Dude, Miami is already sitting at the top spot in the AP poll, and honestly, even I didn’t see that coming this fast. As one CBS Sports voter who had them at No. 1 pre-season, I can tell you they blew past my expectations by weeks. We’re in Week 8, and they’re one of only six teams left in the entire country with an undefeated record. Talk about a wild year of parity, right?
The Top Contenders: Miami’s Climb and Georgia’s Stubbornness
Okay, let’s talk about the real championship contenders, the ones who’ve already shown that ceiling against quality opponents. You’ve got your Georgia Bulldogs, sitting at 6-1. Yeah, they took a loss at home to Auburn, and Gunner Stockton throwing three turnovers was definitely the reason. But honestly, Coach Kirby Smart said it himself, he felt Georgia beat itself, and it’s hard to argue with that. Are we worried? Nah. They’re still the favorite in the SEC and should absolutely be a top-4 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Then there’s Miami, our Hurricanes at a perfect 6-0. For them, it’s all about survival now. They’re projected to be the Power Four’s *only* unbeaten squad on Selection Sunday and snatch that No. 1 seed for the CFP. Their November 7th game against Notre Dame? Not even a must-win to get there, though it would pretty much lock them into a top-4 seed and an opening-round bye. Can they actually pull off being the last unbeaten standing? I’m telling you, it feels like it.
Close Calls and Rising Stars: Notre Dame’s Fight and BYU’s Big Win
Don’t sleep on Notre Dame either, even with their 6-1 record. They went on the road against a top-10 team in BYU and got into a dogfight. They were down 21-10 at halftime, battled back to take a three-point lead in the fourth quarter, and then BYU snatched it back with a game-winning drive. Seriously, the Fighting Irish are literally one better-executed goal-line play away from being undefeated and the No. 1 team in the AP poll right now. Dismissing them after one hiccup? That’d be dumb.
And speaking of BYU, wow! These Cougars are one of the three undefeated teams left in the Big 12, and their win over Notre Dame just launched them into the spotlight. That victory against a top-10 opponent? It looked personal for Bear Bachmeier and the whole squad, controversial ending or not. They earned that one, big time.
So what’s next? For Notre Dame, that huge matchup against Miami in a couple of weeks is everything. A loss there completely changes their CFP outlook, big time. For Miami, it’s just about keeping that perfect record alive and proving they’re the real deal. Week 8 is wild, and the road to the Playoff is getting clearer, but far from settled.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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