AP Top 25 Poll: Week Eight

UNC has made their way back into the AP Top 25 Poll with a victory on the road over Miami. The SEC may be dominating the top 25 poll with eight teams this week, but is the Big Ten a tougher conference with having four teams in the top 10? Now that we are over half-way through the season, where do “experts” think that UNC is headed this upcoming bowl season?

Let’s take a look at these things and other topics in this week’s AP Top 25 Poll.

AP Top 25 Poll

1. Alabama (60) 7-0
2. Ohio State 6-0
3. Michigan (1) 6-0
4. Clemson 7-0
5. Washington 6-0
6. Texas A&M 6-0
7. Louisville 5-1
8. Nebraska 6-0
9. Baylor 6-0
10. Wisconsin 4-2
11. Houston 6-1
12. West Virginia 5-0
13. Florida State 5-2
14. Boise State 6-0
15. Florida 5-1
16. Oklahoma 4-2
17. Arkansas 5-2
18. Tennessee 5-2
19. Utah 6-1
20. Western Michigan 7-0
21. Auburn 4-2
22. North Carolina 5-2
23. Ole Miss 3-3
24. Navy 4-1
25. LSU 4-2

Where is UNC?

After the 20-13 victory over the formerly ranked #16 Miami Hurricanes, the Tar Heels find themselves back in the top 25 at #22. The Heels will look to remain in the top 25 for more than a week, as they travel to Charlottesville for a game against the Virginia Cavaliers on Saturday. A win (unless it is a last-second or overtime victory) will likely keep UNC in the top 25 heading into their bye week.

Kirk Bohls (Austin American-Statesman) had the Tar Heels ranked all the way up at #10, which is awfully generous. Even the hardcore UNC fans would have a hard time arguing that they should be ranked that high.

UNC Bowl Projections

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports - Taxslayer Bowl vs. Arkansas

Mark Schlabach of ESPN - Belk Bowl vs. LSU

Brett McMurphy of ESPN - Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State

Colin Becht of Sports Illustrated: Belk Bowl vs. Auburn

College Football Poller-coaster

Up: West Virginia (8 spots), Arkansas (5 spots), Western Michigan (4 spots)

Down: Ole Miss (11 spots), Tennesse (9 spots)

• How is Ole Miss still ranked? They are 3-3, and their only wins are against Wofford, Georgia, and Memphis. Call me unimpressed.

Welcome and Goodbye

Back in the top 25: North Carolina and LSU

Fallen from the top 25: Miami and Virginia Tech

Best Top 25 Games of the Week

#6-Texas A&M at #1-Alabama - Two undefeated teams enter, but only one will survive.

#22-UNC at Virginia - UVA is pretty terrible, but it is still the oldest rivalry in the south.

#17-Arkansas at #21-Auburn - Again, another battle for second place in the SEC West.

How are UNC’s opponents doing?

Georgia (4-3): Lost 17-16 to Vanderbilt last week.

Illinois (2-4): Won 24-7 over Rutgers last week.

James Madison (6-1): Won 42-39 over New Hampshire last week.

Pittsburgh (5-2): Won 45-31 over Virginia last week.

Florida State (5-2): Won 17-6 over Wake Forest last week.

Virginia Tech (4-2): Lost 31-17 to Syracuse last week.

Miami (4-2): Lost 20-13 to UNC last week.

Virginia (2-4): Lost 45-31 to Pittsburgh last week.

Georgia Tech (4-3): Won 35-24 over Georgia Southern last week.

Duke (3-4): Lost 24-14 to Louisville last week.

Citadel (6-0): Won 22-14 over Chattanooga last week.

NC State (4-2): Lost 24-17 to Clemson last week.

What are they thinking? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Josh Kendall (The State) - Houston ranked at #25, while Oklahoma is at #11?

Scott Wolf (Los Angeles Daily News) - Michigan ranked #1 over Alabama? He is the only one who does not have Alabama ranked #1.

Adam Zucker (CBS Sports Network) - Miami at #16 and UNC not ranked? I assume he voted before this game happened or didn’t watch the game.

Conference Breakdown

ACC - 4 teams

Big Ten - 4 teams

Big 12 - 3 teams

Pac-12 - 2 teams

SEC - 8 teams

Crazy Stat of the Week

No one is beating Alabama this season if they keep this up.