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AP College Football Poll 2024: Week 8 Rankings Revealed for Top 25 Teams | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors
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AP College Football Poll 2024: Week 8 Rankings Revealed for Top 25 Teams | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

EUGENE, OR - OCTOBER 12: Oregon Ducks wide receiver Tez Johnson (15) celebrates a touchdown by Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart (7) in the second quarter during a college football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks on October 12, 2024, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Brian Murphy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Oregon moved to No. 2 in the new Associated Press Top 25 poll thanks to its dramatic 32-31 win over Ohio State on Saturday night.

The Ducks were unable to overtake Texas for the top spot after the Longhorns were dominant in a 34-3 victory over Oklahoma in the latest installment of the Red River Rivalry. Suffering its first loss, OSU dropped to No. 4 in the rankings.

All eyes were on Eugene, Oregon in prime time, and the battle between the top five teams did not disappoint. The lead never exceeded eight points and the match continued until the final seconds.

Atticus Sappington’s 19-yard field goal put Oregon ahead by a point with 1:47 left in the fourth quarter, which was more than enough for Ohio State’s high-powered offense to at least get into position for a go-ahead field goal.

Self-inflicted wounds, however, doomed the Buckeyes’ comeback bid.

Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was flagged for offensive pass interference, moving OSU from Oregon’s 28-yard line to the 43-yard line. Ohio State’s players also didn’t seem to know the clock would start after the officials resumed play, draining some valuable time. Losing those seconds proved costly as quarterback Will Howard couldn’t slide down on a 12-yard scramble before the clock expired.

β€œIt sucks,” Howard said to sum up the ending Columbus Shippingby Joey Kaufman. “You don’t want to lose a game like that. I don’t know what we could have done better. I could have come down earlier and given us a chance with a longer kick. We have to go back and see and make sure this doesn’t happen again happens.”

There wasn’t much drama as Texas and Oklahoma headed to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. A 21-point second quarter from the Longhorns took care of that.

The Sooners led 3-0 after the opening frame. Some fans even wondered if Arch Manning would see the field after Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw an interception on the opening drive and had an overall slow start.

But a seven-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to tight end Gunnar Helm capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive for the Longhorns’ first points, and they never looked back from there.

Ewers went 20 of 29 for 199 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while running back Quintrevion Wisner went for 118 yards and a score on the ground. Texas’ defense also held OU to just 239 yards.

Sooners head coach Brent Venables doesn’t seem to have an answer about trading Jackson Arnold for Michael Hawkins Jr. has done little to change things.

Matt Hinton @MattRHinton

Oklahoma’s move from Riley to Venables is more proof that a defensive team without offense is always far more depressing than an offensive team without defense

Offense wasn’t the problem for Ole Miss as the Rebels failed to deliver a knockout blow to LSU on the road. Lane Kiffin’s squad found a way to lose despite never once trailing in regulation.

Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was not a model of efficiency, finishing 22 of 51 for 337 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. However, his last two completions are the one that everyone will remember.

On 4th-and-5 with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he hit receiver Aaron Anderson for a 23-yard touchdown pass. His next throw went to Kyren Lacy as the senior wideout found the end zone for the win in overtime.

Elsewhere around the country, Penn State, Alabama and Tennessee all rejected upset bids, with the Nittany Lions and Volunteers needing overtime.

In the case of the Crimson Tide, a narrow 27-25 win over South Carolina was probably as bad as a loss in the eyes of some fans who have come to expect such a high standard after the Nick Saban era.

The Gamecocks led by five points heading into the fourth quarter before Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe contributed a pair of touchdowns to give the Tide the lead.

Kalen DeBoer pulled off a second straight upset against an unranked team after South Carolina scored in the final minute but failed to convert its two-point attempt.

DeBoer knew the challenge he inherited by succeeding Saban. However, he might have expected his honeymoon phase to last a little longer.

Tennessee is ahead of Alabama in Week 8, the first of three games for the Crimson Tide against Top 25 foes.

Considering how much the Vols offense has fallen back down to earth after starting SEC play, this could be a prime opportunity for DeBoer to reassure the fanbase with another signature win.

That’s one of two colossal games in the SEC as Georgia heads on the road to play Texas in Austin. This is pretty close to a must-win situation for the Bulldogs in a College Football Playoff, as they could struggle to maintain a position in the top 12 the rest of the way as a two-loss team.