ESPN Sports writers after Week 8…or "the broken record."

Here’s how our (ESPN) writers see the playoff field after Week 8. (Note: These are not their projections for how the season will end.)

Andrea Adelson: 1. LSU; 2. Clemson; 3. Alabama; 4. Ohio State
Edward Aschoff: 1. LSU; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. Clemson
Kyle Bonagura: 1. Alabama; 2. Oklahoma; 3. Ohio State; 4. Clemson
Bill Connelly: 1. Ohio State; 2. Alabama; 3. LSU; 4. Oklahoma
Heather Dinich: 1. LSU; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. Oklahoma
David Hale: 1. Ohio State; 2. Clemson; 3. Alabama; 4. LSU
Sam Khan Jr.: 1. LSU; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. Oklahoma
Chris Low: 1. Ohio State; 2. LSU; 3. Oklahoma; 4. Clemson
Ivan Maisel: 1. Ohio State; 2. Oklahoma; 3. LSU; 4. Alabama
Ryan McGee: 1. LSU; 2. Clemson; 3. Oklahoma; 4. Ohio State
Adam Rittenberg: 1. LSU; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. Oklahoma
Alex Scarborough: 1. LSU; 2. Clemson; 3. Oklahoma; 4. Ohio State
Mark Schlabach: 1. LSU; 2. Ohio State; 3. Alabama; 4. Oklahoma
Tom VanHaaren: 1. Alabama; 2. Ohio State; 3. Oklahoma; 4. LSU

Also…

“Believe it or not, the Pac-12 still is very much alive for a playoff berth. As Georgia and Wisconsin fell from the ranks of the unbeaten in stunning fashion over the past two weeks, Oregon keeps winning. Herbert has been one of the country’s best players, and the Ducks’ D is bordering on something special.

Meanwhile, No. 13 Utah knocked off No. 17 Arizona State on Saturday, moving to 6-1. The Utes are a fringe top-10 team now.

Sure, the league still is playing to an inside straight, but if the big boys out east keep falling, the door certainly could be kicked open.”