Week 8 features some more movers, along with some early season Next 25 candidates knocking on the door at long last. Can they make the final push in to the polls?
Penn State (168) - Amazing what not playing games does for you in the polls! Should Nolie actually win a game he should be a shoe in for a spot in the Top 25. Will need to be wary of Purdue however, they aren't considered a sleeper team for nothing!
Top 25 potential: High
Mississippi State (152) - Bearass is still chugging along, and seems to have the notice of the coaches finally. Depending on how bad he gets curb stomped by Bama, will determine whether or not he makes the polls. Either way the easy part of his season is over and he'll have to stay competitive by sneaking up on unsuspecting SEC rivals.
Top 25 potential: Likely
Washington State (111) - Coach Coug is in line for a very successful season finish. With 4 winnable games left on the schedule, and the potential to get two ranked wins. WSU controls their own destiny in the polls and is still very much in contention for a shot at the title game with some help.
Top 25 Potential: High
North Carolina (106) - The loss to Pimpin was expected unfortunately, and the coaches don't seem to mind it either. The question is how will Oracle handle #13 Arky? A win there could easily propel them in to the top 25. Most of the remaining games are winnable, and we should see UNC break the Top 25 in the coming weeks.
Top 25 Potential: High
Kansas State (76) - Champ and the Wildcats are going to have to win out at this rate to get in, but the Coaches have their eye on them. The path won't be easy, with tough matchups against TTU & WVU followed by #6 TCU, it's make or break time for K-State.
Top 25 potential: Probable
Louisville (65) - Louisville has all the makings of a ranked team, except the completed games. They were handcuffed in the first block with an unplayed game and a bye and haven't recovered. Should they continue to get games in I see no reason for the Cards to not make the top 25, unless those games don't get played until a tough final block opens up.
Top 25 Probability: Likely
Brigham Young (59) - BYU started out hot, but 3 recent losses (notably Cincy & Utah St.), have the Cougars trending down. ICE has the potential to bounce these boys back, but the next 3 games are all tough matchups, and we may not see these boys back in the Top 25 this year.
Top 25 Probability: Not Likely
Troy (55) - Trying to predict where a Sun Belt team will go in the back half of the season is next to impossible, as the conference is notorious for rage quitters and sim games. Troy could end up with an excellent record by virtue of sim wins, but that may not get them in to the polls, not to mention, they still have FIU to deal with.
Top 25 probability: Not Likely
Oregon State (30) - Despite the rude awakening Kdog and the Beavers have received as of late, some coaches still have faith. This one doesn't however, as 5 losses make it next to impossible to get in to the top 25.
Top 25 probability: Ain't Happenin'
Georgia Tech (28) - The sample size of the Yellow Jackets work is just too small to gauge any direction, and they may be getting attention simply because they sit right behind Pimpin'. Either way, can't make the polls if you don't actually play...
Top 25 Probability: Doubtful
West Virginia (28) - Suddenly that Texas loss is looking a lot worse than it did earlier in the season, but with a Win over TCU in the books, that could get the coaches attention, again provided Talented can get those games in! Pretty sure he's good for it.
Top 25 Probability:High
Houston (25) - Houston is guaranteed to be bowl eligible with 2 coachless teams on their schedule. The block with E. Carolina and Tulsa will be the defining sway of the Cougars' season and potential to be ranked.
Top 25 Probability: Probable
Florida State (20) - With Pimpin and Daw on the horizon, getting in to the ranks will be no easy feat. If they can somehow shake off either VT or Florida, the Noles will have a legit shot at the ranks. Big "if" though.
Top 25 Probability: Probable
Mississippi (14) - Our other candidate for the "Rude Awakening" award, Thabs and the Rebels are at a 5 game losing streak. If they don't turn it around soon, we'll seeing them on the other side of the ESPN archives. They can put an end to that talk with a Win over Vandy.
Top 25 Probability: Ain't Happenin'
Utah State (10) - Beat Utah? Check. Beat BYU? Check. Leader of the WAC? Check. With Nevada taking a loss finally, and Boise taking a loss, we could use another BCS buster candidate to fill the ranks. All 4 remaining games are winnable (hell, one's a freebie). We could see a 10 win Utah St. team, which may be enough to sneak in to the Top 25. I like their chances.
Top 25 Probability: Likely
Texas A&M (6) - A recent forfeit by The Aggies pretty much puts Quest out of contention for a top spot this year, and potentially out of a job.
Top 25 Probability: Ain't Happenin'
Texas (5) - Don't think anyone saw Toledo coming, Texas included. That just murdered any hope for recovery for the Longhorns, could a change be coming?
Top 25 Probability: Ain't Happenin'
Texas State (4) - Texas St is making some noise with Coach Sinacol, but 3 losses in a non BCS conference isn't a good look.
Top 25 Probability: Longshot
Arizona (3) - The wildcats day (or block) of reckoning is upon them. With games against USC & UCLA, it's make or break time for Zona if they want to make a run at the Pac 12 Champ game.
Top 25 Probability: Toss up
Pittsburgh (1) - Going to assume this was a mercy vote. Or someone was doing drop down voting and wanted to vote Penn St.
Top 25 Probability: Ain't Happenin'
Minnesota (1) - These guys could bounce back, but I don't see it happening. They may not be able to recover from a mercy rule goose egg against Wisky.
Top 25 Probability: Doubtful
Virginia (1) - Probably aiming for VT here...
Probability: Ain't happenin'
South Florida (1) - AJ got his lone remaining tough game out the way, and could run the table and go 9-3. If that doesn't happen he's not making it in.
Top 25 Probability: Toss up
Buffalo (1) - Somebody has faith in Buffalo (and it's not Trendon). I mean, they do only have 2 losses technically. Don't see them morphing in to a BCS buster before season's end though.
Top 25 Probability: Doubtful
UAB (1) - Perhaps an errored vote in favor of Tulsa? Yeah... Lets go with that.
Top 25 Probability: Ain't Happenin' 
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