College football Week 8 highlights: Catch up on all the scores, best plays and biggest wins

The college football season has reached the midway point and Week 8 brought a handful of conference clashes with big-time implications in the US LBM Coaches Poll and the fast-approaching College Football Playoff rankings. 

No. 3 Ohio State knocked off Big Ten rival No. 6 Penn State in Columbus, a place the Nittany Lions haven’t won since 2011. Penn State has only beaten Ohio State once since then, a narrow 24-21 victory in State College in 2016. 

In the SEC, No. 8 Alabama defeated No. 15 Tennessee in a rematch of last year’s epic Third Saturday in October duel.

And to cap Week 8, No. 14 Utah scored a walk-off win over No. 16 USC, the Utes' fourth consecutive win over the Trojans.

USA TODAY Sports' recap and analysis of all the highlights and wild plays from Week 8:

Ohio State vs. Penn State highlights

Utah vs. USC highlights

Alabama vs. Tennessee highlights

Florida State vs. Duke highlights

Virginia vs. North Carolina highlights

College football Week 8 scores

• No. 2 Michigan 49, Michigan State 0
• No. 3 Ohio State 20, No. 6 Penn State 12
• No. 4 Florida State 38, No. 17 Duke 20
• No. 5 Washington 15, Arizona State 7
• No. 7 Oklahoma 31, UCF 29
• No. 8 Texas 31, Houston 24
• No. 8 Alabama 34, No. 15 Tennessee 20
• Virginia 31, No. 10 North Carolina 27
• No. 11 Oregon 38, Washington State 24
• No. 12 Ole Miss 28, Auburn 21
• No. 14 Utah 34, No. 16 USC 32
• No. 19 LSU 62, Army 0
• No. 20 Missouri 34, South Carolina 12
• No. 22 Air Force 17, Navy 6
• Minnesota 12, No. 23 Iowa 10
• No. 24 Tulane 35, North Texas 28
• No. 25 UCLA 42, Stanford 7

College football injury news

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers exited the Longhorns’ game against Houston with what coach Steve Sarkisian called a “hurt shoulder.”

“Well know tomorrow. He tried to play through it,” Sarkisian said, per Inside Texas.

Duke also saw quarterback Riley Leonard leave in the third quarter against Florida State with an ankle injury. Leonard missed last week's game after he was injured late in Duke's loss to Notre Dame.

“He was begging me on the sideline to come back in,” Duke coach Mike Elko said, per the AP. But Elko added he "didn’t feel comfortable with where (Leonard) was health-wise to move back, so we didn’t do it.”

College football winners and losers

Ohio State's defense blanketed Penn State to deliver a 20-12 win in one of the most important games of the regular season.

Five years after James Franklin promised the Nittany Lions would eventually graduate to join the top teams in the Bowl Subdivision, the loss reinforces the program's place: Penn State is very good, but not elite. The Nittany Lions are treading water.

And Ohio State is finding new ways to win games in the Big Ten. Clearly influenced by back-to-back losses to Michigan, the Buckeyes are a physical team defined more so by defensive excellence than by an offense that has top-end skill talent but has taken a noticeable step back from the past two seasons.

The Buckeyes and Nittany Lions top Saturday's biggest winners and losers. — Paul Myerberg

College football Week 9 schedule

Tuesday, October 24

New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech, CBSSN, 7 p.m.

Liberty at Western Kentucky, ESPNU, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 25

Jacksonville State at Florida International, CBSSN, 7 p.m.

Texas El-Paso at Sam Houston, ESPN2, 8 p.m.

Thursday, October 26

Georgia State at Georgia Southern, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Syracuse at Virginia Tech, ESPN, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, October 27

Florida Atlantic at Charlotte, ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 28

Connecticut at Boston College, ACC, noon

Houston at Kansas State, ESPN2, noon

Massachusetts at Army, CBSSN, noon

South Carolina at Texas A&M, ESPN, noon

Tulsa at SMU, ESPNU, noon

Georgia vs. Florida (Jacksonville, Fla.), CBS, 3:30 p.m.

Mississippi State at Auburn, SEC, 3:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame, NBC, 3:30 p.m.

Purdue at Nebraska, FS1, 3:30 p.m.

Tulane at Rice, ESPN2, 4 p.m.

Air Force at Colorado State, CBSSN, 7 p.m.

Tennessee at Kentucky, ESPN, 7 p.m.

Colorado at UCLA, ABC, 7:30 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Mississippi, SEC, 7:30 p.m.

Cincinnati at Oklahoma State, ESPN2, 8 p.m.

Old Dominion at James Madison, ESPNU, 8 p.m.

New Mexico at Nevada, CBSSN, 10:30 p.m.

Oregon State at Arizona, ESPN, 10:30 p.m.

No. 14 Utah beats No. 16 USC again on walk-off field goal

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Cole Becker made a 38-yard field goal as time expired, and No. 14 Utah blew an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter before rallying for a thrilling 34-32 victory over No. 16 Southern California on Saturday night.

After Caleb Williams ran for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:46 left for the Trojans (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12), Bryson Barnes punctuated Utah’s winning drive with a spectacular 26-yard scramble to get the Utes (6-1, 3-1) well into range for Becker’s winner.

Two-way sensation Sione Vaki caught two touchdown passes and accounted for 217 total yards while the Utes sent Williams and Lincoln Riley to their first-ever loss at the Coliseum.

After Zachariah Branch’s 61-yard punt return set up Williams’ go-ahead TD run to put the Trojans in front 32-31, Utah mounted a drive that included Ja’Quinden Jackson’s fourth-and-1 conversion run to the USC 40 with 19 seconds left.

Barnes passed for a career-high 235 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score for the Utes, who have beaten the Trojans in all three meetings during Riley’s two seasons at USC.

Williams passed for 256 yards and no TDs in a second straight difficult game for the Heisman Trophy winner and his Trojans, whose national title hopes are all but dead after back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Utah.

No. 4 Florida State closes strong to beat No. 17 Duke

Off a dominant fourth-quarter effort, Florida State survives a potential upset bid from Duke, defeating the Blue Devils, 38-20. The Seminoles improved to 7-0 on the year and 4-0 in ACC play and have now won 13 straight games.

Jordan Travis completed 27 of 36 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 62 yards rushing and a rushing touchdown. Johnny Wilson left the game in the early fourth quarter but led the passing effort with 58 yards on five receptions. 

Jahiem Bell had a big night, finishing with 53 yards receiving on eight receptions. The FSU defense had 29 tackles, four for a loss of yardage. Duke quarterback Riley Leonard left the game in the third quarter and did not return. 

FSU will take on Wake Forest next week on the road. — Jack Williams, USA TODAY Network

No. 2 Michigan obliterates rival Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan football was already up by four touchdowns when Mike Sainristil intercepted Katin Houser's pass on the right sideline, tip-toed the boundary and followed a convoy of blockers up the field for a 72-yard pick-six.

Still, that didn't stop the fifth-year senior from cocking his head back, placing his hands on his hips, and striking the Paul Bunyan pose in front of what few patrons remained in the away student section. Meanwhile, on the far side of the field, Michigan State offensive lineman Spencer Brown was flagged for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game as a chorus of "Go Blue" chants echoed through the stands.

No snapshot better captured the night. A night in which was all Wolverines from start to finish, as U-M completed a 49-0 drubbing of MSU, U-M's first shutout in the rivalry since 2000 and the largest margin of victory since U-M shut out MSU, 55-0, in 1947. — Tony Garcia, USA TODAY Network

Brian Kelly gets big bonus as LSU becomes bowl eligible

Already one of the highest-paid college employees in the nation, LSU football coach Brian Kelly on Saturday night added a $500,000 bonus to his compensation total when the Tigers defeated Army 62-0 in Baton Rouge to get their sixth win of the season and become eligible for a bowl game.

The amount is by far the largest bonus payment available to a public-school coach for becoming eligible for a bowl game that does not involve a contract extension, according to USA TODAY Sports’ recently published annual survey of football head coaches’ pay.

It means that, at a minimum, Kelly’s pay for this season will be $10.475 million – and he will get more if the team meets an academic benchmark, furthers its success on the field or he wins coach-of-the-year awards.

USC gets back into game with pick-six

After settling for a field goal, USC got right back into the game vs. Utah thanks to Calen Bullock's pick-six.

Florida State finally on top vs. Duke

No. 4 FSU has its first lead of the game, 24-20, in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Jordan Travis' 2-yard touchdown run capped a 14-play, 96-yard drive.

USC in trouble against Utah, Florida State trails Duke entering fourth

The Utes have gone up 14. Following a USC fumble, Utah stormed 55 yards in five plays, Bryson Barnes connecting with Sione Vaki again for the touchdown to give the Utes a 28-14 lead.

Down in Tallahassee, Duke is on top after three quarters, 20-17.

Virginia stuns No. 10 North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) – Mike Hollins ran for three touchdowns and Malik Washington had the go-ahead scoring catch in the fourth quarter to help Virginia upset No. 10 North Carolina 31-27 on Saturday night, shaking up the Atlantic Coast Conference race with its first road win against a top-10 opponent.

James Jackson had the clinching interception with 26 seconds left, picking off UNC star quarterback Drake Maye as Maye was hit by Paul Akere with the Tar Heels (6-1, 3-1) reaching midfield on a drive for a winning score.

Instead, Virginia players started spilling onto the field to celebrate, while Jackson ran all the way down the field to the end zone in his own jubilation.

Utah 21, USC 14

What seemed like a potential shootout has turned into a more grinding affair, but Utah finally broke a 14-14 stalemate with USC in the third quarter. The Utes began the frame by forcing a three-and-out, then marched 59 yards over nine plays to score and go up seven.

Michigan cruising against Michigan State

An NCAA investigation into whether Michigan violated rules by stealing play-calling signals does not seem to have distracted the Wolverines.

Michigan scored touchdowns on four of its first five possessions against Michigan State, taking a 28-0 lead at halftime. Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy has thrown for 276 yards on 20-of-26 passing with one TD.

Michigan State, by contrast, has just two first downs and has moved the ball no deeper than the Michigan 49-yard line. — Josh Peter

Duke gets pick-six, then gives up kickoff return to Florida State 

Duke’s defense strikes again! 

Blue Devils CB Chandler Rivers intercepted a tipped pass from Florida State QB Jordan Travis and ran the ball back 13 yards for a pick-six to extend Duke’s lead to 17-7.

But not so fast. Florida State’s special teams instantly responded on the next play, Seminoles WR Deuce Spann scoring on a 99-yard kickoff return to bring Florida State within one possession of Duke. 

Duke is up 17-14. — Cydney Henderson

Utah, USC headed for scoring fest?

Anybody wondering what the over-under is on punts?

So far there has been just one, with Utah and USC exchanging scores.

USC’s Zachariah Branch scored on a 2-yard run and Utah responded with Bryson Barnes’ 10-yard run to knot the score, 14-14. — Josh Peter

USC defense up to old tricks vs. Utah, but offense rallies

USC, coming of a 48-20 loss to Notre Dame, held Utah scoreless for two plays.

On the third play of the game, however, Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes connected with Sione Vaki for a 53 -yard TD as the Utes took a 7-0 lead over the Trojans. Inside a less-than-capacity Coliseum crowd.

But back came the Trojans, tying the score five players later thanks to MarShawn Lloyd‘s 45-yard touchdown run. — Josh Peter

Duke takes early lead over Florida State after fourth down stop

Defense led to offense for Duke. 

Florida State was unable to convert a fourth-and-1 on Duke’s 36-yard line. The Blue Devils were able to capitalize on the turnover on downs and found the end zone on Jaquez Moore’s 42-yard touchdown. QB Riley Leonard handed the ball off to Moore in the backfield and the RB was able find the edge and run down the sideline. 

Duke is up 7-0 over Florida State, marking the Blue Devils’ first lead over the Seminoles since 2001, according to CBS' Shehan Jeyarajah. — Cydney Henderson

Alabama surges past Tennessee with dominant second half

Alabama dominated the second half in a 34-20 victory over Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide fell behind 13-0 and trailed 20-7 at the half. But then the Tide rolled, scoring 27 unanswered points in the second half against the 15th-ranked Volunteers.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was 14-of-21 passing for 220 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Jase McClellan fueled the rushing attack with 115 yards on 27 carries.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III was spectacular early and finished with 271 yards and two touchdowns on 28-of-41 passing. But it was a day of squandered opportunities for the Volunteers.

The Vols got inside Alabama’s 10-yard line four times and came away with only one touchdown along with two field goals. — Josh Peter

Texas avoids upset against Houston, but Quinn Ewers exits with injury

HOUSTON − On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns avoided disaster and returned to their winning ways.

A fourth-quarter touchdown run by freshman CJ Baxter lifted No. 8 Texas to a 31-24 win over Houston at TDECU Stadium. With the victory, Texas improved its record to 6-1 with a 3-1 showing in Big 12 play. Due to a loss to Oklahoma and its bye, this was UT's first win in the month of October.

Back on the field for the first time in two weeks, Texas showed little signs of rust in the first quarter and jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the 12:49 mark of the second quarter. Houston, however, rallied with two touchdown passes in the first half's final seven minutes and then tied with game less than three minutes into the third quarter.

Texas regained the lead with a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter, but Houston matched that score with a 40-yard kick in the fourth frame. That set the stage for some late-game heroics.

After a nice kickoff return by Keilan Robinson set UT up near midfield, Texas pieced together a six-play scoring drive. With 5:37 left, Baxter ran through the heart of the UH defense and his 16-yard score gave Texas a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The game-winning drive was directed by backup quarterback Maalik Murphy, a redshirt freshman who replaced an injured Quinn Ewers in the fourth quarter.

Given a chance to respond, Houston (3-4) drove down into the UT red zone. But on fourth-and-1 at the Texas 10, Houston threw incomplete. — Danny Davis, USA TODAY Network

Final: Oregon 38, Washington State 24

Washington State found the end zone in the fourth quarter of the game after QB Cameron Ward completed a 16-yard pass to WR Isaiah Hamilton, but it was too little too late. 

Oregon defeated its Pac-12 counterpart 38-24 after putting up 544 total yards of offense, 293 by air and 251 on the ground. Running backs Bucky Irving and Jordan James led the way for the Ducks with 180 all-purpose and 103 rushing yards, respectively. Irving, who had three touchdowns on the day, was shaken up in the fourth quarter, but appears to have avoided any significant injury. 

QB Bo Nix completed 18 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. WR Tez Johnson added six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. 

Despite the losing effort, Cougars WR Lincoln Victor set a school record with 16 receptions for 161 yards. Ward completed 34 passes for 438 yards and one touchdown, but he was sacked six times. Washington State was 1-for-4 on fourth down. — Cydney Henderson

Final: Alabama 34, Tennessee 20

Alabama recovered from a sluggish first half for a 34-20 victory over Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

The Volunteers bolted to a 13-0 lead and were up 20-7 at the half. But the Crimson Tide scored 27 unanswered points in the second half.

Tennessee got inside the Alabama 10-yard line four times but managed just one touchdown on those possessions. — Josh Peter

Alabama builds on lead over Tennessee with scoop-and-score TD

Oh, dear, Vols fans. The Crimson Tide suddenly looks like the, well, Crimson Tide.Alabama LB Chris Braswell sacked Vols QB Joe Milton for a 13-yard loss and forced the ball loose deep in Tennessee territory.Jihaad Campbell scooped up the fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown with 7:26 left to play in the fourth quarter to move Alabama's lead to 34-20. — Josh Peter

Oregon extends lead vs. Washington State, but RB Bucky Irving injured 

Oregon fans held their breath after RB Bucky Irving stayed down on the field after he landed awkwardly on a 3-yard run with 9:06 remaining in the game. Irving was able to walk to the sideline under his own power to be evaluated. 

No Irving? No problem. The next play QB Bo Nix connected with Tez Johnson on a wheel route for a 17-yard touchdown on third-and-goal to extend the Ducks' lead over Washington State to 38-16. — Cydney Henderson

Texas comes up with huge interception against Houston

Clinging to a 24-21 lead, Texas came up with a needed stop. The Longhorns' Michael Taaffe picked off Houston QB Donovan Smith in the end zone, halting a Cougars drive.

Alabama extends lead over Tennessee

Wait, is this the same Alabama team that trailed 13-0?

The Crimson Tide extended their lead with a 50-yard FG from Will Reichard. Like the last one, it sneaked inside the right upright.

Alabama now has scored 20 unanswered points after this 15-play, 56-yard drive and leads 27-20. — Josh Peter

Texas football in tight battle with Houston

Texas appeared to be cruising against former Southwest Conference rival Houston in their only battle as Big 12 opponents. But the Longhorns watched a 21-0 lead get wiped away by the Cougars and lead just 24-21 entering the fourth quarter. Texas is looking to avoid its second straight loss, after falling late to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry two weeks ago. — Jace Evans

Tennessee QB Joe Milton taunts Alabama with bow and arrow gesture

Tennessee QB Joe Milton motioned his arms as if he was shooting a bow and arrow at Crimson Tide players as he ran onto the field Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It's a popular celebrative motion on offense, particularly among quarterbacks. — Austin Curtwright, USA TODAY Network

Alabama 24, Tennessee 20: End of third quarter

Let’s keep it simple. In the first half, Alabama rushed for 16 yards. In the third quarter, the Tide rushed for 68 yards, which helped open up the offense.

Also, Alabama scoring on the second play of the second half proved to be no fluke. The Tide was off and rolling to 17 unanswered points in the quarter.

Tennessee gambled on fourth-and-1 for the second time of the day and came up short again. This time Alabama converted it into a TD drive. — Josh Peter

Oregon breaks it open on Bucky Irving’s third TD vs. Washington State 

Another drive, another Bucky Irving touchdown. 

The Oregon running back scored for the third time on a 43-yard run. QB Bo Nix handed the ball off in the backfield to Irving, who broke a tackle up the middle and found the end zone. 

Washington State’s defense has no answer for Irving. He has 126 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, in addition to one receiving touchdown and 47 receiving yards.  

Oregon is up 31-16. — Cydney Henderson

Alabama takes its first lead against Tennessee

For the second time Saturday, Tennessee went for it on fourth-and-1 — and paid for it. Alabama stuffed Dylan Sampson for no gain and the Tide took over at Tennessee’s 47.

Five plays later, Alabama’s Jase McClellan scored on a 5-yard run and, with 3:42 left in the third quarter, Alabama led for the first time. The Tide did it on the strength of 17 unanswered points. Alabama 24, Tennessee 20 — Josh Peter

Alabama inches closer to Tennessee

After Tennessee went three-and-out on its first possession of the second half, Alabama’s offense went back to work. No fireworks, but the Tide drove 46 yards on five plays and cashed in on Will Reichard’s 42-yard FG that snuck inside the right upright. Tennessee 20, Alabama 17 — Josh Peter

Oregon extends lead over Washington State on Bucky Irving’s 42-yard TD 

Have yourself a day Bucky Irving. 

The Oregon RB not only has 83 rushing yards, he added 42 receiving yards on a touchdown pass from QB Bo Nix to extend the Ducks' lead over Washington State to two possessions. 

Irving accounted for every single yard on the Ducks’ four-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Oregon is up 24-13. — Cydney Henderson

No. 17 Duke at No. 4 Florida State

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: It’s not a stretch to say this is the biggest football game the Duke program has experienced in the sport’s modern era. That includes the Notre Dame tilt earlier this season as well as the Blue Devils’ appearance in the 2013 ACC title game. Duke was swamped 45-7 by the eventual national champion Florida State in that game a decade ago, but this year’s squad appears better constructed to compete with the Seminoles. Even so, coming away with a win in Tallahassee is a tall order. Duke QB Riley Leonard, who suffered an ankle injury late in that heartbreaker against the Fighting Irish, sat out last week’s win against North Carolina State and hopes to be ready for this contest. His mobility is a big part of his game, however, so if he is not at full speed he’ll have a harder time eluding the Florida State pursuit led by LB Kalen DeLoach. Seminoles QB Jordan Travis could also have his hands full with the Blue Devils’ defense that features standouts at all three levels. DL Aeneas Peebles and LB Tre Freeman keep the line of scrimmage locked down while DB Jaylen Stinson cleans up anything that reaches the secondary.

Why it could disappoint: Make no mistake – the Duke defense is good. But FSU’s assortment of playmakers will be harder to completely lock down for four quarters, so the game will hinge on the performance of the Blue Devils’ offense. If Duke is able to move the ball consistently and finish drives with points, things should remain competitive to the end. — Eddie Timanus

No. 14 Utah at No. 16 Southern California

Time/TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The good news for USC is last week’s misadventure at Notre Dame has no impact on the Pac-12 race. But the bad news is the loss exposed plenty of issues, and the two-time defending league champion Utes will be all too happy to take advantage of them as they look to stay within shouting distance of the lead. Trojans QB Caleb Williams figures to be under constant duress once again, with DE Jonah Elliss leading the rush for Utah while DB Sione Vaki, also a part-time running back, limits his deep options. Utes QB Cam Rising is once again unlikely to make his season debut, and the Utah offense has been inconsistent at best without him thus far. The Utes got by California last week with Bryson Barnes getting help from the aforementioned Vaki in Wildcat looks.

Why it could disappoint: This might be a good night for Utah’s more conventional ground attack, as USC is still surrendering an unsustainable 4.2 yards per rushing attempt. If that proves to be the case, Williams will see his opportunities with the ball limited. It’s also possible that the Trojans’ offense will regain its explosive form and force the Utes into uncomfortable comeback mode. A scenario in between is more likely, resulting in a tense affair. — Eddie Timanus

Alabama offense comes alive

Wow! That was fast. On the second play of the third quarter, Jalen Milroe connected with Isaiah Bond on a 46-yard TD pass. Jase McClellan jump-started the Tide on a 29-yard run on the first play of the half. Tennessee 20, Alabama 14 — Josh Peter

QB Joe Milton continues to shine for Tennessee

Vols QB Joe Milton continued to deliver in the second quarter, most notably with a six-yard TD pass with 12 seconds left in the half. He was 16-for-22 passing for 175 yards and his offensive line deserved ample credit. The Vols allowed no sacks.

By contrast, the Vols sacked Jalen Milroe three times. He was more effective in the second quarter, but still had to look over his shoulder as much as look downfield.

Reasons for hope: For Alabama, well, the Tide scored and were in position to score again before Milroe’s deflected pass was intercepted in the end zone late in the quarter. For Tennessee, it got inside the Alabama 10 for the third time and finally scored a TD. Tennessee 20, Alabama 7. — Josh Peter

Oregon leads Washington State at the half, 17-13

Washington State closed the half with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Dean Janikowski to cut the Ducks lead to four at halftime, 17-13. 

Oregon has dominated the run game and averaged 8.6 yards per rush. The Ducks have recorded 154 rushing yards, while Washington State has only 28. 

Washington State’s Cameron Ward has completed 18-for-26 passes for 247 yards. Oregon’s Bo Nix has completed 8-for-12 passes for 141 yards. 

Oregon will start the second half with the ball. — Cydney Henderson

Tennessee strikes again – this time with TD

The Vols got back inside Alabama’s 10-yard line for the third time of the game – and this time they finally scored a touchdown.

Joe Milton, facing an all-out blitz on third-and-goal at the 6, found tight end McCallan Castles in the end zone with 12 seconds left in the first half.

The TD capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive set up by an interception of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe with 3:01 left in the half. Tennessee 20, Alabama 7

Penn State coach James Franklin makes interesting claim after loss

Penn State coach James Franklin delivered high praise to No. 3 Ohio State after the Buckeyes' 20-12 win on Saturday: particularly OSU's defense.

The Buckeyes allowed only 255 total yards vs. No. 6 Penn State. Moreover, they limited the Nittany Lions to just one third-down conversion on 16 attempts and one fourth-down conversion on three attempts. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar completed just 18 of 43 passing for 191 yards and a touchdown.

In a glass-half-full remark after the game, Franklin said that he believed he just watched two of the best defenses in college football:

"I'm not sure, we'll watch the tape, but I'm not sure if we didn't just watch two of the best teams in college football," Franklin told reporters postgame. "Obviously, specifically, on the defensive side of the ball."

The lone touchdown Penn State scored came with 29 seconds left in the game with the game already nearly out of reach. — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORK

Oregon takes lead after Bucky Irving’s 40-yard run vs. Washington State 

Oregon picked up right where it left off with its run game.

The Cougars turned the ball over at the Ducks’ 39-yard-line after Washington State couldn’t convert on fourth-and-three with 2:30 remaining in the half. Oregon RB Bucky Irving picked up a quick six yards, before running for 40 yards to the red zone. Another costly penalty on Washington State set the Ducks up at the goal line and Bo Nix ran the ball in for a 2-yard touchdown. 

Irving is up to 72 rushing yards. Oregon leads 17-10. — Cydney Henderson

Jordan James, Oregon tie it up against Washington State 

Oregon RB Jordan James has entered the chat. 

James exploded for 57 yards on five carries in the Ducks’ nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. His biggest gain of the possession was a 37-yard run. Bucky Irving ended the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that was set up by an illegal hands to the face penalty called on Washington State. 

James leads the Ducks with 57 rushing yards, following by Irving’s 26. QB Bo Nix has completed 8-of-12 passes for 141 yards. The score is tied 10-10. — Cydney Henderson

Alabama offense awakens with Jermaine Burton TD

Alabama’s offense finally comes to life, and Jalen Milroe fires a 10-yard TD pass to Jermaine Burton with 7:05 left in the second quarter. The strike capped a 59-yard, nine-play drive. The Tide was 0-for-4 on third-down conversions when it faced third-and-7 at the Tennessee 46. Milroe passed to Burton for a 22-yard gain. Fittingly enough, they connected again on the scoring pass. Tennessee 13, Alabama 7. — Josh Peter

Washington State retakes lead after Bo Nix’s pooch punt 

Washington State was pinned inside its five-yard line, but the Cougars marched down the field to Oregon’s end zone to retake the lead. 

The Cougars were pinned to their 3-yard line following a perfectly executed pooch punt by Oregon QB Bo Nix, but Washington State QB Cameron Ward didn’t appear fazed and his team put together a 97-yard, seven-play touchdown drive. 

Ward connected with WR Lincoln Victor for a 20-yard play and found WR Kyle Williams for a 47-yard gain into Oregon territory. The drive was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by RB Nakia Watson to take a 10-3 lead over Oregon. 

Ward has completed 12-for-16 passes for 159 yards. — Cydney Henderson

Tennessee shutting out Alabama after one quarter

Alabama had one first down in the quarter. That’s right, one first down. To go along with 36 measly yards in offense.

By comparison, Tennessee racked up 10 first downs along with 187 yards in offense.

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton and receiver Squirrel White were phenomenal, connecting for seven receptions, 91 yards and a touchdown.

So when wasn’t Nick Saban steaming? Because Tennessee entered the red zone twice and both times had to settle for a field goal. Tennessee 13, Alabama 0. — Josh Peter

Vols add another FG against Crimson Tide

Tennessee scores again, this time on a 26-yard field goal from Charles Campbell – with some regret. The Volunteers recovered a fumble by Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at the Alabama 26. But again the Vols’ offense stalled in the red zone, forcing Tennessee to settle for another field goal. The Vols lead 13-0. — Josh Peter

Camden Lewis gets redemption, Oregon scores FG

Oregon kicker Camden Lewis got another chance at a field goal. After missing his last two field goal attempts – including one last week and one earlier in this game – Lewis knocked in a 27-yard field goal to tie the score, 3-3. 

Lewis has been struggling with his confidence after missing the potential game-tying, 43-yard field goal kick against Washington, according to the ABC broadcast. Lewis deleted his Instagram and Twitter accounts following last week’s missed kick, but seeing the ball fly between the uprights has to feel good for Lewis. — Cydney Henderson

Tennessee stretches lead against Alabama early

Tennessee stretched its lead to 10-0 on a 24-yard Charles Campbell field goal with two minutes left in the first quarter but could’ve had more. The Vols marched 75 yards downfield and had first-and goal at the Alabama 5. But the Crimson Tide stuffed the Vols on the next three plays, and the Vols settled for the field goal.

Tennessee is up 10-0. — Josh Peter

Washington State scores FG to take early lead against No. 11 Oregon

Washington State got on the board first. 

QB Cameron Ward found WR Lincoln Victor for a 37-yard completion and Ward moved the sticks with his feet on a 10-yard run. But another false start penalty, the Cougars’ second in as many drives, kept them out of the end zone. Washington State settled for a 36-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead over the Ducks. — Cydney Henderson

Oregon comes up empty-handed after missed field goal vs. Washington State 

The No. 1 scoring offense in the country got right to work. Ducks QB Bo Nix started the day with a 33-yard pass to tight end Terrance Ferguson, followed by RB Gary Bryant Jr.’s 15-yard run into Cougars territory. But the Ducks’ opening drive stalled after a holding penalty negated a touchdown pass. 

Oregon coach Dan Lanning has been aggressive on fourth down this season, but he tentatively sent out his field goal unit for a 47-yard field goal attempt. Oregon kicker Camden Lewis missed the field goal wide left.

Both Pac-12 teams are looking to bounce back from conference losses last week. Oregon lost to Washington, 36-33. Lewis missed what would have been a game-tying, 43-yard field goal as time expired. Washington State got blown out at home by Arizona, 44-6. — Cydney Henderson

Ohio State beats Penn State 20-12 in Big Ten showdown

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes came alive in the fourth quarter to overpower the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions, 20-12, and remain undefeated at 7-0.

They scored half their points in the fourth quarter after a defensive battle. Marvin Harrison Jr. had a career day with 11 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Backup quarterback Devin Brown injured his ankle as the Buckeyes failed to get a touchdown after marching to the Penn State 1-yard line.

The Nittany Lions didn’t take their first loss quietly as they rallied for their lone touchdown of the game with 30 seconds on the clock after Ohio State missed a field goal. Penn State’s offensive line allowed four sacks on the day. — Victoria Hernandez

Squirrel White, No. 15 Tennessee jump out front against No. 8 Alabama

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton connected with Squirrel White on a balletic, 39-yard touchdown drive as the Vols took a 7-0 lead with 12:39 left in the first quarter.

The touchdown pass capped a 75-yard, eight-play drive – about as good as a Vols fan could draw it up for the opening possession on the road against Alabama.

Milton was 5-for-5 passing for 60 yards and rushed once for nine yards on a third-down conversion.— Josh Peter

College football picks Week 8

Here are our college football Week 8 expert picks: 

Penn State strikes with late touchdown

The Nittany Lions are not going away quietly and scored a touchdown with 30 seconds left in their rivalry game against Ohio State.

On second-and-goal from the Buckeyes’ 8-yard line, quarterback Drew Allar rolled to his right and outran Ohio State’s surging offensive linemen. He found Kaden Saunders in the center of the end zone where the receiver grabbed the ball in front of cornerback Jermaine Mathews Jr. and fell to the turf for the score.

The Nittany Lions went for a two-point conversion with a trick pass play, which failed.

Ohio State is up 20-12. — Victoria Hernandez

UCF falls short in upset bid against No. 7 Oklahoma

UCF had Oklahoma gasping before ultimately falling to the heavily favored Sooners, 31-29. UCF had a chance to tie the score with 1:16 to play, but Oklahoma stopped the Golden Knights’ two-point conversion before running out the clock. UCF took a 23-17 lead on a field goal with 5:28 to play. But Oklahoma scored two touchdowns before UCF scored once more on its final drive, whereupon its two-point attempt – a foiled trick play – failed. — Josh Peter

No. 15 Tennessee at No. 8 Alabama

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: The Volunteers survived a playoff eliminator last week against Texas A&M and now face another in the tough road environment of Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide did enough to get by Arkansas a week ago but still have some obstacles ahead in their quest to close out the SEC West. Tide fans continue to see the up and down sides of QB Jalen Milroe, who can make some beautiful throws but also some ill-advised decisions. Protection remains an issue for the Alabama line that has allowed a disturbing 31 sacks, a number DE James Pearce Jr. and his Volunteers linemates will look to increase. Tennessee QB Joe Milton has struggled against top-tier defenses himself, and Alabama’s group led by LB Dallas Turner certainly qualifies.

Why it could disappoint: Like the Vols’ game last week in this time slot against Texas A&M, this might not be the prettiest football. It probably won’t be the lowest scoring game of the day – read on for that one –, but there might be long stretches of limited action. There are breakaway threats on both sides, however, so the game-changing play could happen at any time. — Eddie Timanus

Minnesota at No. 23 Iowa

Time/TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch:Ah, here we go. If you love defense, this is the game for you. Last week’s hard-fought win at Wisconsin allowed the Hawkeyes to seize control of the Big Ten West. They now look to hold on to it, as well as the greatest trophy in all of sports, as they host the Golden Gophers in the annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale. The bronze pig has lived in Iowa City since 2015, but Minnesota would love to bring him back to the Twin Cities and salvage a disappointing first half of the season in the process. You aren’t likely to hear the word ‘touchdown’ much – the two teams have only 29 between them all season. LBs Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson anchor the Iowa defense that is as stingy as ever, but the Hawkeyes’ best offensive weapon might be punter Tory Taylor, who leads the Big Ten with an average of 48.3 yards per boot. The Golden Gophers have been fairly sound on defense themselves, save for that late meltdown at Northwestern in Week 4 that might ultimately cost them bowl eligibility. LB Maverick Baranowski is the top stopper of the group that will look to keep Iowa’s ground game in check. The Hawkeyes’ struggling aerial attack will be even less of a threat without injured TE Erick All. Deacon Hill has thrown for 262 total yards in three starts.

Why it could disappoint: There’s an almost morbid fascination with watching Big Ten West football just to see what level of offensive ineptitude is attainable. A multiple-score advantage either way could prove insurmountable, though Minnesota WR Daniel Jackson at least provides a potential big-play threat in the passing game. — Eddie Timanus

Ohio State makes it two-score game with career day from Marvin Harrison Jr.

Ohio State is pulling away in the fourth quarter after scoring 10 unanswered points.

The latest score is a 19-yard touchdown from Kyle McCord to star receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. The quarterback took the shotgun snap, dropped back and found Harrison, who ran a cross route. Harrison turned around his shoulder and sprinted downfield toward the end zone along the left sideline for the score.

The catch is Harrison’s eleventh of the day, a career high for the junior, per the Fox broadcast. — Victoria Hernandez

Ryan Day's fourth-down call at Penn State goal line misguided: analysis

It has practically become canon now in the broader college football conversation that pretty much any call to go for it on fourth down is a good one. I'm here to tell you it is not.

Forgive me this mini-rant but it's gotten out of control with these ridiculous calls that just don't make sense. Obviously, Dan Lanning at Oregon got a lot of attention last week for his big gambles that went bust against Washington. 

But what Ryan Day did Saturday has sent me over the top. It probably won't matter for the Buckeyes, who are leading 13-6 in the fourth quarter against an offensively inept Penn State at the time of this writing. For the life of me, though, I'll never understand why he didn't just take the points with two minutes left in the third quarter to go up on a chip shot field goal when they were leading by just 10-6. 

Instead, Ohio State tried to run a short passing play that never got to the goal line and turned it over. I understand the situation here. Getting a touchdown at that point in the game and going up two scores would be huge. If you don't make it, you're making your opponent go 98 yards. And because you only need two yards, the analytics say to go for it.

But for me, purely analytics-based decision making doesn't factor in the most important part of risk vs. reward, which is that the opponent matters as much as your capabilities. Let's say the analytics tell you you're going to score 65% of the time from there. OK, fine. But that doesn't mean it's 65% evenly applied regardless of whether you're playing Penn State or Purdue. 

Penn State is one of the best defenses in the country, and your odds of making that play are going to be considerably lower against that defense than a poor defense. That's just common sense.

It didn't hurt Ohio State too badly in that spot, but it could have because the Buckeyes muffed the ensuing punt and gave the ball back to Penn State near midfield. 

I just think coaches these days are way too dismissive of the opportunity to get a field goal in a situation where a field goal would be a really good outcome given the time, score and opponent. — Dan Wolken

Ohio State expands lead in defensive battle with Penn State

After a scoreless third quarter, Ohio State added a few more points with a field goal in the fourth.

Quarterback Kyle McCord went 2-of-4 through the air on the nine-play, 71-yard drive. His first two passes went deep for 28 yards to Marvin Harrison Jr. and 29 yards to Cade Stover.

Manny Diaz’s Penn State defense was stalwart from there and the Buckeyes were forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal, which Jayden Fielding sailed through the uprights.

Ohio State is up 13-6. — Victoria Hernandez

Ohio State 10, Penn State 6 after third quarter

The Ohio State - Penn State rivalry game is trending toward the under as the teams have combined for 16 points through three quarters.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, although the Buckeyes had the ball at Penn State’s 1-yard line late in the period and the Nittany Lions stomped out their fourth-and-goal try.

Quarterback Devin Brown was injured on the drive and ws carted off with an ankle injury. Ohio State is up 10-6 after the third quarter. — Victoria Hernandez

Penn State makes huge stop on fourth and goal

The No. 6 Penn State defense is holding strong against its rival No. 3 Ohio State.

The Buckeyes marched down the field and had first-and-goal at the Nittany Lions’ 9-yard line. They had back-to-back plays that got them on the 1-yard line. They called a third run play and Miyan Williams was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage.

On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, head coach Ryan Day decided to not go for a field goal, but had his offense line up for a final touchdown try. Quarterback Kyle McCord lined up in the shotgun, took the snap, dropped back and threw the ball to his right where he found Carnell Tate at the line of scrimmage. The wide receiver was instantly wrapped up by safeties Jaylen Reed and Zakee Wheatley.

The Nittany Lions jumped up in celebration as they headed to the sideline and their offense took the field. Ohio State is up 10-6. — Victoria Hernandez

Ohio State quarterback Devin Brown injured

Late in the third quarter, Ohio State backup quarterback Devin Brown was helped off the field by the Buckeyes' training staff after being stopped right in front of the goal line.

Brown was taken down by multiple defenders. He slowly walked off the field with the help of multiple trainers and went into Ohio State's medical tent.

Per Fox, Brown suffered a right ankle sprain. He was later carted off the field and taken to the Ohio State locker room.

Brown had been used as a short-yardage quarterback for Ohio State, and recorded five rushing yards on two carries Saturday against Penn State. — Colin Gay, Columbus Dispatch

UCF WR Javon Baker blows kiss while scoring TD against Oklahoma

UCF wide receiver Javon Baker earned style points on an 86-yard touchdown reception against Oklahoma. As Baker sped down the field, he blew a kiss to the Oklahoma sideline. For the Sooners, more concerning than the kiss: the score was tied 17-17 at the half.  — Josh Peter

Ohio State 10, Penn State 6 at the half

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day raised eyebrows at the end of the second quarter when he had quarterback Kyle McCord take a knee with :42 seconds remaining on their 17-yard line. The No. 3 Buckeyes had all three timeouts and a chance to put more points on the board, but Day was satisfied going into the locker room up 10-6 over their Big Ten rival, No. 6 Penn State. 

McCord has gone 11-of-21 for 125 yards and nearly had a fumble returned for a touchdown. He’s assisted by Marvin Harrison Jr., who’s had five receptions for 75 yards.

For the Nittany Lions, quarterback Drew Allar is 6-of-17 for 91 yards and running back Nicholas Singleton has six carries for 45 yards.

The game has been a defensive battle as Penn State’s Johnny Dixon and Ohio State’s Sonny Styles each have a key sack. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes offenses have been held to 161 and 187 yards, respectively. — Victoria Hernandez

Penn State's Chop Robinson hurt

Penn State's edge rusher Chop Robinson, who has three sacks this season, went down and remained down for a long time. He eventually left the field, walking gingerly and looking dazed. — Colin Gay, Columbus Dispatch

Baylor scores two TDs in 7 seconds against Cincinnati

Seven seconds is all it took for Baylor to score two touchdowns again Cincinnati. Here’s how it worked:

Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen scampered in for a 3-yard touchdown with 12:16 left in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Baylor linebacker Byron Vaughn recovered a fumble at the 10-yard line and ran it in for touchdown No. 2. That score gave Baylor a 17-7 lead. — Josh Peter

Penn State scores another field goal

Penn State notched another three points after a seven-play, 51-yard drive.

The Ohio State defense stuffed the Nittany Lions’ run game to force fourth-and-six.

Kicker Alex Felkins’ 41-yard field goal attempt was good, his second kick of the day. Ohio State is up 10-6. — Victoria Hernandez

Ohio State surges ahead of Penn State with first touchdown of game

After a sloppy drive, Ohio State got the first touchdown of its rivalry game against Penn State when running back Miyan Williams powered in for the two-yard score.

En route to the end zone, quarterback Kyle McCord had the ball stripped by Penn State linebacker Curtis Jacobs, who picked it up for a scoop-and-score touchdown. The play was called back for a defensive holding.

The Buckeyes rebounded with the help of a big catch from Marvin Harrison Jr. and an unnecessary roughness penalty on the Nittany Lions that set Williams up to punch in the score.

Ohio State is up 10-3. — Victoria Hernandez

Ohio State 3, Penn State 3 after first quarter

Ohio State and Penn State are tied with a field goal apiece after the first quarter in their rivalry matchup.

The Buckeyes' defense held the Nittany Lions to three-and-outs in their first two drives. 

Each defense had a key sack, one that forced Ohio State to punt and one that helped hold the Nittany Lions to a field goal.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has three catches for 28 yards, all on Ohio State’s scoring drive, which ended in a 33-yard field goal.

For Penn State, running back Nicholas Singleton has four carries for 44 yards. — Victoria Hernandez

Air Force makes history with 94-yard TD pass

Air Force quarterback Zac Larrier connected with wide receiver Dane Kinamon on a 94-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, and the score did more than put Air Force up 7-0 over Navy. Per CBS, the play also made history as the longest in Air Force history and the longest from scrimmage at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1959. It also was the longest play in school history. — Josh Peter

Penn State ties up score against Ohio State

Penn State opened its rivalry game against Ohio State with two three-and-outs. But cornerback Johnny Dixon sacked Kyle McCord to force a punt and swing the momentum Penn State’s way.

On the ensuing drive, running back Nicholas Singleton had 42 yards as the Nittany Lions marched down the field. Ohio State safety Sonny Styles sacked Drew Allar, which set them back and forced a field goal.

Kicker Alex Felkins’ attempt from 40 yards was good. The score is tied 3-3. — Victoria Hernandez

Coach Prime, Colorado land QB prospect Antwann Hill Jr.

Deion Sanders posted another notable victory this week despite his team being off Saturday during a bye week. Coach Prime’ pulled that off by getting a commitment from high school junior Antwann Hill Jr., the fourth-highest rated quarterback in ESPN’s rankings and a Top-10 consensus quarterback for the Class of 2025. 

Hill, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound prospect from Warner Robins, Georgia, chose Colorado over Alabama, Georgia and LSU among other schools, according to ESPN. 

With his announcement, Hill emerges as a candidate to succeed Shedeur Sanders as Colorado’s starting quarterback – unless Sanders opts to turn pro early. Sanders, Coach Prime’s son, is a junior. — Josh Peter

Ohio State strikes first against Penn State

After forcing the Nittany Lions into a three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, Ohio State got to work at The Horseshoe.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had three catches for 28 yards in the Buckeyes’ opening drive, including one for a key third-down conversion.

Quarterback Kyle McCord threw three incomplete passes from Penn State’s 15-yard line as the Nittany Lions defense held the home team to a field goal.

Kicker Jayden Fielding nailed the 33-yard score and the Buckeyes are up 3-0. — Victoria Hernandez

College GameDay signs dig deep into history of Penn State-Ohio State, mock Michigan scandal

ESPN’s “College GameDay” is a chance for fans to shine with their passion and wit. Saturday’s installment of the show in Columbus, Ohio, for the Ohio State-Penn State game was no different.

Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” has snuck into ESPN’s territory and has also been must-watch television with fans bringing their best jokes, taunts and more. — Victoria Hernandez

No. 6 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State

Time/TV: Noon ET, Fox.

Why watch:This week’s game of the century is the first in the much-anticipated round-robin among the trio of title contenders in the Big Ten East. The Nittany Lions seek their first win against the Buckeyes since 2016 and their first in Columbus since 2011. A loss wouldn’t be a championship dealbreaker either way, but the winner will have a sizable advantage in the division going forward with both teams set to face Michigan in November. Buckeyes standout WR Marvin Harrison Jr. will have the undivided attention of Penn State DB Daequan Hardy, but Ohio State QB Kyle McCord also makes extensive use of TE Cade Stover in the short passing game. Nittany Lions QB Drew Allar has yet to throw a pick this season, but the hostile environs of the Horseshoe will present the toughest challenge of his young career. He’ll need ground support from RBs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton, all of whom will try to steer clear of DL Tyleik Williams and the active Buckeye defensive front that creates havoc in opposing backfields.

Why it could disappoint: It wouldn’t be the first time this matchup produced a convincing win by the Buckeyes, but this Ohio State offense might not be quite as loaded as in years past, and the Penn State defense appears to be better equipped to withstand it. — Eddie Timanus

No. 22 Air Force at Navy

Time/TV: Noon ET, CBS.

Why watch: After cracking the Top 25 for the first time this season, the Falcons take a break from their Mountain West schedule to contest the first leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series. The Midshipmen got off to a rocky start in Ireland against Notre Dame this season but have shown more consistency of late, getting back to .500 after two wins. Air Force QB Zac Larrier left last week’s victory against Wyoming in the second half with a leg injury, but Jensen Jones stepped in and made the key pitch to John Lee Eldridge for the winning score. Jones will likely be called upon again, but FB Emmanuel Michel still figures to be the primary workhorse in the Falcons’ option attack and ergo the main responsibility of Navy LB Will Harbour, the anchor of the Mids’ defense that is coming off its second shutout of the season. The Midshipmen also had to make a QB change last week in the victory against American Athletic Conference newcomer Charlotte as freshman Braxton Woodson replaced an injured Tai Lavatai. But again, the main priority for LB Alec Mock and the Falcons’ defense will be to shut down the interior space where Navy FBs Alex Tecza and Daba Fofana operate.

Why it could disappoint: There are no secrets when academy rivals get together. Each side knows what the other likes to do, so there might be little in the way of fireworks. The QB uncertainty for both is a further indicator that there might not be many points, but the intensity level will be high for all 60 minutes. And no, this still won’t be the lowest score of the day. — Eddie Timanus

College football bold predictions

The college football season has reached the back nine with seven weeks down and seven to go before the playoff pairings and bowl lineup are announced. Between now and then, there's sure to be surprises along the way.

The hard part is sorting out when and where they're going to come from. This Saturday, however, provides plenty of opportunity for upsets and unlikely results with a Big Ten showdown between Penn State and Ohio State leading the schedule and key conference matchups in the SEC, Pac-12 and ACC.

Read our Week 8 bold predictions here.

College Football Fix 

You can never say that Dan Lanning plays it safe. The Oregon coach gambled on multiple fourth-down calls that didn't pay off in a loss to Washington. The last one near midfield in the final minutes led to the Huskies winning the game with a late touchdown. Were those calls justified or were they the reason the Ducks are now without much margin for error in their bid to make the College Football Playoff? 

USA TODAY Sports reporters Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg discuss these issues and more in this week's version of the College Football Fix podcast. 

USA TODAY Sports midseason All-American team 

If there's a no-doubt star to put at the top of the USA TODAY Sports midseason All-America team, it's Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

The Heisman Trophy leader at the midway point has been the biggest reason the Huskies lead the Bowl Subdivision in yards per play (8.5) by a significant margin. Penix has thrown at least three touchdowns in all but one of Washington's games and averaged just one interception for every 71.7 attempts. — Paul Myerberg

Read USA TODAY Sports’ complete midseason All-American team. 

Marvin Harrison Jr. shows up to Ohio State - Penn State game in style

Marvin Harrison Jr. showed his team spirit in style ahead of the Buckeyes’ rivalry matchup against Penn State. The wide receiver arrived at Ohio Stadium wearing a red velvet blazer. He also had matching rose-colored glasses to show he had no doubts about facing the Nittany Lions. — Victoria Hernandez

College GameDay Week 8 

ESPN’s “College GameDay” is in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday for the Top 10 showdown between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 6 Penn State. This is Ohio State's second appearance on GameDay this season after its Week 4 game at then No. 9 Notre Dame on Sept. 23. (The Buckeyes won on what essentially was a walk-off Chip Trayanum touchdown, 17-14). The Buckeyes appeared on "College GameDay" three times in 2022, hosting twice and going 1-1. Ohio State has the most "College GameDay" appearances all-time with 58 and they are 39-18. The Week 8 appearance, Penn State's first in 2023, will be the Nittany Lions' 25th. They enter the game 10-14 in their previous "GameDay" appearances. — Gabriela Carroll, Big Ten/SEC Trending Reporter 

College football Week 8 odds

The top college football betting apps favor No. 3 Ohio State in their top-10 shootout with 6-ranked Penn State. The Buckeyes are 4.5-point favorites over the Nittany Lions in the Big 10 clash, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering College football betting promos in 2023. 

There is also significant betting interest in No. 8 Alabama squaring up 15-ranked Tennessee in an SEC showdown. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (+5000) has some of the best odds to win the Heisman in 2023. 

Not interested in these games? Our college football betting guide can help you get started. 

If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin 

Great American Tailgate 

Dive into college football and tailgating traditions in six states, and share your tailgating experiences with us by using #greatamericantailgate. 

Enter the Great American Tailgate by clicking here. 

College football season predictions 

Georgia, Michigan, Clemson, Southern California and Texas are the forecasted conference champions in USA TODAY Sports' 2023 record projections for the Power Five leagues. The Bulldogs will chase college football history with a new cast of starters, led by quarterback Carson Beck. They'll once again face stiff competition from Alabama, which looks to take back the SEC West after finishing second in the division last season to LSU. 

Michigan will have to fend off Ohio State and Penn State in what is easily the most competitive division in the Bowl Subdivision. Clemson's biggest challenge will come from Florida State. In the Pac-12, USC has the offense to run the table but might be undone by an unpredictable defense. And while Texas has the pieces to compete for the College Football Playoff, the Longhorns will have to take the Big 12 back from defending champion Kansas State and national runner-up TCU. 

Here are our preseason picks and projections for every major conference. 

College football conference realignment shook up Big 10, Big 12 and Pac-12. We mapped the impact 

The dust probably hasn't settled on the realignment of major college sports, but in just about a year, the names Big Ten, Pac-12 and Big 12 will be distant approximations of what they were only a few years ago. 

The Pac-12 might even disappear after eight of its 12 teams will be deserting in 2024 for bigger paydays with other conferences. Four of those teams will join the Big Ten – extending the conference's influence from coast to coast. Back when the Big Ten was actually 10 teams, the 627 miles between Columbus, Ohio, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the longest trip a student athlete might travel in conference. In 2024, the longest in-conference trip grows to 2,463 miles from Eugene, Oregon, to New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

Here’s how teams will be impacted. — Jim Sergent 

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