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Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier throws a pass as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

College football power rankings: LSU crashes top 10 following stunning win over Ole Miss

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 10/14/24

LSU survived its potential College Football Playoff elimination game against Ole Miss on Saturday, winning 29-26 in overtime despite never leading in regulation.

History won’t necessarily remember how the Tigers won; only that it did. At 5-1 and with a marquee win on its resume, LSU’s done enough to crack our top 10, ahead of other one-loss teams, including Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M and Boise State.

Below, find out where the Tigers land as we share our college football power rankings for Week 8.

1. Texas (6-0, 2-0 in SEC)

Week 7: W 34-3 (vs. Oklahoma) | Last Week: 1 (=)

The Longhorns trampled the Sooners ahead of their clash with Georgia on Saturday night. Quarterback Quinn Ewers was rusty early — he gained 10 yards and threw an interception on seven first-quarter dropbacks — but had a largely stress-free return to the starting lineup thanks to Texas’ stifling defense, which held Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. to 148 passing yards and allowed only 2.3 yards per attempt on 39 Oklahoma carries.

Next: vs. Georgia (7:30 p.m. | ABC)

2. Oregon (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten)

Week 7: W 32-31 (vs. Ohio State) | Last Week: 4 (+2)

The Ducks outlasted Ohio State in their first test this season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel was as poised as one would expect a sixth-year senior to be, going 23-of-34 for 341 yards (10 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns while adding 32 yards and a rushing touchdown on four carries.

Next: at Purdue (Friday, 8 p.m. | FOX)

3. Penn State (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten)

Week 7: W 33-30 OT (at USC) | Last Week: 3 (=)

Penn State showed remarkable resilience coming back from a 20-6 halftime deficit in a cross-country road game at USC. Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar threw for a career-high 391 yards, and tight end Tyler Warren tied a single-game FBS record for most receptions by a tight end (17), signaling Penn State might have an offense capable of leading the program to the Big Ten title game and beyond.

Next: at Wisconsin (Oct. 26)

4. Ohio State (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten)

Week 7: L 32-31 (at Oregon) | Last Week: 2 (-2)

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard was solid in his Big Ten road opener, going 28-of-35 for 326 yards (9.3 yards per attempt) and two touchdowns in the one-point loss. However, it was his poor situational awareness on the Buckeyes’ last play, when he scrambled and slid as the clock hit zero, that will be remembered the most should the loss keep them out of the Big Ten championship game.

Next: vs. Nebraska (Oct. 26)

5. Miami (6-0, 2-0 in ACC)

Week 7: Idle | Last Week: 5 (=)

Oct 5, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward rushes for a touchdown /across the/ during the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Hurricanes survived close calls in their past two games before their Week 7 bye and have a tough road game against Louisville in Week 8. The Cardinals (4-2, 2-1 in ACC) won last year’s meeting in Miami, 38-31, and are 4-2 in their previous six meetings against the Hurricanes after going 0-10-1 in their first 11 games. (h/t Winsipedia)

Next: at Louisville (12 p.m. | ABC)

6. Georgia (5-1, 3-1 in SEC)

Week 7: W 41-31 (vs. Mississippi State) | Last Week: 8 (+2)

Quarterback Carson Beck threw for 459 yards against the Bulldogs, his second 400-yard game in his last three outings. He rebounded nicely from an opening-drive interception as Georgia kept Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3 in SEC) at arm’s length in the tune-up ahead of the program’s second massive SEC road game this season in Week 8 at Texas.

Next: at Texas (7:30 p.m. | ABC)

7. Iowa State (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12)

Week 7: W 28-16 (at West Virginia) | Last Week: 6 (-1)

The Cyclones’ secondary was the story on Saturday against the Mountaineers. Iowa State limited West Virginia senior quarterback Garrett Greene to 18-of-32 for 206 yards (6.4 yards per attempt), one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss.

Next: vs. UCF (7:30 p.m. | FS1)

8. BYU (6-0, 3-0 in Big 12)

Week 7: W 41-19 (vs. Arizona) | Last Week: 9 (+1)

The Cougars have exceeded expectations, already surpassing its over-under win total (4.5) set by oddsmakers during the preseason. BYU won in a blowout for the second time in its past three Big 12 games and plays Oklahoma State, which is winless in conference play, in Week 8.

Next: vs. Oklahoma State (Friday, 10:15 p.m. | ESPN)

9. Indiana (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten)

Week 7: Idle | Last Week: 7 (-2)

We’ll learn a lot about the Hoosiers’ validity as a College Football Playoff interloper this weekend against the Cornhuskers. Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten) is seventh in the country in scoring defense (11.3 points per game), and welcomes an Indiana offense averaging 47.5 points per game, the second most in the country.

Next: vs. Nebraska (12 p.m. | FOX)

10. LSU (5-1, 2-0 in SEC)

Week 7: W 29-26 OT (vs. Ole Miss) | Last Week: NR (NEW)

Linebacker Whit Weeks sacks quarterback Jaxson Dart as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA. Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Tigers won their fifth in a row and eighth consecutive against the Rebels in Death Valley. The maligned LSU defense had arguably its best game of the season; the unit — led by outstanding linebacker Whit Weeks, who had 18 tackles — was disruptive, credited with six sacks against Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and 13 havoc plays in the unlikely overtime win. (h/t Game On Paper)

Next: at Arkansas (7 p.m. | ESPN)

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