College football rankings: Week 8, 2022

By Kevin Kelley -

College football rankings for week 8 of the 2022 season have been released, which features a new team in the top five.

The Tennessee Volunteers (7-0) moved up three spots to No. 3 in the AP Poll and four spots to No. 4 in the Coaches Poll after defeating the No. 2/No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide 52-49. The Volunteers ended a 15-game losing streak to the Tide and head coach Nick Saban.

As a result of the defeat, Alabama (6-1) dropped three spots in the AP Poll to No. 6 and five spots in the Coaches Poll to No. 6.

The 7-0 Georgia Bulldogs, already the top-ranked team in the AP poll, reclaimed the top spot in the Coaches Poll after Alabama’s loss. Georgia defeated Vanderbilt at home on Saturday, 55-0.

Ohio State is ranked second in the AP and Coaches polls, while Michigan is fourth and third and Clemson is fifth and fifth, respectively.

Illinois (6-1) leapt six notches in the AP Poll to No. 18 after a 26-14 home win over Minnesota. The Fighting Illini also entered the Coaches Poll at No. 20.

Kansas fell out of both polls, while James Madison fell out of the AP Poll and Baylor dropped from the Coaches Polls following losses on Saturday.

Below are the full AP and FBS Coaches polls for Week 8 of the 2022 season (first-place votes in parentheses):

AP Poll – Week 8

1. Georgia (31)
2. Ohio State (17)
3. Tennessee (15)
4. Michigan
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. Ole Miss
8. TCU
9. UCLA
10. Oregon
11. Oklahoma State
12. USC
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. Utah
16. Penn State
17. Kansas State
18. Illinois
19. Kentucky
20. Texas
21. Cincinnati
22. North Carolina
23. NC State
24. Mississippi State
25. Tulane

Others receiving votes: Purdue 95, LSU 87, South Carolina 13, UCF 13, Kansas 12, James Madison 6, Oregon State 6, Maryland 5, South Alabama 4, Liberty 2, Minnesota 1, Florida State 1, Arkansas 1

Dropped from rankings: Kansas 19, James Madison 25

FBS COACHES POLL – WEEK 8

1. Georgia (43)
2. Ohio State (17)
3. Michigan (1)
4. Tennessee (2)
5. Clemson
6. Alabama
7. Ole Miss
8. TCU
9. Oregon
10. UCLA
11. Oklahoma State
12. USC
13. Wake Forest
14. Syracuse
15. Utah
16. Penn State
17. Kansas State
18. Kentucky
19. Cincinnati
20. Illinois
21. Texas
22. North Carolina
23. NC State
24. Mississippi State
25. Tulane

Others receiving votes: LSU 51, UCF 33, Kansas 30, South Carolina 24, Purdue 23, Maryland 15, Liberty 12, Washington 9, Baylor 7, Coastal Carolina 5, Pittsburgh 4, Arkansas 3, South Alabama 3, UTSA 1

Dropped from rankings: Kansas 20, Baylor 23

Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – Week 8

1. South Dakota State
2. Sacramento State
3. Montana State
4. North Dakota State
5. Weber State
6. Holky Cross
7. Montana State
8. UIW
9. Jackson State
10. Chattanooga
11. Mercer
12. William & Mary
13. Delaware
14. Southern Illinois
15. Samford
16. Southeast Missouri
17. Idaho
18. UT Martin
19. Richmond
20. North Dakota
21. Elon
22. Rhode Island
23. Fordham
24. Austin Peay
25. New Hampshire

Others receiving votes (schools listed on two or more ballots): Villanova 74, Furman 52, Southeastern Louisiana 43, Stephen F. Austin 36, Princeton 20, Campbell 19, Missouri State 18, NC Central 13, Illinois State 12, Eastern Kentucky 11, Abilene Christian 9

Dropped from rankings: Villanova 17, Eastern Kentucky 23, Southeastern Louisiana 25 (tie)

FCS Coaches Poll – Week 8

1. South Dakota State (26)
2. Montana State
3. Sacramento State (1)
4. North Dakota State
5. Weber State
6. Jackson State
7. Montana
8. Chattanooga
9. Holy Cross
10. UIW
11. Mercer
12. Delaware
13. William & Mary
14. UT Martin
15. Samford
16. Fordham
17. Southern Illinois
18. Southeast Missouri
19. Rhode Island
20. Stephen F. Austin
21. Richmond
22. Austin Peay
23. Princeton
24. Idaho
25. Elon

Others receiving votes: NC Central 48, Furman 39, Villanova 31, North Dakota 23, New Hampshire 18, Pennsylvania 14, Florida A&M 11, Abilene Christian 10, St. Thomas 7, Merrimack 5, Eastern Kentucky 4, Illinois State 2, Campbell 1, Hampton 1, Stetson 1

Dropped from rankings: Villanova 16

Comment (1)