Updated

Updated · KSR · Oct 25

Miami Holds No. 1 in Week 8 Coaches Poll as BYU and Ole Miss Losses Reshuffle Top 10

Updated

Updated · KSR · Oct 25

Miami Holds No. 1 in Week 8 Coaches Poll as BYU and Ole Miss Losses Reshuffle Top 10

Q: After a weekend of massive upsets and costly blunders, which top-tier team is actually safe in this wildly unpredictable season?

Right now, no top-tier team looks truly safe — but Miami is the closest thing to it. The Hurricanes have the cleanest case because they are 7-0, just dismantled Pitt 52-23, stayed No. 1 in the coaches poll, and have paired explosive offense with steady weekly control. Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney led another dominant showing, and Miami’s remaining schedule appears more manageable than most contenders’ paths. ESPN’s FPI still rates Miami among the nation’s elite, gives it a 97.4% playoff chance and projects it as a strong ACC favorite. The obvious caveat is the Nov. 7 trip to Notre Dame, which remains the biggest threat left on Miami’s regular-season slate. Even then, “safe” is relative this season. Ohio State is No. 2, but Julian Sayin’s shoulder injury changes everything and makes the Buckeyes far less stable despite their talent. Georgia is rising, but the SEC has been too volatile to trust anyone fully. Indiana and UCLA are compelling stories, yet both have shown enough offensive shakiness to suggest vulnerability. BYU was the latest reminder: one week after beating Notre Dame and reaching No. 2, the Cougars lost at UCF amid penalties, special-teams mistakes and late execution failures. So the answer is Miami, but only in a narrow sense. The Hurricanes are the most secure team today because they are unbeaten, healthy at quarterback, and playing the most complete football. In this season, though, “safe” really means “safer than everyone else,” not untouchable.

3 articles · Updated · KSR · Oct 25

Miami stayed No. 1 after a 52-23 win over Pitt, while Week 8 losses by No. 3 BYU and No. 7 Ole Miss triggered the latest USA Today coaches poll shakeup.
BYU fell six spots to No. 9 after losing to UCF in double overtime, and Ole Miss dropped five places to No. 12 after a 34-27 loss at Texas.
Georgia rose to No. 3, Indiana to No. 4 and unbeaten Utah to No. 5, with Notre Dame, UCLA and Kentucky also climbing into the top eight.
Texas made one of the biggest jumps, up seven spots to No. 11 after beating Ole Miss, while Texas Tech slid nine places to No. 14 after its first loss.
The reshuffle followed another upset-heavy Saturday, extending a volatile stretch in which unbeaten teams and conference races are rapidly narrowing heading into late October.