: The Aggies survived a back and forth with Arkansas, 45-42.

Up Next: LSU (5-2, 39)

3. Indiana (7-0, 89, 0)

Last Week Rank: 5

Last Week: Rain or shine, it doesn't matter, all Curt Cignetti does is win and he did that against Michigan State, 38-13.

Up Next: UCLA (3-4, 83)

4. Georgia Tech (7-0, 90.4, 0)

Last Week Rank: 6

Last Week: The Yellow Jackets remain the top team in the ACC after a 27-18 win over Duke.

Up Next: Syracuse (3-4, 105)

BYU claimed bragging rights in the Beehive State.

5. BYU (7-0, 95.4, 0)

Last Week Rank: 8

Last Week: The Cougars held off their rivals Utah, 24-21.

Up Next:  Iowa State (5-2, 32)

6. Navy (7-0, 116, 0)

Last Week Rank: 11

Last Week: The Midshipmen took the week off to try to keep their perfect season and AAC Championship bid.

Up Next: Florida Atlantic (3-4, 98)

7. Alabama (6-1, 31.2, 86)

Last Week Rank: 12

Last Week: The Crimson Tide rolled past Tennessee in convincing fashion, 37-20.

Up Next: South Carolina (3-4, 88)

8. Ole Miss (6-1, 55.7, 20)

Last Week Rank: 1

Last Week: The Rebels were unable to rally against Georgia, 43-35.

Up Next: Oklahoma (6-1, 10)

9. USF (6-1, 67.7, 29)

Last Week Rank: 14

Last Week: The Bulls coasted over Florida Atlantic, 48-13.

Up Next: Memphis (6-1, 20)

The Sooners bounced back from their loss against Texas.

10. Oklahoma (6-1, 70.3, 55)

Last Week Rank: 16

Last Week: The Sooners trampled the Gamecocks, 26-7.

Up Next: Ole Miss (6-1, 8)

11. Georgia (6-1, 75.3, 56)

Last Week Rank: 20

Last Week: Kirby Smart probably thought Lane Kiffin's antics were funnier when he was handing him his first loss.

Up Next: bye

12. Virginia (6-1, 82.7, 57)

Last Week Rank: 18

Last Week: The Cavaliers late safety kept them towards the top of the ACC.

Up Next: UNC (2-4, 111)

13. Tulane (6-1, 83.7, 7)

Last Week Rank: 19

Last Week: The Green Wave were able fend off Army, 24-17.

Up Next: bye

14. Vanderbilt (6-1, 88.8, 34)

Last Week Rank: 27

Last Week: The Commodores continued to prove they are for real with a 31-24 win over LSU.

Up Next: Missouri (6-1, 19)

The Ducks found the end zone early and often.

15. Oregon (6-1, 95.8, 9)

Last Week Rank: 26

Last Week: Oregon steamrolled Rutgers 56-10.

Up Next: Wisconsin (2-5, 112)

16. North Texas (6-1, 100.3, 29)

Last Week Rank: 28

Last Week: The Mean Green sped past UTSA, 55-17.

Up Next: Charlotte (1-6, 129)

17. Texas Tech (6-1, 100.8, 38)

Last Week Rank: 7

Last Week: The Red Raiders were downed by Arizona State, 26-22.

Up Next: Oklahoma State (1-6, 128)

18. Cincinnati (6-1, 101.3, 39)

Last Week Rank: 24

Last Week: The Bearcats are bowl eligible for the first time under Scott Satterfield after a 49-17 win over OKST.

Up Next: Baylor (4-3, 69)

19. Missouri (6-1, 102, 22)

Last Week Rank: 29

Last Week: The Tigers survived a double-overtime thriller against Auburn.

Up Next: Vanderbilt (6-1, 14)

The Tigers were knocked off by their rivals UAB.

20. Memphis (6-1, 109.3, 116)

Last Week Rank: 9

Last Week: The Tigers were caught looking ahead to USF and were upset by UAB, 31-24.

Up Next: USF (6-1, 9)

21. Houston (6-1, 113.3, 20)

Last Week Rank: 31

Last Week: The Cougars are a sneaky top contender in the Big 12 thanks to a 31-28 win over Arizona.

Up Next: Arizona State (5-2, 28)

22. UNLV (6-1, 114.3, 49)

Last Week Rank: 10

Last Week: The Rebels might've been undefeated, but the Mountain West title still runs through Boise.

Up Next: bye

23. James Madison (6-1, 119, 21)

Last Week Rank: 32

Last Week: The Dukes are currently atop the Sun Belt and are lobbying to get into the playoffs at the top group of 5.

Up Next: bye

24. Louisville (5-1, 62.6, 29)

Last Week Rank: 33

Last Week: The Cardinals stunned Miami on Friday to end their undefeated season.

Up Next: Boston College (1-6, 132)

The Canes dropped their first game of 2025.

25. Miami (5-1, 83.6, 33)

Last Week Rank: 4

Last Week: The Hurricanes better watch out for Stanford who just upended Florida State last week.

Up Next: Stanford (3-4, 90)

Dropped Out: USC, Washington, Tennessee, LSU, Utah, Nebraska, and WKU

Watch List: San Diego State, Hawaii, Arizona State, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Iowa State, Washington, Tennessee, Texas, TCU, Boise State, Cal, LSU, and Utah

UMass was a minute away from its first victory and instead lost 28-21.

Bottom 10:

127. Nevada (1-6)

128. Oklahoma State (1-6)

129. Charlotte (1-6)

130. South Alabama (1-6)

131. Northern Illinois (1-6)

132. Boston College (1-6)

133. Georgia State (1-6)

134. Oregon State (1-7)

135. Sam Houston State (0-7)

136. UMass (0-7)

Will the Jack Rabbits or Bison take the top spot after their showdown next week?

FCS Top 10:

1. Lehigh (7-0)

2. South Dakota State (7-0)

3. North Dakota State (7-0)

4. Montana (7-0)

5. Tarleton State (8-0)

6. Presbyterian (7-0)

7. Tennessee Tech (7-0)

8. Harvard (5-0)

9. Lamar (6-1)

10. Monmouth (6-1)