Week 8 of the 2025 college football season highlighted the pervasive parity across the sport, with several top-ranked teams falling to unranked opponents and reinforcing doubts about consistency. ESPN analyst Bill Connelly’s analysis identifies programs like Ohio State and Indiana as trustworthy due to their elite performances, while the entire ACC and Texas’ offense remain questionable amid ongoing inconsistencies.
The weekend was marked by chaos, as four ranked-versus-ranked games were overshadowed by unexpected upsets. No. 2 Miami lost as a heavy home favorite to an unranked team, while No. 7 Texas Tech, No. 22 Memphis, and No. 25 Nebraska also fell to unheralded squads. This trend underscores a season where traditional powerhouses appear less dominant, and the gap between elite and middle-tier teams has narrowed significantly, creating an unpredictable and thrilling landscape for fans.
Ohio State emerges as a team to trust, despite occasional conservative play that has frustrated analysts. The Buckeyes’ defense is arguably the best in the country, and in their win over Wisconsin, quarterback Julian Sayin demonstrated his potential by completing 36 of 42 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns, distributing the ball to 10 different receivers. While the run game lacks explosiveness, the passing offense’s capability, combined with a defense that allowed just 144 total yards, positions Ohio State as the nation’s top team, focused on peaking in December rather than October.
Indiana has solidified its status as an elite and trustworthy program, continuing an impressive rise. In a 38-13 victory over Michigan State, quarterback Fernando Mendoza was nearly flawless, going 24-for-28 for 332 yards and four touchdowns, with stars Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt combining for 12 catches and 185 yards. The Hoosiers’ defense, though allowing more drives into their territory than usual, has not given up more than 20 points in any game this season, making them a strong contender for the Big Ten championship game against Ohio State.
In contrast, the entire ACC cannot be trusted after a week of stunning upsets that reshaped conference title odds. Louisville beat Miami as a 10.5-point underdog, SMU won at Clemson amid quarterback injuries, and Georgia Tech upset Duke with a key 95-yard fumble return. Only Pitt’s win over Syracuse and Boston College’s loss to UConn followed expectations, highlighting the league’s unpredictability. SP+ projections now show Georgia Tech with the highest title odds at 26.9%, but close races with Louisville, Miami, and others suggest more twists ahead, echoing the chaos of the former Coastal Division.
Alabama’s Ty Simpson has become a reliable force, leading the Tide to four consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Since a baffling Week 1 loss to Florida State, Simpson ranks seventh in Total QBR with a 74% completion rate, a 16-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio, and a 52% success rate on critical downs. The defense, while middling in yards allowed, excels in the red zone, holding opponents to touchdowns on just half of their trips and contributing to a 37-20 win over Tennessee that bolstered Alabama’s SEC title hopes.
Georgia’s toughness is commendable and trustworthy, as the Bulldogs have repeatedly rallied from deficits to secure victories. After spotting Ole Miss a nine-point lead in the third quarter, Georgia locked down the Rebels’ offense, outscoring them 17-0 in the fourth quarter for a 43-35 win. This resilience, seen also in comebacks against Auburn and Tennessee, demonstrates Kirby Smart’s team’s ability to adapt under pressure, keeping them in contention for another SEC championship game appearance despite defensive metrics that lag behind historical standards.
Texas’ offense, however, cannot be trusted, casting doubt on the Longhorns’ playoff aspirations. Quarterback Arch Manning has struggled with footwork and accuracy, and the offense ranks 74th in yards per play and 101st in success rate. In a 16-13 overtime win over Kentucky, Manning completed only 8 of his first 25 passes, and the running backs averaged 3.3 yards per carry, relying on a stellar defense and opponent errors to survive. With upcoming games against top defenses, Texas must improve offensively to avoid losses that could derail their season.
Notre Dame is playing like a top-five team and deserves trust, even if their playoff chances are slim due to a lack of résumé-building wins. The Irish have overachieved against SP+ projections in their last five games by an average of 14.9 points, thanks to a high-end offense and stout defense. In a win over USC, running back Jeremiyah Love broke out with 228 rushing yards, and the special teams contributed an 87-yard kick return touchdown, showcasing the team’s depth and consistency despite early losses to Miami and Texas A&M by a combined four points.