The Miami Hurricanes are still locked in at No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after absolutely demolishing the Pitt Panthers 52-23. Talk about making a statement! They’re showing everyone why they’re the team to beat in college football right now.
The ACC’s Wild Climb
While the 2026 college football season has been pure chaos, Week 8 actually saw a bit of calm in the ACC, and some teams took full advantage. The SMU Mustangs exploded against the California Golden Bears, crushing them 59-20. That huge win launched SMU four spots up to No. 16. But get this, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons also climbed four spots, landing at No. 15, even though they were on a bye week! That’s some serious respect from the coaches. These three, Miami, Wake Forest, and SMU, are the only ACC squads to crack the top 25, though the Virginia Tech Hokies and Duke Blue Devils both pulled in some votes, showing the conference is deeper than just the ranked teams.
Gators Rising, Ducks Falling
It wasn’t just the ACC making moves. The Florida Gators also jumped up four spots to No. 20, fresh off their own bye week. This is a massive deal, especially for the FSU Seminoles, because the Gators are the *only* ranked opponent FSU is scheduled to play in their final five games. That matchup could be huge for the rest of the season. On the flip side, things weren’t so great for the Oregon Ducks, who dropped completely out of the No. 25 spot after this wild week.
The polls are getting clearer at the top with Miami holding strong, but the rest of the season is still wide open. With FSU’s path ahead, that Florida game is going to be a must-watch. You know we’ll be glued to every snap, because this season is far from over!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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