College Football 2024: Winners and Losers from Week 8
There isn't a dull moment on the college football calendar.
Georgia's showdown at Texas is the highlight of Saturday's slate, but Week 8 has provided a ton of action elsewhere in the nation.
You like offense? Indiana walloped Nebraska, and Miami showed off its sensational scoring attack in a win at Louisville. Prefer a marquee game? Tennessee took down Alabama in a critical SEC showdown.
The list goes on, and the prime-time docket is full of intrigue even beyond top-ranked Texas hosting UGA.
We've monitored the Week 8 slate and broken down the biggest results from an entertaining Saturday.
Winner: Virginia Tech's Star Duo
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Nonconference losses to Vanderbilt and Rutgers silenced the "sleeper" hype around Virginia Tech, which also opened ACC action with a semi-controversial loss to Miami.
Thursday's 42-21 win over Boston College offered a great reminder of the individual talent in this VT roster.
Bhayshul Tuten scampered for 266 yards and three touchdowns, adding a fourth score on a 20-yard reception. He's now recorded 871 yards and 12 trips to the end zone on the ground, surpassing his 2023 totals—863 yards and 10 touchdowns—in just seven contests.
On the other side, Antwaun Powell-Ryland set a program record with his third career four-sack performance. APR became the second defender in the country to hit double-digit sacks this season.
VT's margin for error is thin, but standouts like Tuten and APR make the Hokies a real threat to Syracuse and Clemson in the coming weeks.
Loser: Oklahoma State's Last-Minute Defense
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This hasn't been a good season for Oklahoma State. Three early wins didn't look convincing, and three straight losses since then have placed an 18-year bowl streak in serious jeopardy.
Friday could have changed it. Instead, the Pokes found a brutal way to drop a fourth consecutive game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Oklahoma State capped a 17-play drive with a go-ahead touchdown. BYU, now trailing by four, ultimately needed to cover 35 yards in the final 19 seconds with a single timeout.
And the OSU secondary broke down.
BYU's Jake Retzlaff threaded a pass to Darius Lassiter, who broke two tackles and leaped over a third defender to score a stunning, game-winning 35-yard touchdown. BYU improved to 7-0 with the 38-35 win.
Oklahoma State, meanwhile, fell to 3-4 overall with an 0-4 mark in Big 12 action. If the Pokes lose at Baylor next week, it's tough to see the program's bowl streak continuing.
Winner: Indiana's CFP Case
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We need to talk about Indiana.
First up, another win. The running game propelled the Hoosiers to an overpowering 56-7 rout of Nebraska. Justice Ellison scampered for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and three more players scored on the ground.
The win moved IU to 7-0 under first-year coach Curt "Google Me, I Win" Cignetti. By no means am I declaring the Hoosiers a front-runner in the Big Ten; a trip to Ohio State looms on the slate in November, and the Buckeyes will be expected to win that contest.
But will anyone else be favored over IU?
The remaining slate—home against Washington, at Michigan State and home against Michigan before going to OSU and hosting rival Purdue—does not look particularly dangerous. If the Hoosiers finish 10-2, they'll have a legitimate shot at making the College Football Playoff.
Taking down Nebraska has placed IU in an excellent spot to earn a stunning trip in the 12-team tournament.
Loser: Oklahoma's Bowl Hopes
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Oklahoma has entered the danger zone.
Like in-state rival Oklahoma State, the Sooners are perilously close to seeing a long postseason streak snapped. The program has appeared in a bowl for 25 straight years, but Saturday's 35-9 dismantling at the hands of South Carolina is a hugely concerning result.
The worst part? It was pretty much decided within six minutes. The home crowd watched in disbelief as South Carolina—led by former OU assistant Shane Beamer—rapidly took a 21-0 lead with the help of two defensive scores.
Oklahoma fans are accustomed to watching a prolific offense, but the 2024 unit is anything but that.
In the preseason, I had minimal expectations because of OU's late-season schedule. Beyond lower-division Maine, the Sooners play at Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU and host Alabama.
That gauntlet seemed it would keep Oklahoma competing for an SEC crown. Now, it might even prevent the Sooners from a bowl.
Winner: Miami's Offense, Yet Again
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Miami is becoming a prime example of exactly how much difference a great quarterback can make.
In the offseason, the Hurricanes pulled Washington State transfer Cam Ward out of the portal. To simply say he's elevated the offense is a massive understatement; Miami is undefeated because of him.
Period.
For the third game in a row, Miami's defense struggled. The unit has ceded many explosive plays, and Louisville gashed the 'Canes in a similar manner. Three different UL players ripped off a 20-yard run, and three more reeled in a 20-yard catch during a thrilling back-and-forth matchup.
But, again, Miami won because of Ward. He threw for 319 yards and four scores, also sprinting 22 yards on a late 3rd-and-17 to set up the Hurricanes' game-sealing touchdown in a 52-45 victory.
This defense is a real concern as Miami chases an ACC crown and CFP trip. With this offense, though, it might not matter.
Loser: Michigan's QB Situation
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What a mess.
Honestly, this feels like piling on. We've watched Michigan labor to unimpressive wins and ugly losses all season. At this point of the campaign, a horrible day from the Wolverines' offense isn't a surprise.
But they literally have no answers.
Davis Warren managed only two scores compared to six interceptions before getting benched. Alex Orji averaged a mind-numbing 3.4 yards per attempt. Saturday at Illinois, Michigan turned to seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle. He mustered 6.5 yards per throw with zero touchdowns and two turnovers in a lifeless 21-7 loss to the Illini.
With the Wolverines sitting at 4-3 overall, there's a serious argument for Michigan to let a younger QB work through growing pains. In particular, I'm talking about 4-star freshman Jadyn Davis. Maybe he sits one more game to protect his redshirt, but it's a discussion that absolutely must be had.
Because, the way U-M is playing, a loss to Michigan State next weekend may mean the reigning national champions don't make a bowl.
Winner: Tennessee's CFP Hopes
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Two years ago, Tennessee beat Alabama 52-49 in a dramatic clash that is worthy of a highlight-reel rewatch today.
Can't say the same about Saturday's game. The rivals combined for 41 points, five turnovers, 26 penalties and three missed field goals in a "someone has to actually win, right?!" kind of matchup.
I also am certain you won't hear Tennessee fans complaining a whole lot about the unaesthetic win.
After trailing 7-0 at half, the Vols pulled out a 24-17 win behind stout defense and running back Dylan Sampson. Bama totaled three yards on its final four possessions, while Sampson rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns to help UT fans light up the celebratory cigars.
Georgia remains on the regular-season slate, but Tennessee is firmly in position to contend for a playoff bid.
Loser: Lincoln Riley's Job Security
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As long as USC avoided a total meltdown this season, Lincoln Riley's job was secure. He might've opened the 2025 campaign on a warming seat, but any questions about his future wouldn't be terribly important.
Scratch that thought.
USC squandered a 14-point lead during the fourth quarter in a bewildering 29-28 loss at Maryland. Adding insult to the Trojans' injury, Maryland fans stormed the field following the upset win.
When the program swiped Riley from Oklahoma, it envisioned greatness. That vision began with an 11-3 record and a Heisman Trophy winner in 2022, his debut season at USC. Since then, however, the Trojans have lumbered to a disappointing 8-5 campaign in 2023 and 3-4 start to 2024.
Riley's seat is scorching. I cannot argue otherwise.
USC desperately needs a late-season turnaround with Rutgers, Washington and Nebraska next on the schedule. If that doesn't happen, the Trojans may be looking for a new coach.
Winner: Iowa State
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The unpredictability of college football is simultaneously one of the sport's best features and one of the most frustrating things.
In short: UCF had no business winning at unbeaten Iowa State.
After a 3-0 start, the Knights began to unravel. They imploded at home against Colorado, then managed 13 points in losses to both Florida and Cincinnati. The slide led to UCF benching KJ Jefferson last week and ultimately turning to Jacurri Brown in Week 8.
It didn't make sense for UCF to spring an upset. So, naturally, that's precisely what Gus Malzahn's team put itself in position to accomplish with a late 35-30 lead at ISU.
Yet it wasn't enough.
Rocco Becht propelled the Cyclones on their 80-yard game-winning drive, completing three key passes and powering in a last-minute touchdown. He totaled 371 yards and three scores in the 38-35 thriller, crushing UCF's upset dreams and lifting Iowa State to a 7-0 record.
Loser: Texas' Offense
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If you're a Longhorns fan, I imagine you wouldn't have complained if I told you Carson Beck would finish 23-of-41 for 175 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. That's a recipe for a win opposite Georgia.
The problem is Texas flailed on offense.
Quinn Ewers completed 25 of 43 throws for 211 yards, a modest 4.9-yard average, with an interception and two lost fumbles.
Because of his early struggles, the Horns even briefly turned to Arch Manning. Though he provided an initial spark with a 21-yard scramble and a couple of short completions, Manning lost a fumble that led to Georgia hitting a field goal for a 23-0 halftime lead.
Add in a running game that was ineffective all night, and very little went right for UT in the 30-15 loss.
Texas has a championship-caliber defense, but it cannot be expected to completely carry the Horns in games of this magnitude.
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