The pride. The pageantry. The passion. Week 7 was the epitome of what makes college football so captivating. Davids took down Goliaths, and the top 25 college football power rankings received a reckoning. But one thing remains constant: college football over everything.
PFN’s 2022 Top 25 College Football Power Rankings Heading Into Week 8
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (Last Week: 2)
“Well, that escalated quickly.” — Ohio State sitting on their couches after watching Alabama vs. Tennessee, probably.
Without lifting a finger due to a bye week, the Buckeyes are the new No. 1 in town, with the Vols upsetting the Crimson Tide. With C.J. Stroud at the helm of the offense, it’s unlikely they will lose their new position any time soon.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (Last Week: 3)
Georgia 55, Vanderbilt 0. Next. In all seriousness, this game was never going to be close — not on paper, on the field, or in the dreams of the biggest Commodores fan.
The Bulldogs are a hair behind OSU for the throne in our top 25 college football power rankings, and neither is slowing down.
3. Michigan Wolverines (Last Week: 4)
Michigan just assaulted Penn State with a deadly weapon in front of thousands of witnesses, which is a felony in most cases. The weapon in question? A two-headed battering ram: RBs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Both butchered the competition for 160+ yards and two TDs each.
QB J.J. McCarthy had just 145 passing yards, zero TDs, and an interception in a 41-17 win over a top-10 team! The defense should scare every opponent as they crow about their 247 total yards and 11.3 points allowed per game (both fifth in the nation).
4. Tennessee Volunteers (Last Week: 8)
Tennessee is Them. Jalin Hyatt is Him. Say what you will, but the Vols are legit. Their win over Alabama wasn’t perfect, and it required the Crimson Tide pulling a Cheddar Bob and shooting themselves in the leg — a lot. But you can’t take away from the 52-49 goalpost-toppling victory.
Star WR Cedric Tillman was out, as were two starting DBs who are likely done for the season. And yet, Hendon Hooker and Co. put on an absolute show. They scored a touchdown on 7 of 12 drives, with Hyatt exploding for 207 yards and five scores on SIX catches.
5. Clemson Tigers (Last Week: 6)
The final score (34-28) reads much closer than the actual game. After roaring to a 34-14 lead, Clemson took their foot off the gas with the contest largely secured.
MORE: Week 7 CFB Team of the Week
The Tigers have a home date with undefeated Syracuse next week. But if they can leave unscathed, they face little resistance to end the season 12-0.
6. Alabama Crimson Tide (Last Week: 1)
17. That’s the number of penalties Alabama committed vs. Tennessee — the most in program history. Nick Saban will likely have a Herman Boone-esque speech for his squad:
“We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football, and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts, and then you will run a mile.”
Hind parts aside, as long as Bryce Young is under center and Will Anderson Jr. is rushing off the edge, Alabama has a chance at a national title.
7. Ole Miss Rebels (Last Week: 8)
Want to watch a running back rush for 100+ yards on an SEC defense? How about a true freshman RB? Oh, I know, a QB! If all three tickle your fancy, just turn on Ole Miss vs. Auburn as Zach Evans (21-136-1), Quinshon Judkins (25-139-2), and Jaxson Dart (14-115) ran roughshod over the Tigers. You only need 130 yards passing with that production on the ground.
8. TCU Horned Frogs (Last Week: 11)
Last week, I said TCU was for real, and they proved me right in Week 7. Despite going down 30-13 heading into the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs outlasted the Cowboys 43-40 after two overtimes.
Kendre Miller has rushed for at least one TD in every game this season, and Quentin Johnston continued his breakout, hauling eight catches for 180 yards and a score.
9. UCLA Bruins (Last Week: 10)
UCLA just saw USC fall to Utah, so they have to be a tad nervous about their battle for Pac-12 supremacy against Oregon. Both teams are rested, coming off byes, and should be well-prepared for their noon PT outing.
10. Syracuse Orange (Last Week: 19)
With Devin Leary out for the season with a torn pectoral, it wasn’t shocking that Syracuse knocked off NC State. Oronde Gadsden II was the aerial attack, catching eight passes for 141 yards and two TDs. Sean Tucker should also be pleased with his performance, as he took 14 carries for 98 yards and a score.
And the defense? Underrated. They’ve allowed over 10 points (max of 29) in the same amount of games that they’ve allowed less than 10 this year (three). NC State had the ball for 35 minutes, 10 more than the Orange, yet scored just nine points and generated 140 fewer total yards of offense (389 to 255).
11. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Last Week: 14)
Wake Forest was on a bye but move up three spots. They don’t face a top 25 opponent until Weeks 11 (UNC) and 12 (Syracuse), but the Deacs can’t become complacent if they want a shot at Clemson for the ACC title.
12. Oklahoma State Cowboys (Last Week: 7)
It’s hard to drop Oklahoma State any further than five spots. They lost in double overtime to a loaded TCU program. Still, the Cowboys got up early and couldn’t hold the lead.
The offense stalled on far too many drives, going 6 of 17 on third down. Spencer Sanders’ arm proved to be the team’s detriment, as he completed just 44% of his passes at 6.8 yards per clip.
13. USC Trojans (Last Week: 5)
Caleb Williams would likely be the QB of the Week had his defense made just one more stop Saturday night. The budding passer passed for 381 yards and five TDs against a stout Utah defense.
Nevertheless, it was all for not, as USC fell to the Utes and the Pac-12’s cannibalistic nature. UCLA is likely the conference’s only hope of a playoff berth.
14. North Carolina Tar Heels (Last Week: 15)
Drake Maye, a redshirt freshman, has hit 300+ passing yards in four straight games. He has 21 TDs and just three INTs on the season.
He’s led North Carolina to 35+ points in all but one game (a 27-24 win over Miami). If he keeps up this pace, he will have the QB1 mantle for the 2024 draft practically locked up by the end of the year
15. Penn State Nittany Lions (Last Week: 10)
I’m not sure how many picked Penn State to upset Michigan, but I sure as heck wasn’t one of them. So I can’t knock them too far down in our college football power rankings, even after their loss.
I mean, it was only 16-14 at halftime. Regardless, the Nittany Lions are capped by Sean Clifford at QB, and it will be difficult for them to play catchup against any formidable team.
16. Kansas State Wildcats (Last Week: 19)
Kansas State is fresh off a bye week and facing a murder’s row at TCU, vs. Oklahoma State, and vs. Texas. If they survive that gauntlet with one loss, they will still be ranked in the top 25. If not, this will likely be the highest we see the Wildcats this season.
17. Illinois Fighting Illini (Last Week: 23)
If you needed any more confirmation that Illinois was good at football, you got it Saturday. The Fighting Illini held Minnesota to … checks notes … 38 passing yards, zero TDs, and three INTs.
It doesn’t get much better than that. Illinois’ schedule is rather light until they pay the “Big House” a visit on November 19.
18. Oregon Ducks (Last Week: 21)
Oregon suffered an embarrassing loss to Georgia in the season opener. But since then, they’ve outscored opponents 249 to 124.
Although the defense hasn’t quite reached the heights set by their talent and the hiring of ex-Georgia DC Dan Lanning as head coach, the offense has more than carried the load.
However, both facets will need to be on their A-game as the Ducks host 5-0 UCLA in Week 8.
19. Utah Utes (Last Week: Unranked)
Welcome back, Utah! Their only losses have come at the hands of Florida and the previously mentioned undefeated Bruins. And the Utes added a massive win to their résumé following their 43-42 stunning victory over USC.
MORE: Week 7 College Football Players of the Week
With 48 seconds remaining, Cameron Rising punched in the touchdown. But instead of tying the game with a chipshot PAT, Utah went for the eventual game-sealing two-point conversation.
It was a gutsy call but one that winners make. And this Utah team is full of winners.
20. Kentucky Wildcats (Last Week: Unranked)
Chris Rodriguez Jr. made his season debut on October 1. All he’s done since is rush 71 times for 394 yards and three TDs. Only adding some smog and the Michael Myers theme song could make his presence more frightening on the field.
Will Levis is pushing the ball downfield, and Kentucky’s defense is on fire. Against Mississippi State in Week 7, they held the Bulldogs to 3 of 11 on third down and 22 rushing yards on the day.
21. Texas Longhorns (Last Week: Unranked)
TEXAS IS BACK … in our top 25 college football power rankings, at least. Quinn Ewers. Bijan Robinson. Xavier Worthy. That’s as big a big three you can find in college football.
The offensive line and defense need some work. Yet, with those three on offense and Steve Sarkisian calling plays, the Longhorns are going to score.
22. LSU Tigers (Last Week: Unranked)
Jayden Daniels has passed for 300+ yards in back-to-back weeks. He hadn’t thrown for 300 yards since his true freshman season in 2019. I don’t know if it’s a trend, but the mere fact he has tapped into his passing ability is a huge plus for LSU.
The Tigers held off a talented Florida team 45-35, with WR Kayshon Boutte (6-122) even making an appearance worthy of his offseason draft hype.
23. Purdue Boilermakers (Last Week: Unranked)
If there is one thing Purdue can do, it’s put up points. QB Aidan O’Connell and WR Charlie Jones are simply an unfair pairing. Jones torched Nebraska for 132 yards and two TDs on 12 catches, marking his fourth game with 130+ yards this year.
The defense leaves much to be desired, but as long as that passing duo is firing on all cylinders, they’ll have a puncher’s chance at any opponent.
24. Tulane Green Wave (Last Week: Unranked)
From 2-10 last season to 6-1 to start this year, Tulane is putting the country on notice. QB Michael Pratt is having a career season, and his receivers are benefitting. All three of the Green Wave’s top WRs are averaging 16+ yards per reception.
Larry Brooks and Macon Clark are one of the best safety duos in the nation, and true sophomore CB Jadon Canady shouldn’t be tested.
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (Last Week: Unranked)
Since losing to Arkansas to start the year, Cincinnati has run off five straight victories. Tyler Scott is a deadly receiver, and Charles McClelland is averaging 6.6 yards per carry on the ground.
The Bearcats face SMU and UCF over the next two weeks. Can this offense keep pace?
Teams on the Outside Looking In
- UCF Knights
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Washington Huskies
- James Madison Dukes