After a chaotic weekend across college football, the College Football Playoff picture heads into Week 8 with more uncertainty than ever. The bracket is already shifting before Saturday even gets rolling, and there are bids, rankings, and reputations hanging all over the slate.
In the Group of 6 race, Boise State gets a useful breather from James Madison’s loss on Thursday, which gives the Broncos a little more room as they travel to the Palouse to face Washington State. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are in a different kind of spot in Columbus as they try to settle things after Julian Sayin at quarterback before a long trip to USC next Saturday.
The Big 12 remains one of the week’s biggest storylines, with Texas Tech beginning a critical stretch in conference play at Cincinnati. That road game is the first of three away contests down the stretch that will go a long way toward determining whether the Red Raiders can help the Big 12 land a second CFP bid.
Indiana is also trying to turn the page after its long winning streak was snapped last week. The Hoosiers head to Michigan with a chance to get redemption and, at the same time, chase the program’s first win at the Big House in nearly six decades.
In the SEC, it’s a tricky road for several CFP hopefuls. Tennessee goes into Columbia, S.C., as an underdog, trying to avoid a letdown on the fourth Saturday in October. Ole Miss has the brighter stage, with prime time in Austin waiting for the Rebels.
Georgia, even after its loss to Auburn, is still positioned comfortably in the CFP field. The Bulldogs now sit among a crowded group of one-loss SEC teams, but their first blemish has not knocked them out of the picture.
The weeks ahead matter just as much for Notre Dame, which is still dealing with the fallout from that controversial loss to BYU. The Irish need to stay locked in on Navy next Saturday, because the game against Miami won’t mean much if they stumble before then.
At the top of the polls, Miami is back in a familiar place for the first time in nearly two decades, and that makes this a dangerous moment to be facing an unranked opponent with a backup quarterback. The Hurricanes are healthier heading into Pitt, but they also have a demanding stretch looming with North Carolina and Notre Dame.
Elsewhere, the Cougars are coming off one of the biggest wins in school history and now have to handle a long trip to Orlando. They’ll also spend the week hearing plenty about their rivals hosting ESPN’s GameDay, which makes UCF the kind of letdown spot that can trip up a lesser team - even if this group has shown it can handle business when it executes.
Will Stein Mania has taken hold in the Commonwealth, but Kentucky still has to deliver on Saturday against Vanderbilt, which is trying to inch closer to bowl eligibility. UCLA, for its part, would love to set up a Big Blue vs. Power Blue CFP game in the Rose Bowl, but first it has to get through an improved Michigan State team on Saturday afternoon.
In Other News...
Kentucky Showed Real Promise And One Clear Concern Against Texas Tech
Kentuckys exhibition win over No. 19 Texas Tech at Rupp Arena offered a useful early snapshot of where this group is starting to take shape. The Wildcats worked through an uneven opening stretch, including some early turnovers and a slow start, but still managed to settle in and carry a 37-33 halftime lead into a second half that ended with a 76-65 victory.
Milan Momcilovic and Alex Wilkins were among the key contributors in helping Kentucky finish the job, a reminder that there is enough production here to like even before the games start counting. The cleaner takeaway, though, was the one the Wildcats could not ignore: the early sloppiness that nearly let Texas Tech control the tone, something they will want to clean up in their next exhibition against UCF before the regular season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Sees Something Real In Kentuckys Fast Start
Kentuckys quick climb under first-year coach Will Stein has started to draw attention well beyond Lexington. On College GameDay, Nick Saban pointed to the Wildcats 6-1 record and No. 12 ranking as evidence that this is more than a hot opening stretch, noting the kind of details that usually travel with teams that sustain success: a sturdy offensive line, disciplined play and a knack for winning tight games.
The broader SEC picture only adds to the intrigue. Kentucky heads into Week 8 tied with Georgia atop the conference standings, and its turnover margin has been among the best in the league. For a team that has spent the early part of the season turning close calls into wins, the next stretch will help show whether this fast start is a real leap forward or just the first chapter of a much tougher test. [Read more 🡒]
Kentuckys Point Guard Battle Is Suddenly Getting Tougher To Ignore
Kentuckys point guard picture is starting to take shape in the exhibition games, and the early read has made the competition harder to ignore. Zoom Diallo and Mason Williams are both getting a look as the staff evaluates who can best steady the offense, and the difference so far has come down to control, decision-making and the little plays that tend to decide who earns more run once the games start counting.
Diallo has shown flashes, but the turnover-to-assist balance has been an issue, while Williams has looked more composed with the ball and has added value on the defensive end with fewer turnovers and more steals. Mark Pope now has a real rotation decision to sort through, and how he divides the minutes between the two guards could tell you plenty about what kind of backcourt Kentucky wants to build. [Read more 🡒]