CFB Week 8 winners, losers: Georgia’s defense feasts

Oklahoma and USC could easily finish the season with losing records. If so, their dispiriting Week 8 losses will be the catalyst to each’s demise.

Winner: Army and Navy

The coolest story in college football is the dual success of Army and Navy. Both programs continued their perfect starts to the season with blowout wins.

No. 23 Army (7-0, 6-0 in AAC) defeated East Carolina (3-4, 1-2 in AAC) 45-28, and No. 25 Navy (6-0, 4-0 in AAC) throttled Charlotte (3-4, 2-1 in AAC) 51-17.

Quarterback Bryson Daily (Army) and Blake Horvath (Navy) continued their Heisman-worthy 2024 campaigns. Daily had 318 total yards (147 passing, 171 rushing) and six total touchdowns. Through the Black Knights’ first seven games, Daily has 909 rushing yards and 26 total touchdowns.

Horvath had three passing touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards, giving him 20 scores and 621 rushing yards this season.

The Midshipmen play Notre Dame next Saturday in one of the biggest games in the matchup’s history. Per Sports Reference, it will be only the 11th time in the 97 games played in the rivalry where both teams enter the game ranked. The Irish are 7-2-1 in the previous 10 meetings.

Loser: Alabama

The Tide’s fall in the post-Nick Saban era continued in their 24-17 loss to No. 11 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 in SEC). 

The Volunteers contained Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who finished 25-of-45 for 239 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Alabama running backs Jamarion Miller and Justice Haynes gained 64 yards on 20 carries (3.2 yards per attempt). 

The Crimson Tide’s defensive front was a non-factor, with Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson scoring two of his touchdowns on carries up the middle and gaining 139 yards on 26 carries (5.3 yards per attempt). 

No. 7 Alabama (5-2, 2-2 in SEC) only managed four tackles for loss, and it also struggled to pressure Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The Tide finished the game with three sacks and two quarterback hits.

With both units failing, it’s difficult to find anything Alabama does well. Midway through the season, the Tide have never looked further from being a playoff contender. 

Winner: Colorado

The Buffaloes have quietly played themselves into the Big 12 title race. Colorado (5-2, 3-1 in Big Ten) improved its record with an impressive 34-7 win at Arizona (3-4, 1-3 in Big Ten).

Most impressively, Colorado overcame quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ two interceptions and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter (shoulder) being less than 100 percent.

The Buffaloes only need one more win to become bowl-eligible, a massive achievement for a team that went 1-11 the season before Sanders’ arrival. And if they keep winning and get help from teams ahead of them, they might earn a trip to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Loser: Michigan

It only took the Wolverines seven games to be (unofficially) eliminated from the CFP race.

No. 24 Michigan lost its second conference game on Saturday, falling to No. 22 Illinois (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten) 21-7. 

It’s already in a deep hole in the race for a Big Ten title game berth and is unlikely to warrant more than a cursory glance from the CFP selection committee.

While Michigan has games against No. 2 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 in Big Ten), No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten), and No. 16 Indiana (7-0, 4-0 in Big Ten) left to get back into contention, those might only emphasize how far it has fallen since January’s national championship game win.

Winner: LSU linebacker Whit Weeks

The maligned Tigers defense awakened in a 34-10 road win over Arkansas (4-3, 2-2 in SEC). 

No. 8 LSU (6-1, 3-0 in SEC) was led by its defense and outstanding linebacker Whit Weeks. He led the team with nine tackles and had a sack, tackle for loss, quarterback hit and an interception on a tipped pass that gave the Tigers the ball at the Razorbacks’ two-yard line.