Highlights, Lowlights, and Results—Plus the New Poll Rankings From College Football Week #8

It was another deeply entertaining weekend across the NCAA landscape as there were some expected shake-ups in the polls. For the third consecutive weekend, we had a matchup of top-5 teams, and that may have been the least dramatic game. There was no shortage of fun results for the fans.

This also has caused upheaval in the SEC. The (previously) stumbling UF Gators stomped on Kentucky and now have the same conference record as Alabama, the oft-laughed-at Vanderbilt made the top 25 for the first time in a decade and has the inside lane to make it to the finals, and the two undefeated schools in the conference are Texas A&M and LSU (and those squads square off next week).

It’s that time of the schedule when things solidify, and as a result, things can make less sense at the same time. The top-ranked falls for the third time, the new #1 takes the top spot for the first time in 12 years, and defending champs Michigan drops out altogether after its third loss. This ties the second most teams to top the poll, with 2008 sporting six schools that season.

• Missouri quarterback Brady Cook went down with a non-contact ankle injury on their opening drive, limped off the field and made a trip to the ER. They cleared him and he not only made it back to the stadium but took the field again. With the Tigers down 17-3, he led them back to a win over Auburn.

• Duke managed to gain less than 200 yards of offense and still managed to win. How? They played FSU, which managed to have turnovers not on three consecutive possessions, but on three consecutive plays.

• Michigan State beat Iowa 32-20, and kicker Jonathan Kim nearly beat the Hawkeyes himself, hitting a school-record six field goals and two PATs.

• Meanwhile at Arizona State the kicking game is so woeful that in the post-game presser, head coach Kenny Dillingham announced that Monday he was holding open tryouts for the position.

• USC lost to Maryland on a blocked field goal that the Terrapins converted into a winning touchdown drive. It is the fourth loss for the Trojans, and they had a 4th quarter lead in all of them.

• A fight broke out at the USF-Alabama Birmingham game. The Blazers showed discipline by not being involved at all.

Well, at least the players aren’t fighting each other on the sideline… oh wait

Freshman DE Dinellson Exume and LB Jamie Pettway throwing punches at each other.#USF pic.twitter.com/xpRo0mBDxc

— The Bay Area Examiner (@BayAreaExaminer) October 19, 2024

Georgia 30 – Texas 15 

This highly-touted matchup held little drama and was a mostly sloppy affair. Quinn Ewers was largely ineffective in the first half and was briefly benched before the break. Carson Beck was no better for Georgia, throwing for under 200 yards and giving up three interceptions, but the Dawgs opened up a 23-0 halftime lead and coasted on the running game. Trevor Etienne pushed in three touchdowns for the win in the first time in 50 games that Georgia had been the underdog.

Tennessee 24 — Alabama 17

The Volunteers overcame their typical first-half scoreless doldrums – over the past four games the Vols have just two field goals in the opening frames. Dylan Sampson was the difference maker with 139 yards running and a pair of touchdowns while the defense shut down the Crimson Tide with just 75 rushing yards allowed. The Tennessee fans lit the victory cigars as Alabama now sports two losses before Halloween for the first time in 17 years.

Miami 52 – Louisville 45

There were expectations this would be a gunfight, and the teams passed the over/under in the 3rd quarter as they came within a field goal of 100 combined points. The Hurricanes game plan is now established: Have Cam Ward outscoring the defense’s ineptitude. Miami gave up running plays of over 20 yards to three different players and three passing plays over 20 yards to three different players. But Miami gained over 200 yards rushing and Ward meanwhile had another stat line of over 300 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Iowa State 38 – Central Florida 35

This matchup featuring contrasting styles was close throughout. The Cyclones controlled play and had four touchdowns off of drives of more than ten plays, while the Golden Knights scored on runs of 80 and 67 yards and a pair of pick-6 plays of over 60 yards. (One was negated for dropping the ball at the 1-yard line.) The game-winning drive led to the touchdown with 30 seconds remaining.

BYU 38 – Oklahoma State 35

In a Friday night thriller in Provo, the Cowboys showed their desperation to save the season with a gut-check road performance that fell short. OSU took the lead with just over a minute remaining but managed to give up a Cougar drive of eight plays and 75 yards, ending with a 35-yard strike with ten seconds to play, preserving the undefeated record for BYU as they are eyeing a postseason berth. 

 Here is the new AP Top-25 poll.

1. Oregon

2. Georgia

3. Penn State

4. Ohio State

5. Texas

6. Miami

7. Tennessee 

8. LSU

9. Clemson

10. Iowa State

11. BYU

12. Notre Dame

13. Indiana

14. Texas A&M

15. Alabama

16. Kansas State

17. Boise State

18. Ole Miss

19. Pitt

20. Illinois

21. Missouri

22. SMU

23. Army 

24. Navy

25. Vanderbilt