The Road Ahead: Week 8 brings a Top 5 SEC clash
Time & TV: Ore-Purdue, Mich-Illinois, USC-Maryland, OklaSt-BYU, KSU-WVU, UGA-Texas, Ala-Tenn, LSU-Ark, ND-GaTech, Mia-Lou
VIDEO: Watch the preview — AP No. 5 Georgia at No. 1 Texas
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Game of the Week
No. 5 Georgia at No.1 Texas: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | ABC
Gonna be some heartburn in the SEC digesting the outcome of this game — Either it's Georgia, winner of two of the past three natties, riding a second loss down into the battle for lower CFP seeds, or it’s a Texas loss opening the door for the Big Ten to break the SEC streak of owning the AP No. 1 rank every week so far this season.
The Big Ten currently holds No. 2 through No. 4, the strongest challenge at the moment to elevate the season’s first non-SEC No. 1.
A two-loss Georgia or a dethroned Texas almost sounds like a catastrophic week for the SEC — but the Big Ten has plenty more conference cannibalism still looming as well.
Meantime, Georgia at Texas is clearly the national Game of the Week:
AP No. 5 at No. 1
Immediate impact on the SEC standings and title race
Implications in the eventual playoff seeding for the 12-team CFP
VIDEO: Watch the preview — AP No. 2 Oregon at Purdue
Friday night lights
No. 2 Oregon at Purdue: 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT | FOX
Oregon crosses two time zones to visit Purdue on a short week for a Friday kickoff, coming off an intense win over Ohio State — Is there a letdown from Oregon or do these 2024 Ducks still have the pedal to the metal?
With Ohio State in the rearview until December, Oregon's remaining conference schedule is one of the more favorable among the Big Ten leaders — Ranked teams ahead: No. 22 Illinois and No. 24 Michigan.
No. 3 Penn State and one-loss, No. 4 Ohio State still have their playdate looming in Week 10 — Still it seems likely that December’s B1G title game will probably feature two ranked teams.
Friday, Plan B-(YU)
Oklahoma St at No. 13 BYU: 1015pm ET/915pm CT/715pm PT | ESPN
With the midweek Vegas line favoring Oregon by four touchdowns at Purdue and the Oklahoma State at BYU kickoff two hours later, what a treat to have essentially a college football Friday night doubleheader.
Seeing 6-0 BYU on the doorstep of the CFP-relevant top 12, this looks like a fun Friday night.
Flush it again
USC at Maryland: 4pm ET/3pm CT/1pm PT | FS1
For three-loss, unranked USC the Lincoln Riley experiment has officially jumped the shark after last week’s loss to visiting Penn State.
Riley is 22-11 midway through his third season at USC — One of the historically strongest programs in college football history based in the second biggest city in the country with one of the world's richest TV markets and recruiting pools.
Riley has a .667 win percentage heading into the home stretch of his third season at USC — Something stinks in SoCal, and we don't mean the decades-long sewage leak at Venice Beach.
Something stinks in SoCal — and we don't mean the decades-long sewage leak at Venice Beach.
Upset watch
No. 8 LSU at Arkansas: 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT | ESPN
The midweek Vegas line favored LSU by a field goal, reinforcing the recent Arkansas reputation as the most feared unranked team in the nation — That reputation was sparked back in Week 6 by the Razorbacks' 19-14 takedown of then-No. 4 Tennessee.
Reality check
No. 6 Miami at Louisville: Noon ET/11am CT/9am PT | ABC
The midweek Vegas line showed 4.5 in favor of Miami — A legit No. 6 really shouldn't be that close with unranked 4-2 Louisville.
Miami was bailed out by refs twice in recent weeks on last-minute calls that went against Virginia Tech and Cal. For No. 6 Miami’s playoff fate, it’s enough to keep winning — but in the eventual CFP seeding race, it’s time to start piling on as many style points as possible.
More SEC heartburn
No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ABC
Another mid-season fight for conference survival and eventual CFP seeding — The loser of this one will be in a very rough spot for a run at the SEC title and any shot at cracking the 12-team CFP bracket.
Games of the Week
Friday, Oct. 18
No. 2 Oregon at Purdue: 8pm ET/7pm CT/5pm PT | FOX
Oklahoma St at No. 13 BYU: 1015pm ET/915pm CT/715pm PT | ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 19
No. 6 Miami at Louisville: Noon ET/11am CT/9am PT | ABC
No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ABC
No. 12 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ESPN
No. 24 Michigan at No. 22 Illinois: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | CBS
USC at Maryland: 4pm ET/3pm CT/1pm PT | FS1
No. 8 LSU at Arkansas: 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT | ESPN
No. 5 Georgia at No.1 Texas: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | ABC
No. 17 Kansas St at W. Virginia: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | FOX
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