AP Top 25 College Football Poll Week 8: Cincinnati Jumps to No. 2, Oklahoma Soars to No. 3

(Photo : Brian Bahr/Getty Images) NORMAN, OK - Quarterback Caleb Williams of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates a touchdown by running back Eric Gray against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in the fourth quarter at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 52-31.

Cincinnati and Oklahoma were the big winners in college football after Week 7. The Bearcats were rewarded in the polls ahead of Week 8, with Cincinnati moving up to second in the updated Associated Press (AP) Top 25 rankings. Oklahoma's stock also rose after Week 7, with the Sooners soaring to the third spot.

Iowa crashes out of top 10 after loss to Purdue

The Bearcats and the Sooners benefited from Iowa's stunning 24-7 loss to Purdue in Week 7. As a result of that shock defeat, the Hawkeyes dropped from No. 2 in last week's AP Top 25 poll to No. 11 this week. The gravity of their upset loss to Purdue was that they even fell behind No. 7 Penn State in the rankings, a team that the Hawkeyes defeated on October 9.

On Saturday, Cincinnati maintained its perfect start to the season after the Bearcats annihilated the UCF Knights, 56-21. Jerome Ford stole the show for the Bearcats, rushing for a career-high 189 yards and four touchdowns, with all of those scores coming in the opening half.

Jerome Ford has hit the end zone FOUR TIMES in just the first half for @GoBearcatsFB 😳 pic.twitter.com/LU0fWnLo8Z
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2021

Desmond Ridder threw for 140 yards for the Bearcats, who scored 50 or more points in consecutive games for the first time in school history. With the win, Cincinnati extended its home winning streak to 24 games, the second-longest in the nation.

Oklahoma is another team that is flying high at the moment. The Sooners defeated the TCU Horned Frogs, 52-31, in Week 7, with freshman Caleb Williams taking center stage in this contest. He dazzled in his first start for the Sooners, completing 18 of 23 passes for 295 yards with four touchdowns. Williams also wreaked havoc on the ground, rushing for 66 yards, including a 41-yard score in the third quarter.

Caleb Williams is here and he’s perfect. pic.twitter.com/GZpUfuuqs6
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 17, 2021

It was an impressive performance by Williams, who became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for the Sooners since Cale Gundy in 1990. Williams replaced Spencer Rattler, who was benched after committing two early turnovers in the Red River Showdown against the Texas Longhorns last week.

Alabama moves up to No. 4 after a huge win over Mississippi State

Iowa's loss was also Alabama's gain as the Crimson Tide returned to the Top 4 after their 49-9 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Week 7. Bryce Young completed 20 of 28 passes for 348 yards with four touchdowns for the Crimson Tide, who was coming off a stunning 41-38 loss to Texas A&M in Week 6.

Bryce Young ➡️ John Metchie catch and run for the TD 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ijKNt3st0o
— ESPN (@espn) October 16, 2021

Georgia held on to the No. 1 spot for the second consecutive week after the Bulldogs defeated No. 11 Kentucky in their SEC showdown last Saturday. The Bulldogs received all 62 first-place votes as they recorded their fourth victory over a top-25 opponent this season.