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The 2023 college football season is officially in full swing, and following a wild and eventful Week 7 the Associated Press is giving us a look at how the competition stacks up as we near the end of the second month of the season.
On Sunday, October 15, the Week 8 AP Top 25 poll was officially announced.
With 8 ranked teams suffering losses, there were sure to be some major shakeups in the latest poll.
While there were some changes in the poll, the top four teams remained the same with Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, and Florida State all receiving first-place votes. However, Georgia received fewer first-place votes this week while Michigan picked up 16 to close the gap between the Wolverines and Bulldogs.
Washington, meanwhile, rounds out the top five after a big win over Oregon.
Going the opposite direction is the USC Trojans, who crashed out of the top 10 after a blowout loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, along with the Louisville Cardinals and UCLA Bruins who dropped 7 spots apiece.
Where does your favorite team stand entering the upcoming weekend in the eyes of the Associated Press voters?
The latest AP Top 25 poll can be seen below.
AP Top 25 Poll – Week 8
- Georgia (43)
- Michigan (16)
- Ohio State (1)
- Florida State (1)
- Washington (2)
- Oklahoma
- Penn State
- Texas
- Oregon
- North Carolina
- Alabama
- Oregon State
- Ole Miss
- Utah
- Notre Dame
- Duke
- Tennessee
- USC
- LSU
- Missouri
- Louisville
- Air Force
- Tulane
- Iowa
- UCLA
Others Receiving Votes: James Madison 70, Clemson 35, Florida 12, Washington St. 11, Fresno St. 6, Liberty 5, Kentucky 4, Wyoming 4, Kansas 2, West Virginia 1, Oklahoma St. 1, Miami 1.
The Associated Press rankings carry more weight than polls like the Coaches Poll and FWAA Poll, as they are part of the deciding factor on which teams reach the College Football Playoff. The Coaches Poll, which is not part of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s formula to determine the four teams that will compete for the College Football Playoff National Championship, is voted on by 65 FBS head coaches.
The Associated Press began its college football poll on Oct. 19, 1936, and it is now the longest-running poll of those that award national titles at the end of the season. The preseason poll was started in 1950. A panel of 63 sports writers and broadcasters from around the country votes on the poll weekly.
