Week 7 of college football really brought the chaos. Eight ranked teams went down, two from the top 10, and suddenly, the rankings look pretty different. Ohio State is back at No. 1, and—believe it or not—Indiana has jumped all the way into the top three for the first time ever.
If you want the full rundown of where everyone stands, here’s the PFF Top 25 for Week 8.
Ohio State Back at No. 1
Ohio State reclaimed the top spot after a strong 34-16 win over No. 17 Illinois. Julian Sayin was on fire, pulling off a 91.6 PFF passing grade in the game.
For the season, he’s sitting at a 91.4 PFF grade—highest among FBS quarterbacks. That’s not something you see every year.
Key Factors in Ohio State’s Success
What’s working for the Buckeyes?
- Julian Sayin’s exceptional play
- Strong defensive performance
- Effective coaching strategies
The defense kept Illinois to just 16 points. When the pressure’s on, they just don’t flinch.
Indiana Makes Historic Leap to No. 3
Indiana’s never been this high in the rankings before. They just knocked off Oregon, who was No. 3, with a gutsy 30-20 win.
The Hoosiers’ defense was relentless, holding Oregon to four yards per play and earning an 86.1 grade. That’s how you make history, I guess.
Defensive Prowess
Indiana’s surge is all about the defense:
- 86.1 defensive grade
- Limiting Oregon to four yards per play
- Neutralizing previous Heisman favorite Dante Moore
Texas A&M’s Impressive Start
Texas A&M is 6-0 for the first time in almost a decade. Their latest: a 34-17 win over Florida.
The Aggies’ defense is a real problem for opponents, especially on big downs—Florida only converted once on 11 third and fourth down tries.
Defensive Dominance
Over the last three games, Texas A&M has let opponents convert just two of 33 third downs. If they keep this up, who knows how far they’ll go?
Alabama’s String of Top-20 Wins
Alabama just keeps stacking big wins. Their latest was a tight 27-24 victory over No. 14 Missouri, making it three straight against top-20 teams.
The defense was especially nasty, allowing just -0.343 EPA per pass. Next up: No. 11 Tennessee. Should be fun.
Key Defensive Metrics
Here’s what’s making Bama tough right now:
- -0.343 EPA per pass
- Three consecutive top-20 wins
Texas Tech: Big 12’s Best
Texas Tech keeps rolling in the Big 12, this time with a 42-17 win over Kansas. The defense posted an 88.2 grade and leads the nation with a 96.3 defensive grade.
Week 8, though, brings a real test—they’re heading to Arizona State. That’ll be one to watch.
Defensive Excellence
Texas Tech’s defense is the story here:
- 88.2 defensive grade against Kansas
- Nation-leading 96.3 defensive grade
Ole Miss Survives Washington State
Ole Miss barely escaped Washington State, winning 24-21. Kewan Lacy was electric, racking up an 80.5 PFF rushing grade, breaking 14 tackles, and running for 142 yards.
Next up, they’ll have to face Georgia, who’s third in the country in run-defense grade. That’s going to be a real challenge.
Offensive Highlights
What made the difference for Ole Miss?
- Kewan Lacy’s 80.5 PFF rushing grade
- 142 rushing yards and 14 broken tackles
Georgia’s Defensive Stronghold
Georgia handled Auburn 20-10 in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. The Bulldogs’ defense was basically a wall in the second half, giving up just 40 yards and no points.
ESPN’s College GameDay is coming to town for their matchup against Ole Miss. Should be a good one.
Defensive Metrics
The Bulldogs’ defense stood out here:
- Shut out Auburn in the second half
- Allowed only 40 yards
Oregon’s Fall and LSU’s Rise
Oregon dropped five spots after losing to Indiana. Dante Moore had a rough outing, with a 45.9 PFF passing grade.
Meanwhile, LSU took down South Carolina 20-10, leaning on a pass defense that allowed -0.486 EPA per pass. Next, they’re on the road against Diego Pavia and Vanderbilt.
Oregon’s Struggles
What went wrong for Oregon?
- 45.9 PFF passing grade for Dante Moore
- Offensive line struggles
LSU’s Defensive Excellence
LSU’s pass defense has been outstanding.
- -0.486 EPA per pass allowed
They’ll need to keep that level up as the schedule gets tougher.
If you want to dive deeper into the latest rankings, check out the PFF Top 25 for Week 8.
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