As we enter Week 8 and the second half of the 2025 college football season, there's a rare sense of uncertainty — and a bit of joy in that uneasiness. It fuels anticipation for what's next. Which top-10 team will fall? Which under-the-radar matchup will turn into an instant classic? And what surprise twist might emerge in an increasingly chaotic coaching carousel?

On the field, the sport has never felt more balanced. Call it the great flattening -- the best teams aren't quite as dominant, while the second tier has closed the gap.

ESPN's Bill Connelly illustrated that trend through his SP+ ratings, a predictive and forward-facing metric. Comparing Week 8 SP+ data from 2019 to 2025, he found that the top eight teams this season are rated lower, on average and at every ranking position,

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