NCAAF by Dylan Fraychineaud

New Arena’s Top 25 College Football Poll After Week 8

Here’s a look at New Arena’s Top 25 Poll for Week 9 of the 2018-2019 College Football season:

25. NC State Wolfpack

Week 8 result: Lost to Clemson 41-7
                       Up next: @ Syracuse
                       Trend: -9

NC State’s undefeated season came to a screeching halt in Death Valley. The Wolfpack entered the game with aspirations of winning the ACC. Now, after a 35-point drubbing, the Wolfpack must avoid the pitfalls of a devastating loss.

24. San Diego State Aztecs

Week 8 result: Defeated San Jose State 16-13
                                Up next: @ Nevada
                                Trend: +1

The Aztecs like to stress out their fans. After narrowly beating San Jose State, SDSU has won its last five games by a combined 23 points. Their meeting with Fresno State down the road will likely determine who advances to the Mountain West Championship.

23. Stanford Cardinal

Week 8 result: Defeated Arizona State 20-13
                     Up next: vs. Washington State
                     Trend: NR

Stanford found its way back into the rankings following its gritty win in Tempe. The Cardinal still control their destiny in the Pac-12 North. With wins over the Washington schools in the next two weeks, the Cardinal could separate themselves from the field.

22. Wisconsin Badgers

Week 8 result: Defeated Illinois 49-20
                             Up next: @ Northwestern
                             Trend: NR

The Badgers defense dominated Lovie Smith’s Fighting Illini by creating five turnovers en route to a 29-point victory. The Badgers can take a huge step towards winning the Big Ten West by knocking off Northwestern this weekend. At 3-1 in conference play, Wisconsin trails Northwestern by a half-game.

21. Utah Utes

Week 8 result: Defeated USC 41-28
                          Up next: @ UCLA
                          Trend: NR

While a 13-point win doesn’t seem overly dominant, the Utes manhandled Southern Cal Saturday night. Utah takes on UCLA Friday night. It might not be a cakewalk — especially because Pac-12 teams have tended to struggle when going on the road for a Friday night affair. The Utes appear to be the class of the South, and a win over UCLA would solidify that sentiment.

20. South Florida Bulls

Week 8 result: Defeated UConn 38-30
                            Up next: @ Houston
                            Trend: —

The Bulls are flirting with disaster. Two wholly unimpressive victories over Tulsa and UConn have left the Bulls looking vulnerable heading into their showdown with Houston. The Bulls might have to score 50+ points if they want to leave Houston with a victory.

19. Texas A&M Aggies

Week 8 result: BYE
Up next: @ Mississippi State
Trend: —

The Aggies bye week couldn’t have come at a much better time. With tough road games against Mississippi State and Auburn on the docket, Jimbo Fisher has had plenty of time to prepare his men to make a statement. Beating up on teams below them in the standings will benefit the Aggies in the long run.

18. Penn State Nittany Lions

Week 8 result: Defeated Indiana 33-28
                                Up next: vs. Iowa
                                Trend: —

Penn State barely avoided losing their third-straight contest. The Nittany Lions welcome a red-hot Iowa squad to Happy Valley this weekend. With games against Michigan and Wisconsin to follow, Penn State’s season hangs in the balance over the next three weeks.

17. Oregon Ducks

Week 8 result: Lost to Washington State 34-20
                               Up next: @ Arizona
                               Trend: -7

Oregon spotted Washington State a 27-0 lead at the half before storming back to within a score. Ultimately, the Ducks fell short in their comeback bid. The Ducks’ next two games come against Pac-12 bottom-feeders (Arizona and UCLA) before taking on a formidable opponent in Utah.

16. Iowa Hawkeyes

Week 8 result: Defeated Maryland 23-0
                                Up next: @ Penn State
                                Trend: +5

The Hawkeyes may be the hottest team in America. Following their loss to Wisconsin, Iowa has dominated their past three opponents. They will need help to win the Big Ten West outright. With that said, Iowa is a team that nobody wants to play right now.

15. Kentucky Wildcats

Week 8 result: Defeated Vanderbilt 14-7
Up next: @ Missouri
                                Trend: —

The Wildcats can thank Benny Snell Jr. and their tremendous defense for their sixth victory. Snell rushed for 169 yards and the game-winning touchdown last week versus Vanderbilt. A sneaky-tough game at Mizzou comes this weekend.

14. Washington State Cougars

Week 8 result: Defeated Oregon 34-20
                        Up next: @ Stanford
                        Trend: +10

What a week for the Cougars. First, they hosted one of the more raucous College GameDay experiences of all-time. Next, they blitzed Oregon and took a 27-0 lead into the half. The Cougars will look to knock off another Pac-12 power as they travel to Palo Alto to face Stanford.

13. West Virginia Mountaineers

Week 8 result: BYE
                            Up next: vs. Baylor
                            Trend: +1

The Mountaineers have had two weeks to think about their loss at Iowa State. Baylor should prepare for an onslaught in Morgantown this weekend. Should they come out on top, the Mountaineers will travel to Austin with the Big 12 title on their minds.

12. Ohio State Buckeyes

Week 8 result: Lost to Purdue 49-20
                           Up next: BYE
                           Trend: -9

The Buckeyes went from looking dominant through seven games, to getting absolutely dominated in Week 8. Purdue thoroughly outplayed Ohio State the entire evening. Once again, Urban Meyer had no answers for a troubling situation.

11. Washington Huskies

Week 8 result: Defeated Colorado 27-13
                                Up next: @ California
                                Trend: +2

Coming off of a loss and playing without star back Myles Gaskin, the Huskies overcame a slow start to stave off Colorado. The Huskies’ remaining schedule varies between very easy (@ Cal, vs. Oregon State) and incredibly difficult (vs. Stanford, @ Washington State).

10. Florida Gators

Week 8 result: BYE
                                Up next: vs. Georgia
                                Trend: +2

Can Florida double-down on its big win over LSU? If the Gators can knock off Georgia this weekend, the College Football Playoff may have to make room for another contender.

9. Oklahoma Sooners

Week 8 result: Defeated TCU 52-27
                       Up next: vs. Kansas State
                        Trend: +2

Oklahoma dominated TCU last weekend. The 25-point road victory included two 100-yard rushers and the allowance of only 275 total yards. The Sooners’ defense looked a lot better under new defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill. Oklahoma is still a CFP contender, but it will need Texas to lose if the Sooners have any chance of crashing the party.

8. Texas Longhorns

Week 8 result: BYE
                                Up next: @ Oklahoma State
                                Trend: +1

Texas’ bye week was perfectly timed. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger was given more time to rehab his injured shoulder. The Longhorns will be relying on Ehlinger and that golden shoulder if they want to stay unbeaten in Big 12 play.

7. UCF Knights

Week 8 result: Defeated East Carolina 37-10
Up next: BYE
Trend: +1

Even without star quarterback McKenzie Milton, the Knights were able to extend their win streak to 20 games. Milton will have an extra week to get ready for Temple. Temple is currently tied with UCF atop the American East.

6. Georgia Bulldogs

Week 8 result: BYE
                        Up next: vs. Florida
                        Trend: +1

The Bulldogs’ CFP hopes hang in the balance this week as they take on the Gators. If Jake Fromm continues to struggle early, don’t be surprised to see Kirby Smart make the highly anticipated switch to stud QB prospect Justin Fields.

5. LSU Tigers

Week 8 result: Defeated Mississippi State 19-3
                          Up next: BYE
                          Trend: +1

LSU heads into its bye right where it wants to be. With wins over Miami, Auburn, Georgia and Mississippi State, LSU is in prime position to make the CFP. Standing in the Tigers’ way? Hated rival Alabama. Ed Orgeron’s bunch will host Alabama in what many are calling the greatest college football game of the year to this point.

4. Michigan Wolverines

Week 8 result: Defeated Michigan State 21-7
                                Up next: BYE
                                Trend: +1

After a convincing win over Wisconsin at home, the Wolverines took care of business in East Lansing. Ohio State’s shocking loss has enabled Michigan to now sit atop the Big Ten East. Penn State should put up a good fight after the bye week, but Michigan appears to be for real.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Week 8 result: BYE
                              Up next: vs. Navy
                              Trend: +1

The Irish should run the table, but that doesn’t mean they will. Navy has played the Irish tough in the past, and won’t let the Irish bully them. Can Ian Book adjust now that opposing teams are game-planning for him?

2. Clemson Tigers

Week 8 result: Defeated NC State 41-7
Up next: @ Florida State
Trend: —

Clemson put forth the type of dominating performance we have been waiting for all season. The Tigers’ defense shut down Ryan Finley from the outset. In the process, Clemson looks like the only unit capable of giving Alabama any problems.

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Week 8 result: Defeated Tennessee 58-21
Up next: BYE
Trend: —

Alabama’s closest contest this year remains a 22-point blowout over Texas A&M. With a week off to prepare for the biggest game of the year (LSU), there is no reason to believe that anybody can slow down the Tide.

Image Source: Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports