College Football Top 11: Week 8

Erik Buchinger -

1. LSU

Nothing happened on Saturday to convince me LSU is not the best team in the entire damn country. The Tigers by far have the best resume, and I’m not sure what defense is stopping Joe Burrow and the gang at this point. The offensive transition has been incredible, and LSU had no troubles against Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers host Auburn next weekend to potentially boost its profile even more.

2. Penn State

Penn State jumped all over Michigan in the first half and held on for the win. The second half wasn’t the best, but the Nittany Lions are undefeated and beat two ranked teams in prime time in the last two weeks. KJ Hamler is awesome, and that poor Michigan fella crying on the sideline was tough to see after he dropped the game-tying touchdown pass. Penn State will be going on the road to play a Michigan State team coming off a bye week.

3. Oklahoma

I’m not sure there is a quarterback in America that would not be able to get himself into Heisman consideration under Lincoln Riley. Jalen Hurts threw one incomplete pass with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a 52-14 win over West Virginia. He also rushed for 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns. By the way, what a crazy scene as the fellas being trotted around by horses tipped right on over. That was awesome. Sooners got Kansas State next weekend.

4. Ohio State

Ohio State is the first of the next three teams that have not beaten a ranked team to this point of the season, but the Buckeyes have crushed every opponent they have played in 2019. Remember last year when Ohio State played Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship Game? How the hell did this happen? Northwestern is awful and got crushed 52-3 on Friday night. Next weekend, the Buckeyes have a home game against Wisconsin, a team that made me a very sad Badger on Saturday afternoon. ILLINOIS!?!?!?!

5. Alabama

I am putting this out during the third quarter of the Alabama-Tennessee game because I’m sleepy. I’ll assume the Tide will come out with a win they are up two scores, and Tennessee has Jarrett Guarantano playing quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa got hurt in the first half and was ruled out the rest of the game. This was a major issue for Alabama toward the end of last season, so we’ll see how severe this is. Fortunately the Tide essentially have a bye week going up against Arkansas on Saturday.

6. Clemson

Another game, another multi-interception day for Trevor Lawrence. And another blowout for Clemson as the Tigers handled Louisville in the second half. The Tigers very likely will not have to play a ranked team in 2019, so any loss could be absolutely critical. The committee will likely give Clemson any benefit of the doubt, but this is a team that should have no margin for error. The Tigers will play a Boston College team that got blown out by Kansas earlier this season.

7. Florida

Florida has the best resume of all the one-loss teams, which puts them at the seventh spot in the country. A win against Auburn and a relatively close loss to LSU gets the Gators rewarded. Florida pulled away late against South Carolina in a game in which Kyle Trask tossed four touchdowns. Florida gets a bye week to get ready for Georgia in a game that should decide the SEC East.

8. Auburn

There is nothing Gus Malzahn likes more than beating the hell out of Arkansas, and that happened once again on Saturday with a 41-point win. After a three-interception game cost Auburn its first loss of the season, Bo Nix responded nicely with three touchdown passes and no interceptions. We’ll see if this Tigers’ offense will keep up wit LSU next Saturday. Man, it feels weird to know LSU can actually score points these days.

9. Georgia

Georgia shut out Kentucky in a weird game that featured bad weather and a limited amount of passing, especially from the Wildcats. Kentucky completed its first pass midway through the fourth quarter. That ain’t right. But Georgia did what it needed to do after last week’s shocker at home against South Carolina. It’s pretty much win out or bust for the Bulldogs. They have a bye week before an incredible stretch of Florida, Missouri and Auburn right in a row. Yikes.

10. Oregon

What a game on Saturday afternoon between the Duckies and Washington with a much-needed comeback victory for Oregon. It’s only mid-October, but it would take a major collapse for the Ducks not to win the division. It’s down to Oregon and Utah to see if the Pac-12 is represented in this year’s College Football Playoff. My guess is the conference will be left out once again. Oregon hosts Washington State in a little Pac-12 After Dark next Saturday night.

11. Notre Dame

The final spot came down to the Irish and Utah. Similar wins but a road loss to Georgia is more forgivable than a road loss to USC. Notre Dame had a bye week and is getting ready for Michigan in the Big House. Not sure what type of Wolverine team will show up since they already have two losses with big games lingering the rest of the way.

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