Coaches Poll set for major reshuffle after week of upsets

Week 8 of the college football season produced a wave of upsets that are likely to reshape the US LBM Coaches Poll. Brigham Young suffered a double-overtime defeat to Central Florida, while Texas Tech was beaten 37-24 by Cincinnati, setting the stage for a slide from No. 5 toward the bottom of the top ten.

The poll’s No. 1 position is expected to remain unchanged, with Miami (7-0) projected to stay atop the rankings after a 52-23 victory over Pittsburgh that featured a program-record 16 receptions by Malachi Toney. Ohio State (6-1) and Georgia (6-1) are projected to hold the second and third spots, respectively, as both teams look to rebound from recent challenges.

Indiana (7-1) moves into fourth place after an overtime win over Michigan, despite quarterback Josh Hoover playing with an injury, according to coach Curt Cignetti. Utah (7-0) is placed fifth after a 21-13 win over Houston, highlighted by Devon Dampier’s 150-plus rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Brigham Young (6-1) is projected at sixth, remaining ahead of Notre Dame (6-1) in seventh, even after the loss to Central Florida. UCLA (7-0) and Kentucky (7-1) round out the top ten, buoyed by comfortable victories over Michigan State and Vanderbilt, respectively. Texas Tech (6-1) is expected to drop to tenth following its loss to Cincinnati.

"The Red Raiders made the loss to Cincinnati look closer than it was thanks to a pick-six and a garbage-time score with a minute left," a poll analyst noted, adding that questions remain about the team’s ability to compete for the Big 12 title.

The revised top-ten lineup reflects the volatility of the season and the impact of recent defeats on teams positioned near the summit of the Coaches Poll.