Week 8 College Football Game Breakdown

By Jace Hinton October 18, 2024 22:32

Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Saturdays are great; they are even better when you have big college football games. Here are five games if you are scrolling and trying to find something to watch this weekend. Here are games you could look for.

Colorado @ Arizona 4 PM EST on Fox

This is not a top-ranked matchup, but these two teams have two of the most electrifying players in college football. Now, everyone knows what Travis Hunter can do offensively. Still, the bigger storyline will be the matchup he gets on defense, as Arizona has the receiver who is third in the nation in receiving yards in Tetairoa McMillan. Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. are expected to play this weekend, according to Coach Prime, which is significant for the Buffs' offense but possibly even bigger for the Buff's Defense as they get the number one corner in the land in Hunter on one of the best receivers in the country in McMillan. Expect Hunter to be shadowing McMillan most of the game, and if he is away, expect to see DJ McKinney, the Oklahoma State transfer, on him. If the Wildcats can not get him the football early and often, it could be a long day for the Cats.

7 Alabama @ 11 Tennessee 3:30 PM EST on ABC

Alabama is back in Tennessee, but now they are headed to Good Ole Rocky Top. Top 15 matchup for this one as the Tide are coming off a narrow win against South Carolina, and the Vols took care of Florida last Saturday. The Vols defense has been handling most of the heavy work as the offense attempts to find its groove. The defense has not allowed more than 19 points in any of its games this season, and it is in the top five nationally in scoring defense. They will have their toughest matchup this season in Alabama with their QB Jalen Milroe and their electric young WR Ryan Willams, but if the Vol's phenomenal pass rush can contain and get to Milroe, the Vols could be in a good position.

Nebraska @ 11 Indiana Noon EST on Fox

Matt Rhule and the 5-1 Cornhuskers travel to Indiana to take on Curt Cignetti and 11-ranked Indiana. When asked how quickly he turned Indiana around, Cignetti said on the Pat Mcafee Show, "My dad is a hall-of-fame coach; I grew up around the game.." He also said at the press conference, "Google me. I WIN," he has Indiana at 6-0, and in comes an excellent Nebraska team led by true freshman Dylan Raiola. EESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said he felt Nebraska could go into Columbus 7-0. They obviously will have one loss for sure when they go into Columbus, but are the Huskers looking too far ahead of next week's game? Or will Matt Rhule have his guys ready to go?

24 Michigan @ 22 Illinois 3:30 EST on CBS

Staying in the Big Ten, this is a top-25 matchup as Big Blue travels to take on an Illinois team that gave Nebraska its only loss. The key in this game is going to be the line of scrimmage. Michigan is averaging 191 yards per game on the ground, and Illinois is allowing 150.5 yards per game this season. Whichever team in the trenches can control the line of scrimmage will determine the winner, and each team will try to stay in the top 25 and hunt for the playoff as well.

5 Georgia (UGA) @ 1 Texas 7:30 EST on ABC

College Gameday is headed to Austin, Texas, for Kirby Smart and the 5th-ranked Bulldogs to take on the top-ranked Longhorns of Texas. Quinn Ewers will start for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns this weekend, as a battle of quarterback play will be the story in this one. As for UGA, they will stick with Carson Beck under center this weekend. Horns are five-point favorites the first time the Bulldogs will be underdogs in their last 60 games. However, just because the quarterback matchup starts as Beck-Ewers, don't be surprised if it turns into Beck-Manning if Ewers struggles even though he had a phenomenal performance in The Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma.