Ohio State’s win at Indiana changed the playoff picture in more ways than one.
The Buckeyes picked up a massive resume boost in Bloomington, a result that gives them a little more breathing room even if they take another loss down the line and still want a path into the top 12. That said, the weekend also brought a blow on the roster front: Julian Sayin will be out for “several weeks,” according to head coach Ryan Day. Ohio State has the open date to sort through that new reality, but the rest of the week 8 slate still carries plenty of weight for the Buckeyes and the playoff race around them.
Indiana’s unbeaten run is gone after Ohio State snapped the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak, but Curt Cignetti’s team still looks positioned well enough for a third straight trip to the College Football Playoff since his arrival. The bigger question now is whether Indiana could survive a second loss and still stay inside the top 12. A trip to Michigan is one of the tougher games left, and the Wolverines will be leaning on Tommy Carr, who is making his first career start at quarterback.
Another game with real tension comes in Cincinnati, where Texas Tech visits Nippert Stadium. The backdrop is hard to ignore after an offseason in which Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby was paid to transfer in-conference to Texas Tech, followed by Cincinnati’s lawsuit against him over leaving while under an NIL contract.
Then came reports that Sorsby had been gambling on games, and Texas Tech worked to keep him eligible. There were also reports that Texas Tech might try to hold Cincinnati liable for not reporting what they knew about Sorsby.
Now the teams finally meet on the field, though Brenden Sorsby is not playing. The Red Raiders are unbeaten and trying to repeat as Big 12 champions, while Cincinnati’s schedule is getting tougher and Scott Satterfield is likely coaching for his job.
There’s also a straight-up playoff elimination feel to LSU at Auburn. A third loss would probably be too much for either team to overcome. Both still have chances left to land signature wins, but they can’t really afford another stumble if they want a safe path to the top 12.
Tennessee’s visit to South Carolina sits in a different spot on the spectrum. The Volunteers are riding the high of their win over Alabama, their biggest since the last time they beat the Crimson Tide in 2024, but they’re still road underdogs this week in Columbia.
A loss would be a major problem. Tennessee still has Kentucky and LSU left, both at home, but the Texas loss keeps looking worse and worse.
Three losses would leave them without a strong enough resume. This isn’t a must-win in the strictest sense, but it is absolutely a game the Vols cannot afford to drop.
Iowa’s trip to Minnesota has its own playoff implications in the battle for the Floyd of Rosedale. The Hawkeyes have a real shot at the College Football Playoff, but rival road games have a way of wrecking those dreams.
Minnesota is good enough to do that here. An Iowa win would push the Hawkeyes one step closer to their first playoff appearance and hand Minnesota a third loss.
If the Golden Gophers pull it off, Iowa’s playoff hopes could take a hit, and Minnesota’s trip to Bloomington next weekend suddenly becomes much more interesting.
Ole Miss at Texas carries a different kind of urgency. Every week that passes makes Ohio State’s loss to this Texas team look even more frustrating, especially after the Longhorns have dropped back-to-back games against unranked opponents.
Texas is giving backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. some first-team reps in practice this week in case they need to bench Arch Manning. The Longhorns may still have enough on the resume to sneak into the playoff with three losses, but reaching that point before Halloween would put them in a tough spot.
Ole Miss, led by Trinidad Chambliss and one of the nation’s top offenses, is a heavy challenge. A Rebels win in Austin would give them more room for error with Georgia still looming in two weeks.
USC’s trip to Wisconsin has the feel of one of those tests the Trojans haven’t always handled well since joining the Big Ten. The setup is straightforward: long travel, a chilly fall Midwestern night, and a home date with Ohio State waiting next weekend.
If Lincoln Riley’s team is really moving in the right direction, this is the kind of game it has to win. Do that, and USC gets a huge chance against the Buckeyes next week with a backup quarterback.
Win there, and the Trojans would be in a massive position to make the CFP.
And then there’s the late-night headliner: Houston at Utah. Kickoff is set for 10:15 pm in Ohio, and it’s the first top-15 Big 12 matchup since last November.
Houston is in the top 15 for the first time since 2016 after beating Oklahoma State last week, its biggest win since joining the Big 12. Now the Cougars get an even bigger shot in Salt Lake City.
Since early in the season, plenty of people have treated BYU, Texas Tech, and Utah as the clear top three in the league. If Houston hands Utah the first loss of the Morgan Scalley era, that whole conversation changes.
In Other News...
Urban Meyer Just Turned Up Pressure On Ohio State's QB Decision
With Julian Sayin sidelined by injury, Ohio States quarterback picture has suddenly become a lot more complicated, and Urban Meyer is the latest voice weighing in on how the Buckeyes should sort through it. The former Buckeyes coach said Tavien St. Clair should be next in line to play, adding another layer of scrutiny to a spot that was already under the microscope as Ryan Day and his staff work through their options.
The timing matters because Ohio State is using the bye week to let St. Clair and Fahey compete for the job, with the staff trying to identify the best player to steer the offense forward. For a program built on championship expectations, the decision carries real weight, and Meyers comments only sharpen the focus on how quickly the Buckeyes need to settle on a direction. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Fuels A Bigger Ohio State Officiating Debate
Ryan Day made it clear after Ohio States recent game against Indiana that he was still bothered by what he saw from the officials. The Buckeyes coach pointed to multiple missed pass interference calls, including one involving Jeremiah Smith, and said the overall quality of the officiating hurt his team. For a program used to every detail being scrutinized, that kind of postgame frustration tends to linger well beyond the final whistle.
Days comments also add another layer to a familiar part of the conversation around Ohio State, where one close call can quickly become a bigger debate about consistency and standards. His criticism was not limited to a single sequence, either, but to the broader issue of how the game was handled. Whether the league responds or not, it is the sort of complaint that keeps replaying in the aftermath of a tight game. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Quarterback Battle Just Got Real For Luke Fahey
Luke Faheys first real taste of college game action did not come easily against Indiana. After stepping in for the injured starting quarterback, the Ohio State quarterback failed to complete a pass and also drew a penalty, an uneven debut that immediately underscored how steep the learning curve can be once the lights come on for real.
Even so, Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith left the door wide open for Fahey during the upcoming bye week. Both coaches emphasized his work ethic and upside, and Day said Fahey and Tavien St. Clair will get reps as the Buckeyes sort through the position, with the job going to the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win. [Read more 🡒]