The Sweet 16: College Football Power Rankings (Week 8)

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Marshall, 63-28
Up Next: vs. Rice (Thursday)
Trending: Up

Hello Houston, welcome back! But can you forgive us? We had you in these Power Rankings for two consecutive weeks in early October, then dropped you out last week. For who? Auburn? Really? What the fuck were we thinking? Well, you're back now, and we promise not to drop you again—just keep winning (and maybe crash the BCS party and make us look real good, k? —Jack Erwin

Last Week's Rank: 16
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Minnesota, 41-14
Up Next: vs. Michigan State
Trending: Up

It's time to get down to business for Nebraska. Against Wisconsin, the only ranked team the Cornhuskers have faced this year, this team got demolished. With three ranked opponents in the next four weeks, the depth and strength of this dual rushing attack will be put to the test. The big issue against Wisconsin was that Taylor Martinez was actually forced to throw and tossed three picks. If they happened to get plugged up again, Martinez needs to learn better decision-making. —Tony Markovich

Last Week's Rank: Not Ranked
Record: 7 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Boston College, 30-14
Up Next: @ Duke
Trending: Up

With Clemson coasting to the top of the ACC—not to mention the BCS—VT has more or less slipped under the radar since getting shelled by the Tigers a few weeks ago. But now that Georgia Tech has slipped up and lost two games, the Hokies own sole possession of the ACC's Coastal Division and have a really good shot of earning another shot at Clemson in the ACC Championship Game if they can win their remaining four games. With three of the four contests coming on the road, it won't be easy. But a matchup with Duke is exactly what they need to get themselves off to the right start before they head to GT next weekend.—Chris Yuscavage

Last Week's Rank: 12
Record: 5 - 2
This Week's Game: W @ Iowa State, 33 - 17
Up Next: vs. Missouri
Trending: Up

For the rest of the season the Aggies shall be known as the Dream Killers. They will not be in anyone's BCS game, but they can certainly ruin Oklahoma and Kansas State's hopes in the process. Next up for A&M will be Missouri who could upset the Aggies so they better come ready. —Richard Boadu

Last Week's Rank: 9
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Ole Miss, 29-24
Up Next: @ Vandy
Trending: Up

Somehow the Razorbacks came back to beat the JV team that calls itself The Rebels. Regardless, the computers may not like the final score, but they'll love the W. As Arkansas continues to get healthy players back from injury the scarier they are. And the fact that Alabama and LSU take all the spotlight allows them to fly under the radar by the time the BCS rankings come out we could see the Razorbacks contending for a top five positions. —Nick Restivo

Last Week's Rank: 13
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Kansas, 59 - 21
Up Next: vs. Oklahoma
Trending: Up

We are about to see what Kansas State is all about. They've played a JV schedule thus far. This weekend the 8th ranked Wildcats face a Sooners team coming off their first home loss since 85 B.C. If Kansas State wins we can discuss more if they lose, they are who we thought they were. —Richard Boadu

Last Week's Rank: 4
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: L vs. Texas Tech, 41-38
Up Next: @ Kansas State
Trending: Neutral

Who loses at their own Homecoming? (Looks at the Sooners). A 2 hour rain delay caused the Sooners to come out sluggish and the Red Raiders took full advantage. The Sooners made a great comeback, but ran out of time. The true character of the Sooners will be tested since their National Title hopes are now slim. No one is feeling sorry for them, especially the 8th ranked Kansas State Wildcats who face the Sooners this Saturday. —Richard Boadu

Last Week's Rank: 3
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: L @ Michigan State, 31-37
Up Next: @ Ohio State
Trending: Neutral

Wisconsin went through just about every emotion on the spectrum against Michigan State. They came out confident, got too comfortable, and triumphantly came back just to be hit with an unreal hail mary upset. People will complain that these kinds of losses don't mean anything, but the fact is Wisconsin was on the wrong end of a 28-point flip that put them in that situation. The biggest difference seemed to be Russell Wilson's two interceptions (only his second and third of the year) and the six penalties on the day. We expect them to get back on track against Ohio State. —Tony Markovich

Last Week's Rank: 14
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: W vs. Wisconsin 37-31
Up Next: vs. Nebraska
Trending: Up

At Ohio State? Check. Versus Michigan? No problem. Against Wisconsin? A win is a win, right? After falling behind 0-14 in the first quarter, Sparty rallied back with 23 points in the second and used a last-second heave to take down a previously undefeated Wisconsin team. This team has one more test this week, possibly the toughest yet, before it can legitimately think about winning the Big Ten and going to a BCS bowl. To beat Nebraska, the Spartans will once again have to play penalty-free football and win the turnover ratio as they did against the Badgers. —Tony Markovich

Last Week's Rank: 8
Record: 6 - 1
This Week's Game: W @ Colorado, 45-2
Up Next: vs. Washington State
Trending: Neutral

Remember those times when your older bro would give you a five-point lead in basketball and still end up putting a beating on you with the final score being 11-5? That's pretty much what happened to the poor Colorado Buffaloes. Despite playing without their starting quarterback Darron Thomas and star running back LaMichael James, the Ducks routed the Buffaloes defense by scoring six touchdowns in one of their biggest victories of the year. It was the defense that really shined, though. They held Colorado to 231 offensive yards and zero points. It was no doubt an impressive victory but is slaughtering a team that stays in the cellar of the Pac-10 really that impressive? #keepit100—Ralph Warner

Last Week's Rank: 7
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Air Force, 36-27
Up Next: Idle
Trending: Neutral

It was their most lackluster win of the year, but at this point Boise State fans aren't even that concerned with their own squad's play (no Nevadas though, please). They still need a lot of help, but the Broncos path the the BCS Championship just got a lot clearer this weekend. With both Oklahoma and Wisconsin likely out as title game participants, BSU "just" needs Oklahoma State, and likely Stanford and Clemson to lose. OSU still has to play the Sooners, Stanford has Oregon, and Clemson could still stumble in the ACC. Keep hope alive Idaho! —Jack Erwin

Last Week's Rank: 6
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Washington, 65-21
Up Next: @ USC
Trending: Up

You can control your own destiny? FOH, everyone knows that isn't true—at least not in college football. It wasn't Stanford's continuing dominance—but rather, losses by Oklahoma and Wisconsin—that allowed the Cardinal to crack the top five in our power rankings. Their potent offense scored a season-high 65 points but the defense allowed allowed a season-high 21 points, too. Andrew Luck was his usual self completing 16 of his 21 pass attempts and throwing for two touchdowns. Running back Anthony Wilkerson had a breakout game with 93 rushing yards and two TDs. See kids, half of being successful is all about your rivals screwing up. Well, kinda. —Ralph Warner

Last Week's Rank: 10
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. North Carolina, 59-38
Up Next: @ Georgia Tech
Trending: Up

If you like tough, make-ever-yard-count, defensive battles, do us a favor and go thaaaaaaatta way the next time Clemson comes on your TV. 'Cause this team is clearly about putting up points. A week after they tallied 56 against Maryland, the Tigers took the Tar Heels behind the woodshed this weekend and put up 59 against them. And we expect that high-octane approach to continue this week when they take on the Yellow Jackets, a team that seemed like a real threat to Clemson just two weeks ago before consecutive losses to Virginia and Miami. Keep your pedal to the metal, fellas, and the ACC—and maybe more—is yours.—Chris Yuscavage

Last Week's Rank: 6
Record: 7 - 0
This Week's Game: W @ Missouri, 45-24
Up Next: @ Baylor
Trending: Up

The Cowboys are in the friend zone and the BCS is ready to give it up. After the Oklahoma Sooners went down this weekend their in-state rivals moved up to #3 in the BCS. Now all the Pokes have to do is play their position and they will play for the National Title. —Richard Boadu

Last Week's Rank: 3
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Tennessee, 37-6
Up Next: LSU (Nov. 5)
Trending: Up

Alabama takes care of business against SEC punching bag Tennessee and gets this upcoming week off. The bye comes just in time for the Crimson Tide to get two weeks of preparation for the primetime battle against the LSU Tigers in Tuscaloosa in two weeks. —Nick Restivo

Last Week's Rank: 2
Record: 8 - 0
This Week's Game: W vs. Auburn 45-10
Up Next: @ Alabama (Nov. 5)
Trending: Up

November 5th can't come soon enough for the LSU Tigers. They took care of business without three starters against the Tigers and still won by 35. Like Alabama, LSU can rest this week, stay out of trouble (they hope) and be ready to go for the game that will most likely decide who goes to the SEC championship game from the West side of the division. —Nick Restivo