College Football Top Ten (Week 8): One Huge Upset

Another college football weekend is complete. There was a major upset in Indiana. The teams that played had little trouble with their opponents. Three top ten teams had a bye week in an otherwise uneventful weekend. Sometimes not playing can benefit your team. Still, games are more pressurized as the season marches on towards conference championships. Here’s the new Top Ten.

 

1) Alabama Crimson Tide (8-0) defeated Tennessee Volunteers 58-21

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a big lead over the Volunteers and never looked back. This is getting ridiculous with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa: he went 19-29 for 306 yards with four touchdowns. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle had 117 yards and a touchdown. The defense had a lapse at the end of the first half but otherwise dominated Tennessee’s offense.

Next game- at #3 LSU Tigers

 

2) Clemson Tigers (7-0) defeated #20 North Carolina State Wolfpack 41-7

The Tigers flexed their claws and manhandled the Wolfpack with ease. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence had his best game, going 26-39 for 308 yards with a touchdown. Running back Travis Etienne scored three touchdowns. Wide receiver Tee Higgins had 118 yards and a touchdown. The defense was awesome, suffocating North Carolina State’s offense.

Next game- at Florida State Seminoles

 

3) LSU Tigers (7-1) defeated #24 Mississippi State Bulldogs 19-3

The Tigers won despite pedestrian numbers by the offense and being out gained by the Bulldogs. Quarterback Joe Burrow struggled again, going 16-28 for 129 yards with an interception. The rushing attack was worse. They will need to play much better to have a chance next game. The defense won this game by completely shutting down Mississippi State’s offense and forcing four turnovers.

Next game- #1 Alabama Crimson Tide

 

4) Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-0) Bye Week

Next game- at Navy Midshipmen

 

5) UCF Knights (7-0) defeated East Carolina Pirates 37-10

The Knights beat the Pirates easily without start quarterback McKenzie Milton (ankle). Back-up quarterback Darriel Mack Jr didn’t do much passing, going 12-20 for 69 yards but had 120 yards rushing with a touchdown. The ground game pounded out over 300 yards. The defense was good, keeping East Carolina’s offense in check and forcing five turnovers.

Next game- Temple Owls

 

6) Michigan Wolverines (7-1) defeated #23 Michigan State Spartans 21-7

The Wolverines got the win over the heated rival Spartans. Quarterback Shea Patterson was decent, going 14-25 for 212 yards with two touchdowns. Running back Karan Higdon had 144 yards rushing. The defense was lights out, giving up less than 100 yards of total offense to Michigan State. It was a clinic in pressuring and tackling.

Next game- #18 Penn State Nittany Lions

 

7) Oklahoma Sooners (7-1) defeated TCU Horned Frogs 52-27

The Sooners used a dominating second half surge to eventually blowout the Horned Frogs. Quarterback Kyler Murray was efficient, going 19-24 for 213 yards with four touchdowns. Running backs Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon each gained over 100 yards rushing. The defense struggled in the first half but was lights out in the second half.

Next game- Kansas State Wildcats

 

8) Georgia Bulldogs (6-1) Bye Week

Next game- #12 Florida Gators

 

9) Texas Longhorns (6-1) Bye Week

Next game- at Oklahoma State Cowboys

 

10) Ohio State Buckeyes (7-1) lost to Purdue Boilermakers 49-20

The Buckeyes were routed by the Boilermakers in shocking fashion. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins was the offense and it wasn’t enough, going 49-73 for 470 yards (all school records) with two touchdowns and an interception. The rushing attack was anemic. The defense was gashed for big plays, especially in the fourth quarter. They simply had no answer for Purdue’s offense.

Next game- Nebraska Cornhuskers