CFP Top 12 Projections Week 8: Alabama Climbs Rankings

Week 8 in college football? It’s been wild. A bunch of undefeated teams finally fell, and others made some noise in the playoff race. The College Football Playoff selection committee is having one of those “level set” meetings, just trying to wrap their heads around the chaos before the official rankings drop. Here’s what’s up with the top 12 teams after Week 8.

Ohio State Buckeyes: Dominating Both Sides of the Ball

Ohio State just steamrolled Wisconsin, and they’re hanging onto the top spot. Offensively and defensively, they’re top five in ESPN Analytics. That nonconference win over Texas? It’s a real separator.

Why Ohio State Could Be Lower

Some folks on the committee might lean Indiana for No. 1, just because of that win at Oregon. But Ohio State’s steady play and strong metrics in Game Control and Strength of Record keep them ahead—at least for now.

Key Insights

• Ohio State and Indiana are probably headed for a Big Ten title game showdown.
• The Buckeyes have at least a 50% shot in every game left, though Michigan on Nov. 29 looks tricky.

Indiana Hoosiers: A Dark Horse with a Strong Resume

Indiana bumped up after beating Michigan State and watching Miami lose to Louisville. That win at Oregon still looks like one of the best in the country, and it’s giving their playoff hopes a real boost.

Why Indiana Could Be Higher

Honestly, Indiana’s Oregon win might be better than anything Ohio State has. They’re leading ESPN’s Strength of Record, which says a lot about how tough their schedule’s been.

Key Insights

• Indiana’s got at least a 70% chance in every remaining game, but Penn State on Nov. 8 could get dicey.
• That wild win over Illinois is still fresh in everyone’s mind.

Alabama Crimson Tide: Battling Through a Tough Schedule

Alabama keeps getting stronger, knocking off four ranked teams in a row—Georgia and Missouri on the road, too. Their loss to Florida State doesn’t sting as much now since the Noles fell off a cliff.

Why Alabama Could Be Lower

The Florida State loss and a so-so nonconference win against Wisconsin might hold them back, especially with Texas A&M’s win at Notre Dame looming large.

Key Insights

• Alabama is sitting at No. 2 in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule.
• The Nov. 15 game against Oklahoma? That’s the big one left.

Texas A&M Aggies: Undefeated but Unconvincing

Texas A&M is the SEC’s last undefeated team, but they’re not exactly blowing people away. That narrow escape against Arkansas has people raising their eyebrows.

Why Texas A&M Could Be Higher

If the committee really values the Notre Dame win and dings Alabama for the FSU loss, maybe the Aggies stay ahead.

Key Insights

• There’s a real shot at an A&M-Alabama SEC title game.
• The Aggies finish with tough road trips to LSU, Missouri, and Texas. That’s a gauntlet.

Georgia Bulldogs: Strong Wins and a Narrow Loss

Georgia’s beaten Tennessee and Ole Miss, plus only lost narrowly to Alabama. Their nonconference schedule is a little soft, but overall, they’re still in the mix.

Why Georgia Could Be Lower

Miami’s got stronger nonconference wins, which could push the Canes ahead in the rankings.

Key Insights

• Georgia faces Texas on Nov. 15. That’ll be a test.
• Taking out Georgia Tech in the finale would look good on their resume.

Miami Hurricanes: A Setback but Not Out

Miami just lost to Louisville, and that stings. Still, they’ve got wins over Notre Dame, South Florida, and Florida, so they’re not out of it yet.

Why Miami Could Be Lower

Ole Miss looked better in their loss last week, and Miami’s game against Louisville was messy—too many turnovers.

Key Insights

• Miami’s toughest left is Nov. 1 at SMU.
• They can’t afford any more slip-ups if they want a shot at the playoff.

Ole Miss Rebels: Clinging to Contention

Ole Miss is still hanging around after a close loss to Georgia. The Tulane win helps, but they’ve got to keep proving themselves.

Why Ole Miss Could Be Lower

Oregon’s got better stats and plays with more discipline. That could bump the Rebels down.

Key Insights

• Week 9 against Oklahoma is huge for Ole Miss.
• They need to tighten up on defense and cut down on penalties.

Oregon Ducks: Consistency and Dominance

Oregon’s beating the teams they should and doing it convincingly. Their road schedule and wins over ranked teams are solid.

Why Oregon Could Be Higher

They’re ranked high in ESPN’s Game Control, and that consistency might be enough to move them up.

Key Insights

• USC on Nov. 22 is their last big hurdle.
• If they keep rolling, a first-round home game is in reach.

Oklahoma Sooners: A Resilient Team

Oklahoma beat South Carolina and snagged a valuable nonconference win over Michigan. The defense is still a question mark, especially with tougher games coming.

Why Oklahoma Could Be Lower

If Georgia Tech stays undefeated, they could leapfrog the Sooners—especially if Oklahoma’s defense slips.

Key Insights

• Oklahoma wraps up with five straight ranked opponents.
• Nov. 15 at Alabama is the one everyone’s watching.

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: Finding Ways to Win

Georgia Tech keeps pulling out wins in the ACC, even if it’s not always pretty. They just seem to find a way.

Why Georgia Tech Could Be Lower

They haven’t been blowing teams out, and their schedule strength isn’t doing them any favors.

Key Insights

• Georgia on Nov. 28 looms large for the Yellow Jackets.
• Winning the ACC is probably a must for their playoff hopes.

BYU Cougars: Undefeated but Unproven

BYU hasn’t lost in the Big 12, but they haven’t beaten anyone great either. That upcoming Texas Tech game is pretty much do or die for them.

Why BYU Could Be Lower

Wins over weaker teams and barely squeaking by Arizona could drag down their ranking.

Key Insights

• BYU has to stay perfect to have any playoff shot.
• Nov. 8 at Texas Tech is circled on their calendar.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Climbing Back

Notre Dame started 0-2 but bounced back with five straight wins, including a big one over USC. They’ve got momentum, but it’s not all smooth sailing.

Why Notre Dame Could Be Lower

Those two losses, especially to Miami, are still a cloud over their season.

Key Insights

• Notre Dame’s toughest remaining game is on Nov. 15 at Pitt.
• As an independent, their only path to the playoff is through an at-large bid.

Want to dig deeper? Check out the source article on ESPN for more projections and analysis.