Clemson seizes No. 1 spot in college football Power Rankings after Week 8

Utah took over No. 1 in the Power Rankings after Week 4 and has held on to the spot since then—until now. The Utes’ 42–24 loss to USC makes way for a new top team, the Clemson Tigers.

One week before the College Football Playoff selection committee releases its first rankings, Clemson looks most worthy of a playoff spot. And with only one regular season game left against a ranked opponent, the Tigers may have the best shot of earning a semifinal berth of any team in the country. Clemson has dodged debilitating injuries, scored a key victory over Notre Dame on Oct. 3 and has blown out the teams it should blow out.

Three other teams have earned the top spot in the Power Rankings this season. The pressure is now on the Tigers to make their reign last.

• NADKARNI: Three thoughts on AP poll after Week 8 | Complete AP Top 25

1. Clemson Tigers

PREVIOUS: 2

RECORD: 7-0

Next week: Saturday at North Carolina State

2. LSU Tigers

PREVIOUS: 4

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat Western Kentucky 48–20 Next week: Bye week

3. Baylor Bears

PREVIOUS: 3

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat Iowa State 45–27 Next week: Bye week

4. Alabama Crimson Tide

PREVIOUS: 5

RECORD: 7-1

Last week: Beat Tennessee 19–14 Next week: Bye week

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

PREVIOUS: 7

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Rutgers 49–7 Next week: Bye week • BECHT: Three biggest takeaways from Week 8

6. TCU Horned Frogs

PREVIOUS: 6

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Thursday vs. West Virginia

7. Michigan State Spartans

PREVIOUS: 8

RECORD: 8-0

Last week: Beat Indiana 52–26 Next week: Bye week

8. Florida Gators

PREVIOUS: 9

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. Georgia (in Jacksonville, Fla.)

9. Iowa Hawkeyes

PREVIOUS: 10

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday vs. Maryland

10. Utah Utes

PREVIOUS: 1

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Lost to USC 42–24 Next week: Saturday vs. Oregon State • ESTES: USC shakes up Pac-12 with Utah upset

11. Stanford Cardinal

PREVIOUS: 13

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Beat Washington 31–14 Next week: Saturday at Washington State

12. Memphis Tigers

PREVIOUS: 17

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat Tulsa 66–42 Next week: Saturday vs. Tulane

13. Oklahoma State Cowboys

PREVIOUS: 11

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat Kansas 58-10 Next week: Saturday at Texas Tech

14. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

PREVIOUS: 14

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday at Temple

15. Michigan Wolverines

PREVIOUS: 16

RECORD: 5-2

Last week: Bye week Next week: Saturday at Minnesota • NADKARNI: Michigan at No. 15 in AP poll

16. Ole Miss Rebels

PREVIOUS: 25

RECORD: 6-2

Last week: Beat Texas A&M 23-3 Next week: Saturdy at Auburn

17. Oklahoma Sooners

PREVIOUS: 18

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Beat Texas Tech 63-27 Next week: Saturday at Kansas

18. Houston Cougars

PREVIOUS: 19

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat UCF 59-10 Next week: Saturday vs. Vanderbilt

19. Pittsburgh Panthers

PREVIOUS: 21

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Beat Syracuse 23-20 Next week: Thursday vs. North Carolina

20. Toledo Rockets

PREVIOUS: 22

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat UMass 51-35 Next week: Bye week • THAMEL: Analyzing the coaching carousel

21. Duke Blue Devils

PREVIOUS: 23

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Beat Virginia Tech 45-43 Next week: Saturday vs. Miami

22. Florida State Seminoles

PREVIOUS: 12

RECORD: 6-1

Last week: Lost to Georgia Tech 22-16 Next week: Saturday vs. Syracuse

23. Temple Owls

PREVIOUS: 24

RECORD: 7-0

Last week: Beat East Carolina 24-14 Next week: Saturday vs. Notre Dame

24. Northwestern Wildcats

RECORD: 6-2

Last week: Beat Nebraska 30-28 Next week: Bye week

25. Texas A&M Aggies

PREVIOUS: 15

RECORD: 5-2

Last week: Lost to Ole Miss 23-3 Next week: Saturday vs. South Carolina

Dropped out: Cal
Next five: North Carolina, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, UCLA, BYU