CFB Week 8 knee-jerk reactions

College football’s Week 8 slate altered the season’s landscape dramatically. There were three ranked upsets and multiple conference races re-opened on Saturday alone.

Here are some knee-jerk reactions from the day’s biggest action:

No. 5 Georgia made sure the SEC is far from decided

The SEC’s cannibalistic nature this season seems more reminiscent of the Pac-12 with three top 5 teams earning a loss before Week 9. No. 5 Georgia’s emphatic 30-15 upset over No. 1 Texas was a clear message to the rest of college football that even if the conference earns multiple playoff berths, the Bulldogs are still very much in the race for its auto-bid. No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 8 LSU currently top the SEC standings with no conference losses, just as everyone predicted entering the season.

Nick Saban’s shoes are too big for Kalen DeBoer to fill at Alabama

No. 7 Alabama had a real opportunity to quell any fears that it couldn’t handle the Saban-less spotlight after toppling No. 1 Georgia one week and then falling to unranked Vanderbilt the next. With No. 11 Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava struggling to find a rhythm early, the Crimson Tide failed to capitalize on its own offensive drives. A 24-17 loss is what resulted for Alabama, severely narrowing its path to the SEC title game and the College Football Playoff.

Now questions will swirl in Tuscaloosa whether new head coach Kalen DeBoer can follow up Saban’s culture of success. The season is quickly slipping away from him and his players, making the upcoming offseason that much more difficult to regroup and address glaring needs.

No. 6 Miami is a very fragile 7-0 in a bullish ACC race

The Hurricanes may have scored more than 40 points for the fifth time this season and gotten off to their best start (7-0) since going 10-0 in 2017, but the way they’ve won the last three games has been major cause for concern. Despite posting 129 points it also gave up 117 in that same span, becoming the first team in FBS history to score at least 31 points and give up as many in three consecutive games, per the AP’s Tim Reynolds.

Miami is fortunate it does not have No. 10 Clemson (6-1) nor No. 20 Pittsburgh (6-0) on its remaining schedule, but rather it’s likely to see either one in the conference championship game. If it survives five potential trap games (no ranked opponents), the Tigers or Panthers could prove to be the Hurricanes’ fatal match.

No. 16 Indiana is a playoff-caliber team and will be in the Big Ten title game

After thumping Nebraska 56-7, there’s little doubt the now 7-0 Hoosiers are certified Big Ten contenders. A massive contest with No. 4 Ohio State still looms (Nov. 23) but if it can take care of business elsewhere on its remaining schedule, there’s a significant chance Indiana will make the short trip to Indianapolis to vie for the conference title. Its current resume is lacking a signature ranked win but the College Football Playoff committee is certainly considering the Hoosiers for a potential at-large bid.

Michigan, USC and Oklahoma are the season’s biggest disappointments

A defending national champion, the program that blew up the Pac-12 for greener pastures and the team that followed its rival to a league above its weight class. That would accurately describe No. 24 Michigan, USC and Oklahoma this year after severely disappointing performances. The three programs have a combined 11-10 record and, with the exception of first-year head coach Sherrone Moore in Ann Arbor, have turned the heat up substantially on their coaching seats. If USC’s Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables are still around in 2025, it might be their last chance to deliver.

No. 12 Notre Dame will determine who wins the AAC, earns Group of Five playoff spot

A fascinating trend is developing outside the Power Five conferences this season. No. 23 Army (7-0) and No. 25 Navy (6-0) have set themselves up for a potential collision course in the AAC Championship Game if both remain undefeated. However, both programs also have upcoming matchups with No. 12 Notre Dame (Oct. 26 vs. Navy, Nov. 23 vs. Army). Whichever vanquishes the Fighting Irish would certainly have the inside track to not only the conference title but also the Group of Five’s auto-bid to the College Football Playoff. In the event both lose or win against Notre Dame, the two could settle the affair in the AAC title game and/or their annual rivalry game on Dec. 14.