Ranking the Top 25 based on what we saw on the field Saturday with Week 8 rankings in mind, here’s how the AP Top 25 should’ve looked heading into the ninth weekend of games

HOW THE AP TOP 25 SHOULD’VE LOOKED

1. Ohio State (8-0) — With J.T. Barrett at quarterback the Buckeyes look as complete a team there is in college football. The new starter in Columbus finished with 324 total yards on offense and five touchdowns.

2. Baylor (7-0) — Quarterback Seth Russell may be out a while, but the nation’s top scoring team deserves our respect for at least another week.

3. LSU (7-0) — The SEC’s last remaining unbeaten team has shown very few weaknesses as they prepare for an all-or-nothing game in Tuscaloosa in two weeks. Even a one-loss LSU team will be tough to keep out of the College Football Playoff.

4. Clemson (7-0) — After a 58-0 shellacking of a 4-3 Miami Hurricanes team it’s hard to ignore what Clemson is doing for much longer. In a weak ACC the Tigers look like a very good bet to go undefeated.

5. TCU (7-0) — Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs now become the team to beat in the Big 12 with Russell out.

6. Alabama (7-1) — There’s nothing more scary than an Alabama team that’s found its groove. With another Ole Miss loss, the Crimson Tide control their own destiny. 

7. Michigan State (8-0)

8. Florida (6-1) — With their only loss to an unbeaten LSU team in Baton Rogue, the Gators place in the Top 10 remains strong. Backup QB Treon Harris may not be enough to win the SEC, but he can certainly get Florida to the Championship game.

9. Notre Dame (6-1)

10. Stanford (6-1)

11. Oklahoma State (7-0)

12. Florida State (6-1)

13. Iowa (7-0)

14. Memphis (7-0)

15. Utah (6-1)

16. Oklahoma (6-1)

17. Ole Miss (6-2) — With the SEC on the line, the Rebels won a big one against A&M last week to keep their season alive. Ole Miss will still need plenty help from Bama and LSU to come out on top in the SEC West.

18. Michigan (5-2)

19. Toledo (7-0) — Keep in mind, the Razorbacks loss to the Rockets doesn’t look so bad all of the sudden.

20. Houston (7-0)

21. Temple (7-0)

22. Pittsburgh (6-1)

23. Duke (6-1)

24. Mississippi State (6-2) — Sitting with two losses, both to top SEC opponents, the Bulldogs are another tragic case of a team stuck in the mud because of tough competition. Stick Mississippi State in any other conference and QB Dak Prescott would have this team in the Top 15.

25.  Texas A&M (5-2) — It’s tough to keep A&M in the Top 25 after back-to-back bad losses, but they were undefeated not 10 days ago. The Aggies will need to string together some wins to avoid falling to the bottom of the SEC West standings.