College football continues to march through October with another week of exciting action. Here's a look at everything you need to know about the Week 8 games.
No. 5 Georgia holds off No. 1 Texas in second half
No. 5 Georgia has dethroned No. 1 Texas, 30-15. There are now zero undefeated teams in the SEC.
It was a wild first half, with five total turnovers between both teams. However, Georgia's offense was able to capitalize on the turnovers, catapulting to a 23-0 lead after the first 30 minutes.
Texas hopped on the board quickly to open the second half, cutting the lead to two scores. Following a wild sequence with the referees, the Longhorns capitalized on an interception, pulling within eight.
Trevor Etienne punched in his third rushing touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter, which ended up being the game-sealer. The Longhorns were able to get in scoring distance a handful of times, but they finished the game just 1-5 on fourth down.
The Georgia defense was the difference maker tonight, tallying seven sacks, 8 tackles for loss, two fumbles and an interception. Bulldog edge rusher Jalon Walker recorded three sacks and four QB hits, and defensive back Daylen Everette tallied a forced fumble, recovered the fumble and had an interception.
Both quarterbacks struggled tonight, each finishing with less than 60% completion percentage. Beck threw three interceptions and Ewers had a fumble and an interception. The Longhorns only turned one of Beck's picks into points.
As a result, Texas (6-1, 2-1 SEC) will likely fall out of the top spot, making way for the fourth different team to be ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll this season.
Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) secured a much-needed SEC win, and Kirby Smart earned his 100th win as the Bulldog's head coach.
No. 9 Iowa State avoids upset against UCF in thriller
It isn’t a week of college football without chaos in the Big 12! It was a hectic battle in Iowa State’s come-from-behind victory over UCF, 38-35, in Ames.
The Knights led by as much as 14 at one point behind a strong running game. Totaling 354 yards on the ground, both RJ Harvey and quarterback Jaccuri Brown each piled up 150+ yards with two TDs apiece in the losing effort.
Iowa State showed extreme poise despite trailing by double digits and this was put to test when the Cyclones were down 35-30 with only 1:47 left in the game. Despite turning the ball over twice previously, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht responded, leading an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to put the Clones ahead. An interception on UCF’s ensuing drive iced the game and gave the Cyclones their best start since 1938.
The Knights face another tough test in top-15 team No. 13 BYU next week in Orlando while Iowa State has a bye next weekend before hosting Texas Tech.
No. 11 Tennessee gives No. 7 Alabama second loss of the season
No. 11 Tennessee handed No. 7 Alabama its second loss of the season, winning 24-17 in a defensive battle turned shootout.
Two teams ranked top 10 nationally in points per game, crickets could’ve been heard in Neyland Stadium in the first half surprisingly. Outside of Alabama wideout Ryan Williams’ five-yard receiving touchdown in the second, both the Crimson Tide and Tennessee combined for zero points, four turnovers and four sacks by halftime.
The highly-anticipated matchup gained a new life in the second half, though, with 31 points racked up between the two — five total ties and lead changes.
Dropping 24 of those points, the Volunteers leaned heavily on running back Dylan Sampson and he delivered. He rushed for two touchdowns and over 100 yards in the second half.
After a turnover on downs with less than two minutes left, Alabama’s defense held Tennessee to a field goal to keep the contest at a one-possession game. However, Volunteers linebacker Will Brooks closed the Crimson Tide’s curtains, intercepting quarterback Jalen Milroe on the first play of the drive.
WILL BROOKS PICKS OFF THE MILROE PASS & THE VOLS WILL HOLD ON AND TAKE DOWN THE CRIMSON TIDE!!! 🤯🤯🤯
— OutOfSightSports🚀™️ (@OOSSports)
For the first time since 2007, Alabama has two losses before November.
No. 6 Miami (Fla.) outlasts Louisville
In a game filled with explosive plays and momentum swings, No. 6 Miami (Fla.) held off Louisville 52-45, improving to 7-0 on the season. The Hurricanes (7-0 overall, 3-0 ACC) took control in the second half behind Cam Ward’s four touchdown passes. Ward finished with 319 passing yards, keeping Miami’s offense in high gear despite a strong comeback effort by the Cardinals.
Louisville’s Tyler Shough led a fourth-quarter rally, tying the game at 38 apiece with a 7-yard touchdown pass. However, Miami responded with two quick scores to secure the win. Freshman Isaac Brown shined for Louisville (4-3, 2-2), rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown, while Caullin Lacy’s 100-yard kickoff return kept the Cardinals in striking distance.
POLLS: Check out the AP Top 25 rankings
Despite Louisville’s late push, Miami’s defense came up with key stops, including recovering an onside kick to end the game.
Brady Cook wills No. 19 Missouri back to beat Auburn
Quarterback Brady Cook and No. 19 Missouri came back to beat Auburn with a 15-point fourth quarter, winning 21-17.
A victory didn’t look like it was in the cards for the home team for most of the contest. Everything seemed to go wrong for Missouri (6-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) in the first three quarters.
Following Cook’s right ankle injury on the first drive of the game, Missouri’s offense staggered. It produced less than 150 total yards and three points after their first possession and before the final drive in the third quarter.
Things went from bad to worse when star wideout Luther Burden III muffed a punt that resulted in an Auburn touchdown early in the third quarter. Missouri found itself down 17-6 entering the last few minutes of the third quarter.
Luckily for Missouri, that's when Cook returned and put his team back on track.
On the third play of the drive, he connected with wide receiver Mookie Cooper for a 78-yard reception that led to a two-yard rushing touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Racing down to the goal line, Cook looked to his sideline while doing the Michael Jordan shrug.
Mookie Freakin Cooper
— Represent Mizzou (@RepresentMizzou)
The momentum slowed on the next two drives, punting on back-to-back drives, but ramped back up on the final possession of the game. Throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 23, Cook led Missouri to a game-winning 17-play, 95-yard drive.
Stopping Auburn (2-5, 0-4) on the last possession of the game, Missouri clinched bowl eligibility for the fifth straight season.
Indiana rolls over Nebraska
The Hoosiers continued to impress in Week 8, dominating Nebraska, 56-7, at home.
Coming off a bye week, Indiana entered Week 8 as one of a handful of undefeated teams remaining in the country — and the Hoosiers proved why. Nebraska, only a one-loss team heading into this matchup, was not supposed to be an easy win. But Curt Cignetti had lit a fire in this veteran Indiana football team, and the Hoosiers showed the country that they are not to be taken lightly.
Indiana can't stop scoring 🤯😤
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX)
Indiana's 49-point win is tied for its largest over a Big Ten opponent in program history — the other win in 1945 when the Hoosiers took down Minnesota, 49-0. On the flip side, this is the Huskers' second-biggest blowout loss in Big Ten history since joining the conference, behind only their 62-3 loss to Ohio State in 2016.
STAY PERFECT: Tracking all undefeated teams this season
As of right now, Indiana (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) sits atop the Big Ten, tied with No. 2 Oregon. The Hoosiers have already surpassed bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020, and now they will set their sights higher, looking to compete atop the Big Ten for a potential conference championship and College Football Playoff spot.
No. 22 Illinois stifles No. 24 Michigan
The Fighting Illini suffocated the Wolverine offense, 21-7, handing the defending national champions their second consecutive loss.
Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) jumped out to a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter — and Michigan had no answer on the offensive end to try and climb back into the game.
The Wolverines had three turnovers — one interception and two fumbles — in the loss as Illinois' front seven smothered Michigan with five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
Michigan (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) could not stop the run after the Fighting Illini took an early lead. The Wolverines allowed 187 rushing yards, almost five yards per carry.
The Wolverines dropped their second Big Ten game and they still have No. 2 Oregon, No. 16 Indiana and No. 3 Ohio State on their schedule.
As for Illinois, they secure a huge win, beating Michigan for the first time since 2009 and just the second time this century. The Fighting Illini will look to carry this momentum into a tough road matchup with No. 2 Oregon next weekend.
