Week 8 is complete, and Miami stays atop my 2026 FBS power and Elo ratings while taking over the adjusted offense lead. Alabama, LSU, Kentucky and Georgia round out the power top five. Indiana remains the adjusted defense leader, and Kentucky keeps the top spot in wins above average.
This edition uses the Week 8 reports generated October 25 at 12:09 p.m. Eastern. Movement is compared with last week’s rankings.
FBS Power Ratings Top 25
Miami remains No. 1 at 141.438 after moving to 7–0, with 343 points scored and 107 allowed. Alabama climbs from fifth to second at 140.047, just 0.021 ahead of LSU. Kentucky rises from ninth to fourth, and Georgia moves from eighth to fifth.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | Power | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Miami (FL) |
7 | 0 | 0 | 343 | 107 | 141.438 | 126.401 |
| 2 |  Alabama |
6 | 2 | 0 | 306 | 170 | 140.047 | 134.649 |
| 3 |  LSU |
6 | 2 | 0 | 321 | 128 | 140.026 | 132.015 |
| 4 |  Kentucky |
7 | 1 | 0 | 263 | 198 | 139.856 | 132.870 |
| 5 |  Georgia |
6 | 1 | 0 | 301 | 111 | 139.759 | 127.974 |
| 6 |  Texas |
5 | 2 | 0 | 215 | 134 | 139.698 | 135.597 |
| 7 |  Ohio State |
6 | 1 | 0 | 275 | 94 | 139.503 | 129.229 |
| 8 |  Ole Miss |
5 | 2 | 0 | 252 | 177 | 138.800 | 132.995 |
| 9 |  UCLA |
7 | 0 | 0 | 241 | 107 | 138.685 | 128.782 |
| 10 |  Notre Dame |
6 | 1 | 0 | 288 | 94 | 138.505 | 129.759 |
| 11 |  Utah |
7 | 0 | 0 | 262 | 102 | 138.332 | 126.734 |
| 12 |  Tennessee |
6 | 2 | 0 | 258 | 130 | 138.230 | 129.371 |
| 13 |  Florida |
5 | 2 | 0 | 277 | 198 | 138.050 | 133.111 |
| 14 |  Indiana |
7 | 1 | 0 | 269 | 96 | 137.670 | 127.137 |
| 15 |  South Carolina |
4 | 3 | 0 | 253 | 177 | 137.448 | 131.110 |
| 16 |  BYU |
6 | 1 | 0 | 232 | 130 | 137.140 | 128.726 |
| 17 |  Wake Forest |
6 | 1 | 0 | 262 | 136 | 136.940 | 128.860 |
| 18 |  Mississippi State |
4 | 3 | 0 | 210 | 194 | 136.515 | 134.240 |
| 19 |  Missouri |
5 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 137 | 136.236 | 128.666 |
| 20 |  Oklahoma |
4 | 3 | 0 | 151 | 124 | 136.191 | 133.271 |
| 21 |  Arizona |
6 | 1 | 0 | 253 | 117 | 135.928 | 126.174 |
| 22 |  Auburn |
4 | 3 | 0 | 178 | 169 | 135.605 | 133.318 |
| 23 |  Houston |
6 | 2 | 0 | 288 | 168 | 134.620 | 128.186 |
| 24 |  Texas Tech |
6 | 1 | 0 | 251 | 143 | 134.477 | 126.243 |
| 25 |  Wisconsin |
5 | 2 | 0 | 189 | 107 | 134.142 | 127.932 |
Texas climbs from 12th to sixth, while UCLA moves from 11th to ninth at 7–0. Georgia and Ohio State improve their positions with unchanged records, a reminder that opponent-adjusted ratings can shift as results elsewhere reshape schedule strength.
FBS Elo Ratings Top 25
Miami also retains the Elo lead at 1710.293. LSU moves from fourth to second, Ohio State from ninth to third, Alabama from seventh to fourth, and Kentucky from tenth to fifth.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | ELO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) |
7 | 0 | 0 | 343 | 107 | 1710.293 |
| 2 | LSU |
6 | 2 | 0 | 321 | 128 | 1698.595 |
| 3 | Ohio State |
6 | 1 | 0 | 275 | 94 | 1698.274 |
| 4 | Alabama |
6 | 2 | 0 | 306 | 170 | 1697.595 |
| 5 | Kentucky |
7 | 1 | 0 | 263 | 198 | 1697.378 |
| 6 | Texas |
5 | 2 | 0 | 215 | 134 | 1697.251 |
| 7 | UCLA |
7 | 0 | 0 | 241 | 107 | 1696.087 |
| 8 | Georgia |
6 | 1 | 0 | 301 | 111 | 1695.626 |
| 9 | Notre Dame |
6 | 1 | 0 | 288 | 94 | 1694.562 |
| 10 | Ole Miss |
5 | 2 | 0 | 252 | 177 | 1692.273 |
| 11 | Utah |
7 | 0 | 0 | 262 | 102 | 1691.494 |
| 12 | Indiana |
7 | 1 | 0 | 269 | 96 | 1689.418 |
| 13 | Florida |
5 | 2 | 0 | 277 | 198 | 1687.684 |
| 14 | Tennessee |
6 | 2 | 0 | 258 | 130 | 1687.590 |
| 15 | BYU |
6 | 1 | 0 | 232 | 130 | 1686.944 |
| 16 | Wake Forest |
6 | 1 | 0 | 262 | 136 | 1686.208 |
| 17 | South Carolina |
4 | 3 | 0 | 253 | 177 | 1682.459 |
| 18 | Arizona |
6 | 1 | 0 | 253 | 117 | 1680.275 |
| 19 | Mississippi State |
4 | 3 | 0 | 210 | 194 | 1678.500 |
| 20 | Oklahoma |
4 | 3 | 0 | 151 | 124 | 1677.916 |
| 21 | Missouri |
5 | 2 | 0 | 218 | 137 | 1677.606 |
| 22 | Houston |
6 | 2 | 0 | 288 | 168 | 1674.023 |
| 23 | Auburn |
4 | 3 | 0 | 178 | 169 | 1673.199 |
| 24 | Texas Tech |
6 | 1 | 0 | 251 | 143 | 1673.077 |
| 25 | Wisconsin |
5 | 2 | 0 | 189 | 107 | 1671.460 |
Ohio State is third in Elo but seventh in power. UCLA is seventh in Elo and ninth in power, while Notre Dame sits ninth in Elo and tenth in power. The two systems agree on Miami but order its closest challengers differently.
FBS Adjusted Offense Top 25
Miami takes over the adjusted offense lead, rising from third to first at 19.372. Alabama is second at 15.771, followed by Notre Dame, Georgia and Ohio State. These are opponent-adjusted scoring values, rather than raw points per game.
| Rank | School | Offense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami (FL) |
19.372 |
| 2 | Alabama |
15.771 |
| 3 | Notre Dame |
15.537 |
| 4 | Georgia |
15.512 |
| 5 | Ohio State |
14.871 |
| 6 | LSU |
14.314 |
| 7 | Florida |
13.683 |
| 8 |  North Texas |
13.522 |
| 9 |  Boise State |
11.761 |
| 10 |  West Virginia |
11.467 |
| 11 |  Nebraska |
11.133 |
| 12 |  USC |
10.808 |
| 13 |  Oklahoma State |
10.517 |
| 14 |  Purdue |
10.372 |
| 15 | Ole Miss |
10.133 |
| 16 |  Louisville |
9.878 |
| 17 | South Carolina |
9.787 |
| 18 | Texas Tech |
9.311 |
| 19 |  Colorado State |
9.156 |
| 20 |  Florida State |
9.154 |
| 21 |  James Madison |
8.881 |
| 22 |  Northwestern |
8.539 |
| 23 |  Memphis |
8.519 |
| 24 |  Oregon State |
8.472 |
| 25 | Mississippi State |
8.090 |
Miami’s lead over Alabama is 3.601. LSU climbs from ninth to sixth, while North Texas moves from 12th to eighth. Miami now leads power, Elo and adjusted offense.
FBS Adjusted Defense Top 25
Indiana remains first in adjusted defense at 19.390, followed by Texas at 15.824. Wisconsin rises from sixth to third, TCU moves from fifth to fourth, and LSU completes the top five. Higher values are better: this measure rewards holding opponents below their scoring benchmark.
| Rank | School | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana |
19.390 |
| 2 | Texas |
15.824 |
| 3 | Wisconsin |
15.206 |
| 4 |  TCU |
14.344 |
| 5 | LSU |
13.119 |
| 6 | Ohio State |
12.105 |
| 7 | Oklahoma |
11.571 |
| 8 | Notre Dame |
11.569 |
| 9 |  Liberty |
11.356 |
| 10 | BYU |
11.200 |
| 11 | Tennessee |
11.103 |
| 12 |  North Dakota State |
11.100 |
| 13 |  Oregon |
11.051 |
| 14 | Alabama |
10.988 |
| 15 | Missouri |
10.983 |
| 16 | Houston |
10.429 |
| 17 | Miami (FL) |
10.039 |
| 18 |  South Florida |
9.756 |
| 19 | UCLA |
9.703 |
| 20 | Nebraska |
8.804 |
| 21 | Wake Forest |
8.648 |
| 22 |  New Mexico |
8.637 |
| 23 |  Iowa |
8.494 |
| 24 | Utah |
8.367 |
| 25 |  Michigan |
8.005 |
Ohio State improves from eighth to sixth on defense and from eighth to fifth on offense. LSU is also in the top six on both sides of the ball, ranking sixth on offense and fifth on defense.
FBS Wins Above Average Top 25
Kentucky retains the wins-above-average lead at 4.610. Alabama moves from fourth to second at 4.272, with UCLA third at 3.959. Texas and Miami complete the top five.
| Rank | School | GP | W | Expected W (No HFA) | Expected W (HFA) | WAA (No HFA) | WAA (HFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky |
8 | 7 | 2.200 | 2.390 | 4.800 | 4.610 |
| 2 | Alabama |
8 | 6 | 1.491 | 1.728 | 4.509 | 4.272 |
| 3 | UCLA |
7 | 7 | 2.969 | 3.041 | 4.031 | 3.959 |
| 4 | Texas |
7 | 5 | 0.978 | 1.221 | 4.022 | 3.779 |
| 5 | Miami (FL) |
7 | 7 | 3.190 | 3.237 | 3.810 | 3.763 |
| 6 | LSU |
8 | 6 | 1.987 | 2.240 | 4.013 | 3.760 |
| 7 | BYU |
7 | 6 | 2.682 | 2.577 | 3.318 | 3.423 |
| 8 | Notre Dame |
7 | 6 | 2.579 | 2.708 | 3.421 | 3.292 |
| 9 | Utah |
7 | 7 | 3.572 | 3.717 | 3.428 | 3.283 |
| 10 | Wake Forest |
7 | 6 | 2.956 | 2.719 | 3.044 | 3.281 |
| 11 | Ole Miss |
7 | 5 | 1.742 | 1.769 | 3.258 | 3.231 |
| 12 | Indiana |
8 | 7 | 3.773 | 3.771 | 3.227 | 3.229 |
| 13 | Florida |
7 | 5 | 1.815 | 1.942 | 3.185 | 3.058 |
| 14 | Tennessee |
8 | 6 | 3.084 | 2.966 | 2.916 | 3.034 |
| 15 | Georgia |
7 | 6 | 2.852 | 2.986 | 3.148 | 3.014 |
| 16 | Houston |
8 | 6 | 3.074 | 3.088 | 2.926 | 2.912 |
| 17 | Ohio State |
7 | 6 | 3.006 | 3.183 | 2.994 | 2.817 |
| 18 | Mississippi State |
7 | 4 | 1.380 | 1.408 | 2.620 | 2.592 |
| 19 | Texas Tech |
7 | 6 | 3.545 | 3.479 | 2.455 | 2.521 |
| 20 | Missouri |
7 | 5 | 2.661 | 2.638 | 2.339 | 2.362 |
| 21 | Oklahoma |
7 | 4 | 1.630 | 1.672 | 2.370 | 2.328 |
| 22 | Arizona |
7 | 6 | 3.621 | 3.717 | 2.379 | 2.283 |
| 23 |  SMU |
7 | 6 | 3.782 | 3.979 | 2.218 | 2.021 |
| 24 | Iowa |
7 | 5 | 3.066 | 2.986 | 1.934 | 2.014 |
| 25 |  UTSA |
8 | 7 | 5.037 | 5.025 | 1.963 | 1.975 |
This measure compares actual wins with the wins an average FBS team would be expected to earn against the same schedule. Expected wins come from 25,000 Monte Carlo simulations, and the table is ranked with home-field advantage included. Kentucky has seven wins against an expected 2.390, producing 4.610 WAA. Alabama has six wins against an expected 1.728. UCLA’s unbeaten record gives it seven wins against an expected 3.041.
Strength of Schedule Through Week 8
These lists use the SOS column from the October 25 FBS power ratings. They measure schedules played through Week 8, not remaining schedules. Higher values indicate tougher opposition, and the values can change as more results come in.
Top 5 Toughest Schedules
| Rank | School | Record | Power Rank | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas |
5–2 | 6 | 135.597 |
| 2 | Alabama |
6–2 | 2 | 134.649 |
| 3 | Mississippi State |
4–3 | 18 | 134.240 |
| 4 | Auburn |
4–3 | 22 | 133.318 |
| 5 | Oklahoma |
4–3 | 20 | 133.271 |
Texas has the toughest schedule played at 135.597, with a 5–2 record and a power ranking of No. 6.
Top 5 Easiest Schedules
| Rank | School | Record | Power Rank | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Massachusetts |
4–4 | 124 | 116.868 |
| 2 | Liberty |
6–1 | 79 | 118.259 |
| 3 | CSU-Sacramento | 1–7 | 138 | 119.255 |
| 4 |  New Mexico State |
3–4 | 127 | 119.321 |
| 5 | Appalachian State | 5–2 | 96 | 119.375 |
Massachusetts has the easiest schedule played at 116.868, with a 4–4 record and a power ranking of No. 124.
All rankings can be found on the 2026 FBS rankings page.