UCLA Moves Up To #8 In The Latest College Football Playoff Rankings

The UCLA Bruins (9-2, 6-2) have moved up to the #8 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. After beating crosstown rival USC 38-20 and getting a little help from Ole Miss losing and dropping 11 spots, the Bruins have worked their way into the “First Four Out” as ESPN phrases it. Basically, UCLA is now one of the reserve teams that will be chosen from if the current top four teams slip up.

Here is the Top 25:

Having that #8 ranking puts UCLA in a very good spot to land in the top four if they can win their last regular season game. Win that against Stanford and it puts them in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Win the conference against Oregon and they have a legitimate shot at making the first ever College Football Playoffs.

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Now it may be said that UCLA should be ranked higher seeing as the Bruins have the #1 Strength of Schedule. One-loss Baylor and TCU have not had as tough a journey this season and many say that the Bruins should leap-frog these teams. Whatever the argument is, do not forget that UCLA lost to a Utah team they should have beat and then got wrecked by #2 Oregon. Although, since that loss, UCLA has won five straight, including three strong showings against Arizona, Washington and USC.

Whether or not you think the Bruins should be ranked higher, do not forget that they have battled back this season and getting all the way to #8 is very promising. Additionally, this season is far from over. The Bruins still need to finish the year strong which begins with their last regular season game against Stanford which will be played at the Rose Bowl this Friday at 12:30 p.m. PT.