The USA LBM Coaches Poll was released for Week 8 and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moved up two spots to No. 6. Overall it was a brutally bad ranking, which shows the clear recency and conference bias that exists with the coaches, or whoever votes for the coaches.

Notre Dame dropped to No. 8 after losing to BYU last weekend, with the Cougars climbing up to No. 3. With BYU losing to UCF in overtimes, they dropped all the way down to No. 9, behind Notre Dame. This is an example of recency bias, as BYU's 6-1 record also includes a win over now No. 21 Arizona (6-1). Notre Dame does not have a ranked win, but apparently they are ranked ahead of BYU because they have a better loss.

Indiana, whose only ranked win is a 29-26 home win over No. 18 Northwestern, is ranked ahead of undefeated Utah, who beat now No. 19 Houston. Utah did leap Notre Dame, as they should have after beating a good Houston team in comeback fashion. Texas, despite losing two of their last three games, climbed up seven spots to No. 11 after beating previously No. 7 Ole Miss last night.

Another absurdity in the Coaches Poll is 5-2 Wisconsin being unranked, while 6-2 USC is ranked No. 25. Wisconsin blasted USC last night, winning by a 24-7 score. The Badgers only losses are to No. 6 Notre Dame and No. 7 UCLA, and their best win is over No. 25 USC by 17 points. USC, on the other hand, not only got blasted by Wisconsin, they also lost at home to unranked Oregon. USC does not have a single ranked win, but the brilliant Coaches Poll has the Trojans ranked ahead of Wisconsin, who was the second team in the "also receiving votes" category.

Three Notre Dame opponents remain the current Coaches Poll Top 25. BYU is still ranked No. 9. The Miami Hurricanes remain ranked No. 1 after blasting Pittsburgh (52-23) and the SMU Mustangs climbed up to No. 16 after blowing out California (59-20). SMU was actually down 20-17 at halftime but steamrolled the Bears in the second half. Notre Dame hosts Miami on November 7th and SMU on November 21st.

Wisconsin, who the Irish beat 41-13 in week one, are just outside the Top 25.

COACHES POLL

1. Miami Hurricanes - 7-0
2. Ohio State Buckeyes - 6-1
3. Georgia Bulldogs - 6-1
4. Indiana Hoosiers - 7-1
5. Utah Utes - 7-0
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish - 6-1
7. UCLA Bruins - 7-0
8. Kentucky Wildcats - 7-1
9. BYU Cougars - 6-1
10. Alabama Crimson Tide - 6-2
11. Texas Longhorns - 5-2
12. Ole Miss Rebels - 5-2
13. LSU Tigers - 6-2
14. Texas Tech Red Raiders - 6-1
15. Wake Forest Demon Deacons - 6-1
16. SMU Mustangs - 6-1
17. Tennessee Volunteers - 6-2
18. Northwestern Wildcats - 6-1
19. Houston Cougars - 6-2
20. Florida Gators - 5-2
21. Arizona Wildcats - 6-1
22. Boise State Broncos - 6-1
23. Missouri Tigers - 5-2
24. Iowa Hawkeyes - 5-2
25. USC Trojans - 6-2

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