2024 SID Sports Week 8 Rankings

Breaking down the Top 25 and players of the week after Week 8

Last week was hyped up since the schedules were released and it lived up to the ticket. Even without being a blood week, there were tons of tight finishes, near upsets, and all around good games. But did we learn anything and did the playoff picture get any clearer?

Let’s get into the rankings and find out!

SID Sports Week 8 Top 25

1. Texas 6-0 LW: 1
   Quinn Ewers had a triumphant return in what turned out to be a bloodbath of a Red River Shootout as the Longhorns eviscerated rival Oklahoma 34-3. The junior quarterback shook off some rust after a sack and interception on his first two drop backs after returning from an oblique injury that kept him out of the past two games and didn’t break a sweat the rest of the way. The Texas offense was unstoppable and the defense couldn’t be bested. Oregon may have a better win on their docket, but Texas is the unquestioned best team in the country right now.

2. Oregon 6-0 LW: 3
   It was a game full of dramatics, from a blocked field goal to a big time comeback in the fourth quarter, to a questionable slide by Will Howard, but the Ducks won this game. They kept going to the very effective well of wideout Evan Stewart, who toasted Denzel Burke all day, and Jordan James provided a great change-of-pace with 115 and a score rushing. Dan Lanning’s defense finally showed up when he needed them to, with the pass rush led by Matayo Uiagalelei wrecking past a banged-up Buckeye line to clinch the game down the stretch. This may be a program-defining win for Oregon.

3. Penn State 6-0 LW: 4
   It looked like another sleepy performance against top-tier competition under James Franklin as USC took a 20-6 lead into the locker rooms at the half. Then, the Penn State offense woke up. 24 second-half points and a strong outing by Drew Allar despite three interceptions rallied Penn State back to clinch the game in overtime with a 36-yard Ryan Barker field goal. If Penn State can avoid a first-half showing like we saw here and cut down on some second-half mistakes (two of Allar’s three interceptions came during the second-half comeback bid), Penn State may actually make some waves this season.

4. Miami 6-0 LW: 5
   Miami got the week off, which came at a great time after two close wins over ACC foes Virginia Tech and California. They’ll travel to Louisville this week in what should be a great offensive matchup. Statistically, the Canes are among the nation’s best, ranking eighth in SP+, first in passing yards per game (400) and scoring offense (47.7 points per game) and 18th in scoring defense (18.8 points per game). They haven’t quite been challenged yet, and there isn’t much on their schedule aside from Louisville, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest - all road games - that should pose a threat.

5. Ohio State 5-1 LW: 2
   Listen, I’m going to give a ton of excuses because Oregon won that game fair and square. But I think the Buckeyes are the best one-loss team in the nation. Will Howard was on-point ahead of a slide that is much maligned on the internet, but took just too long. With one timeout left, if Howard went into his slide just one second sooner, Ohio State probably is able to call the timeout and try a field goal. I am a little worried about this Ohio State defense, though. Vaunted pass rush duo Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau combined for five tackles and one tackle for loss. Top corner Denzel Burke was a liability in coverage. James ran for 5.0 yards per carry. For a Jim Knowles-coached unit, this was a pretty sub-par showing.

6. Alabama 5-1 LW: 6

   I really wanted to drop the Tide after near disaster against South Carolina, but that pesky Georgia win keeps them here. Let’s not mince words here, though. The Tide are in trouble. Ever since that Georgia win, the entire team has looked flat and hasn’t performed like we’d seen before. Jalen Milroe wasn’t very effective passing, and it wasn’t much better on the ground with 2.0 yards per carry despite two scores. If it wasn’t for a Domani Jackson interception as time expired, Alabama would be in a much different position than they are now.

7. Georgia 5-1 LW: 7
   It was a classic trap game as Mississippi State pushed Georgia to the brink, but the Dawgs were able to put the visiting 1-5 Bulldogs away in the end. Carson Beck stuffed the stat sheet with 36 completions on 48 attempts, 459 yards, three touchdowns and two inteceptions, posting a 75.1 QBR. Arian Smith was the big difference, hauling in five catches for 134 yards and one touchdown. But the Georgia defense let Mississippi State stay in this game as Michael Van Buren Jr. nearly went toe-to-toe with Beck, posting 306 yards, three touchdowns and one interception of his own. Let’s say the Dawgs got caught looking ahead to Texas, but if they weren’t, this weekend is going to be rough.

8. Clemson 5-1 LW: 8
   I’m starting to think the Tigers are really good. They tore apart Wake Forest 49-14 and didn’t really break a sweat after a 28-point second quarter. Cade Klubnik topped 300 yards with three touchdowns, Phil Mafah crossed the century mark wtih two scores and the defense picked off Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier twice. Dabo Swinney’s squad is humming and without Miami on the regular season schedule, we’re shaping up for a heavyweight ACC title game.

9. Iowa State 6-0 LW: 11
   The Cyclones make their first entry into the Top 10 following a 28-16 win on the road at West Virginia. Rocco Becht, unlike some of our previously discussed teams, isn’t going to stuff the stat sheet, but a 265 yard, one score day is solid. Instead, tailback Carson Hansen stole the show with 96 yards on 20 carries for three touchdowns. The defense stifled West Virginia for most of the game, but dual-threat Garrett Greene ran free for 87 yards on 10 carries. That’s the only glaring downside in the game, though, as the Cyclones have been a really solid team all season.

10. Tennessee 5-1 LW: 9
    If this string of lackluster starts continues, it’s time to start ringing alarm bells in Knoxville. Nico Iamaleava had his worst game of his young career against Florida, posting a 17.5 QBR with only 169 yards and an interception. He’s lucky that tailback Dylan Sampson was able to step up with 112 yards and three scores because the passing game wasn’t going to win this unlikely overtime game. One bright side is the Volunteer front seven is legit, posting 12 tackles for loss against the Gators while allowing only 3.5 yards per carry. But a defense can only take a team so far in the SEC, and Josh Heupel’s offense has been MIA for the first half in two straight games.

11. BYU 6-0 LW: 15
    I thought Arizona would challenge this BYU team. I thought wrong, as the Cougars dogwalked the Wildcats 41-19. It’s also time I give Jake Retzlaff credit. I’ve been waiting for him to have his bad game all season. I’m not sure that’s coming, as the junior carries a statline of 1,426 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions all while being effective on the ground with 184 yards and a score, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He’s playing within his means and letting a really good defense clean up for him. Once again, the BYU secondary showed out, forcing three interceptions by Noah Fifita. Discount the Cougars at your own risk.

12. LSU 5-1 LW: 20
    It was a thrilling overtime game, but LSU’s defense showed up when they needed them most, shutting down one the nation’s most explosive offense in Ole Miss in overtime. We knew LSU’s passing attack would be lethal - Garrett Nussmeier threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns with two picks - but I was really surprised by the defense’s strong play without Harold Perkins Jr. They forced Jaxson Dart to a 52.4 QBR, but really embodied a bend-don’t-break mentality after a big Ole Miss second quarter, only allowing six second-half points.

13. Notre Dame 5-1 LW: 12
    The Irish got jumped because of the quality of LSU’s win and BYU being undefeated with a better resume, but that doesn’t mean the Irish didn’t play well. They continue getting better and better each week, with a 49-7 dismantling of Stanford the latest evidence. Riley Leonard is also getting better each week, this time posting a 94.6 QBR with 229 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding 31 yards and a score on six carries. Jeremiyah Love stayed effective with a 8.8 yard average rush and a score. Pairing a suddenly effective offense with this stifling defense is bad news for teams looking to score an at-large playoff bid because Notre Dame is locked and loaded for a playoff run.

14. Texas A&M 5-1 LW: 13
    The Aggies were on a bye this week, which is great to avoid a big-win hangover against Mississippi State, who they play next week. I’m willing to write off a Week One loss to Notre Dame because this team has been rolling since, even with an injury to quarterback Conner Weigman. The Aggies have the nation’s ninth-best rushing attack at 232.3 yards per game behind a stable of effective runners like quarterbacks Weigman and Marcel Reed and tailbacks Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels. They’re a ball control nightmare when you add in a Mike Elko-led defense with one of the nation’s best secondaries. This isn’t the Jimbo Fisher teams you’ve seen in years past. This year’s Aggies are for real.

15. Boise State 5-1 LW: 14
    Another week, another sterling Ashton Jeanty performance, but we’ll get into him later. As long as Jeanty is toting the rock, the Broncos have a shot against anyone. Quarterback Maddux Madsen is a game manager, but that’s what this offense needs. He had a solid 217 yard, two touchdown performance against Hawaii as Boise State avoided a body-clock game loss. Their defense is also solid, limiting Hawaii to only seven points and sacking quarterback Brayden Schager eight times. They were a hard out for Oregon, and we’re seeing them not letting off the gas against their Mountain West foes.

16. SMU 5-1 LW: 17
    I talked about this last week, but SMU may be nation’s most underrated Top 25 team. Their only loss is a narrow four-point decision to BYU that kicked them from the initial rankings, but the Mustangs are rolling. They got a big win over Louisville last week and with their quarterback battle now settled, the Ponies are playing lights-out. They sit at fourth in the ACC right now but are within striking distance of a championship game berth with their main remaining challenge a home game against Pitt. I floated the idea of an SMU ACC run in my preseason conference preview, but the Mustangs are making it reality. With an offense like theirs, expect fireworks the rest of the way.

17. Indiana 6-0 LW: 18
    Have Indiana faced any real tough opponents yet? Probably not, depending on how you feel about September Maryland. Do they have some left? Yes, starting with welcoming Nebraska to Memorial Stadium this week. But even without those marquee wins, Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers are looking like they belong. A top 10 passing attack and a +196 scoring differential show that. We’ll see how they look against the Huskers, but early returns show a revitalized Indiana team behind quarterback Kurtis Rourke.

18. Ole Miss 5-2 LW: 10
    Two losses really start the free fall for the Rebels, but that’s not the least of their worried. Their backs are against the wall with two conference losses. Right now, there’s nine teams sitting ahead of Ole Miss in the SEC standings, so if they want a chance at the title game, they’ll need a ton of chaos above them. I’m a little concerned about their recent results, though. The Rebels haven’t crossed 30 points since a 52-13 route of Georgia Southern on September 21 and have gone 1-2 since then. Jaxson Dart is cooling off some, but the early season pace they set was likely unsustainable. They have the talent to pull this off, but they’ll need to be perfect the rest of the way. That’s a lot to ask.

19. Kansas State 5-1 LW: 19
    Their 31-28 win over Colorado was big in the Big 12 race. But this game was even bigger for D.J. Giddens, who is going to be the main driving force for this offense going forward. That’s not to say I don’t trust Avery Johnson, but I don’t think he’s comfortable putting the team on his back yet. He’s had a nice connection with Jayce Brown, who went for 121 yards and two scores against Colorado, but aside from that, the passing attack has been flat. I think it’s best for the Wildcats to go back to their meat grinder ways of wearing a team down on both ends.

20. Missouri 5-1 LW: 21
    Finally, Missouri beat the brakes off a team. Granted, it was UMass, but that’s still something. Brady Cook was impeccable with a 91.9 QBR, Luther Burden III had five catches and tailback Marcus Carroll stepped up in Nate Noel’s abscence with 91 yards and three scores. After an embarassing road loss to Texas A&M, a game like this can do wonders for a team’s morale. Let’s see if that translates back into the SEC slate.

21. Vanderbilt 4-2 LW: 22
    A lot of people - myself included - thought that Vandy would have a big win hangover and get caught snoozing by Kentucky’s strong defense. That didn’t happen. Diego Pavia wasn’t as great as his Alabama showing, but he didn’t need to be. Still, three incompletions on 18 attempts with two touchdowns and one pick isn’t a bad day. Vandy’s defense played well in the secondary, limiting Brock Vandagriff to only 158 yards passing, but allowed 5.3 yards per carry. I won’t say the Commodores are threats in the SEC, but they’re coasting towards a bowl bid and building something special in Nashville.

22. Pittsburgh 6-0 LW: 24
    It was close, but the woke Cal mob was defeated by the valliant defenders of Pittsburgh. Let freedom ring over the Steel City. It took a whole team effort as Eli Holstein was predestrian with 133 yards, two picks and a 25.5 QBR, but Desmond Reid carried the Panthers on his back with 120 rushing yards and two pivotal scores. Pitt keeps finding creative ways to win, which, on one hand, is a sign of a good team. On the other hand, all these scenarios involving bad quarterback play this week and multiple double-digit comebacks don’t provide a lot of room for error. They can’t keep getting away with this and the luck will run out.

23. Arkansas 4-2 LW: 25
    Okay, so that Oklahoma State loss isn’t looking any better and the Tennessee win is losing some shine. Let’s see what the Hogs have after a bye week against LSU. This is an incredibly talented rushing team, but they rank in the top 35 in both passing yards per game (285.3) and rushing yards per game (199). The defense has played well, too, only allowing 19.2 points per game (29th in the nation). They have an ugly loss to Oklahoma State and a narrow loss to Texas A&M, so these Razorbacks may be a solid team.

24. Navy 6-0 LW: Next five out
    All hail the option overlords! There’s a stigma around option teams that I’d like to dispel with the help of Navy. First, there is the idea that option teams can only run. False, Navy quarterback Blake Horvath has a 95.9 QBR, 771 yards and seven scores on the season. Second, it’s that triple option teams don’t score much because they drain the clock. False, Navy ranks fifth in scoring offense with 43.6 points per game. Their lowest point total was 34 points last week against Air Force. You’ll need to stop the run, as always, but this is the triple option. That’s easier said than done.

25. Army 6-0 LW: Unranked
    So, is there, like some war I never heard about? Because Army and Navy are both undefeated at the midway point for the first time since 1945 when World War II came to a close. Army, like Navy, has been a revelation this season. They’re scoring 40 points a game, running for 369.8 and have the nation’s second best scoring defense with 9.8 points allowed per game. They haven’t had any major tests, but Notre Dame and Navy are two of their last three. This could be the greatest Army-Navy game in our lifetimes.

Next Five Out: Illinois, Syracuse, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona State

Illinois played the season’s most drunk game in a 50-49 overtime win over Purdue. Good for the Illini offense to be up to the test, but wow the defense needs to play better than allowing 49 points to Purdue - 43 in regulation. Syracuse continues to be a threat in the ACC after a 24-17 win over NC State. Kyle McCord is playing out of his mind, but this is a one-trick pony of an offense. Stop the pass and you stop the Orange. So, uh, Iowa can score now. Their 40-16 win over Washington behind the strong running of Kaleb Johnson was a bit of a shock. They didn’t look the part against Ohio State, but they’ve got a league average offense. That’s what we’ve been asking for, right? Speaking of Big Ten teams, Nebraska continues to be solid. They were on a bye, but with a tough two game road stretch at Indiana and Ohio State, we’ll see what the ceiling is in Dylan Raiola’s freshman season. Arizona State is the biggest shock to me this side of the best service academy seasons since World War II. The Sun Devils have a bad 30-22 loss to Texas Tech, but just took care of business against Utah, 27-19. The offense runs behind Cam Skattebo, but consistency under center has been a huge plus. Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils are much ahead of schedule.

Players of the Week

Finally, let’s get into some of the best individual performances of this week.

1. Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
   A 95.9 QBR against a Top Three program is hard to top. Gabriel completed 67.6 percent of his passes against Ohio State, passing for 341 yards and two scores. He also had some massive runs, notching 32 yards on the ground headlined by a 27-yard touchdown scamper. The senior played out of his mind in his biggest game in Oregon and may have just entered the Heisman race emphatically.

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

   At this point, he’s going to catch Barry. Jeanty added 217 yards and a score to his totals this week against Hawaii, and even caught a touchdown for some diversification. He’s the nation’s best tailback and we’re seeing that each and every week. If you wanted a reminder, Jeanty has 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns through six games. He’s on pace for 2,469 yards and 34 touchdowns in 12 games, which comes up just short of Barry Sanders’ 2,268 yards and 37 touchdowns. Add in a Mountain West title game and a bowl - or College Football Playoff game - and he might just get there.

3. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
   It’s not everyday you see a tight end as one of the nation’s best players, but USC had no answer for Warren. The senior tight end hauled in 17 catches for 224 yards and a score in Penn State’s comeback win in Los Angeles.

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What I’m Reading:

Three-Point Stance by Tyler Schuster: Three-Point Stance is your favorite independent college football newsletter. Come for in-depth analysis and bold commentary, stay for the jokes and memes. An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.

An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.

CERNIG

by Colin Cerniglia: It’s time for October baseball, and Colin’s the one I’m trusting to keep me covered! If you don’t know, I love baseball too, and Colin’s been putting out some great work about players around the league. He writes for Yardbarker a lot, but the content is easy to find on CERNIG and super engaging.

Split Zone Duo by Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey, and Richard Johnson: You can't beat Alex, Richard and Godfrey. They're on the front lines breaking news and creating the best content in the game. I 100 percent recommend SZD for anyone into college football and Steven Godfrey hating your team. They’re mostly a podcast publication, but sometimes being able to listen to three well-informed guys talking about college football is what you need in your life.

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