COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Georgia Bulldogs had the loudest bark on social media in Week 8 of college football’s tumultuous season.

The Dawgs top this week’s College Sports Social Pulse™, the rankings from the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, measuring which college teams, players, and coaches are making the biggest impact online each week.

Despite Ohio State and Indiana leading this week’s AP poll, it’s the SEC that’s winning the online conversation, with UGA, Alabama and Ole Miss holding down the top three slots in the Pulse rankings. In fact, the SEC claims half of the Top 10 spots.

“The AP poll measures on-field results. The Pulse measures emotion,” said Clay Owen, professor of practice at the University of South Carolina’s College of Information and Communications. “Fans reward resilience and personality just as much as wins. This week, Georgia’s comeback and the feel-good stories at Vanderbilt and Indiana remind us that passion drives attention.”

Top 10 Teams – Week 8

1.     Georgia

2.     Alabama

3.     Ole Miss

4.     Colorado

5.     Penn State

6.     Vanderbilt

7.     LSU

8.     Ohio State

9.     Indiana

10.  Michigan

Among players, it’s the quarterbacks who dominated the conversation once again. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton topped the Pulse after his comeback win over Ole Miss, followed closely by Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, each earning major fan support for leadership and highlight-reel moments.

Top 10 Players – Week 8

1. Gunner Stockton – Georgia

2. Arch Manning – Texas

3. Dylan Raiola – Nebraska

4. Ty Simpson – Alabama

5. Carson Beck – Miami

6. Diego Pavia – Vanderbilt

7. Julian Sayin – Ohio State

8. John Mateer – Oklahoma

9. Rueben Bain – Miami

10. Bryce Underwood – Michigan

Coaches Driving Conversation

On the sidelines, Deion Sanders, head coach of Colorado, returned to the top of the Pulse, fueled by speculation over Coach Prime taking over at Florida State. Billy Napier soared to second following his firing from Florida, showing how bad news can dominate attention across fan bases and media. And Indiana’s Curt Cignetti landed in the top five as his Hoosiers continue as one of the breakout stories of the season.

Top 10 Coaches – Week 8

1. Deion Sanders – Colorado

2. Billy Napier – Florida

3. Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss

4. Curt Cignetti – Indiana

5. Kirby Smart – Georgia

6. Mike Norvell – Florida State

7. Jeff Brohm – Louisville

8. Brian Kelly – LSU

9. Hugh Freeze – Auburn

10. Kalen DeBoer – Alabama

Week 8 measures online activity from Oct.14-20. Every Pulse ranking reflects a single week of activity (Tuesday through Monday). This allows the Pulse to capture the volatility of college football in real time — the weekly rises, falls, and breakout storylines that define the sport beyond the field.

About the College Sports Social Pulse™

Developed by the University of South Carolina’s Social Media Insights Lab, the Pulse analyzes millions of social media posts each week to track the shifting heartbeat of college football fandom. Using a proprietary blend of engagement, sentiment, and conversation volume, the Pulse reveals which teams, players, and coaches are dominating the national conversation online, regardless of what the scoreboard says.