Week 7 scrambled the college football map in a hurry. Georgia fell at home to Auburn, Florida came from behind to shock Texas, Tennessee blew past Alabama, and Ole Miss flattened Missouri.
Then came the history: for the first time in the AP poll’s 90-year run, five of the top seven teams lost on the same Saturday. Miami is now No.
1, BYU sits at No. 2, and the playoff race looks a lot different heading into Week 8.
Kirby Smart’s point after the chaos was simple: every SEC team has at least one loss now. That shifts the focus from perfection to survival, and this week’s slate is built around teams trying to stay in the picture.
The day starts at noon ET on ABC with No. 18 LSU at Auburn in the return of the Tiger Bowl, a matchup that hasn’t happened since 2023.
Alex Golesh’s Tigers are riding the momentum of their first win in Athens since 2005, but Lane Kiffin’s defense is bringing a real challenge to Jordan-Hare Stadium, allowing just 4.35 yards per play. Byrum Brown powered Auburn past Georgia once already, and now the question is whether he can do it again.
At 3:30 p.m. on the SEC Network, Oklahoma heads to Mississippi State for the first meeting between the schools. The Bulldogs’ quarterback situation matters here, with Kamario Taylor missing last week’s 31-0 loss at LSU. Oklahoma’s defense still ranks among the nation’s best, but the offense hasn’t done enough to make the Sooners easy to back on the road.
That same window brings No. 11 Tennessee to South Carolina on ESPN.
The Volunteers are coming off a 26-10 win over Alabama and lead the nation in sacks, but they’ll have to deal with LaNorris Sellers, one of the SEC’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. South Carolina enters after a 38-19 win at Florida and an open date, which makes this one stand out as one of the weekend’s best games.
The marquee matchup arrives at 7:30 p.m. on ABC, when No. 7 Ole Miss visits No.
19 Texas. This one feels huge for Steve Sarkisian’s season after the Longhorns dropped back-to-back games by the same 27-24 score.
Arch Manning is under more pressure than ever, while Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels just handled Missouri 31-3 and scored 31 points against one of the SEC’s better defenses.
The night wraps at 10:15 p.m. on ESPN with No. 14 Houston at undefeated No.
10 Utah in a top-15 Big 12 clash. Utah’s 12-game winning streak is the longest active run in the country, but Houston has never lost to the Utes in five previous meetings.
With BYU and Texas Tech also unbeaten, the conference title race is only getting tighter.
The Dawgs247 staff has their against-the-spread picks lined up for the week, and each one includes an upset selection. Their breakdowns are below for Week 8.
In Other News...
Georgia May Be Missing A Crucial Defender Against Florida
Georgias defense could be waiting on a familiar name this week, as safety KJ Bolden works his way back from the injury he picked up against Alabama. Kirby Smart said Bolden is hopeful to return, but the final call will depend on whether he gets through the doctors protocol in time for the Florida game.
Bolden already missed the Auburn game, and his absence was part of the conversation around why the defense struggled. With Florida next on the schedule, Georgia would like to have one of its more important defensive pieces back in the secondary, but for now the situation remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Should Remember One Thing If Arch Manning Comes Up Again
Arch Mannings name still carries plenty of weight in recruiting circles, and it is easy to understand why Georgia fans would remember how close the Bulldogs once were to landing the highly touted quarterback before he chose Texas. But the reality in Austin has been more complicated than the buzz around his signing day, with Manning struggling to fully live up to the expectations that followed him into college. After recent losses, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has had to evaluate the position, even as Manning remains the starter.
If his situation at Texas keeps drifting in that direction, there will be plenty of chatter about whether he could eventually look elsewhere after the 2026 season. Georgia, though, would be wise to resist getting caught up in the same old name-value appeal and remember that roster-building works better when it is grounded in fit and production, not just recruiting drama. The Bulldogs have other paths to explore, and this one already comes with enough baggage to make caution the smarter play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Suddenly Has A Real Fight To Keep Jayden Wade
Georgias hold on its 2028 quarterback commitment is being tested in a way that felt far off only a short time ago. Five-star signal caller Jayden Wade is reportedly set to visit Michigan this weekend, giving another program a chance to make its case to one of the most important recruits in the cycle.
The trip is notable because quarterback development has been a question for Michigan, and the programs current situation at the position is part of what Georgia will have to navigate in keeping Wade on board. NIL could also become a factor in the recruitment if the Wolverines choose to make a major push, leaving this one as a real battle worth watching for the Bulldogs. [Read more 🡒]