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Week 8 holds the inglorious task of following the best, most chaotic Saturday in college football in recent memory.
Honestly, we could use a break. That was total madness.
But as the 2026 campaign enters the second half, yet another round of upsets may be surging over the horizon. Ten ranked teams—including No. 2 BYU, No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 8 Texas Tech—are hitting the road this weekend.
Mix in some rivalries with the ever-present conference stakes, and Week 8 figures to produce more standings-shaking results.
Rankings are based on the AP Top 25.
Top Matchups for Week 8
1 of 11
No. 6 Indiana (6-1) at Michigan (4-2), Noon ET
Michigan has yielded an FBS-low 4.1 yards per snap. Indiana's offense hasn't exactly dazzled in key games. But as Michigan deals with a question of whether to bench Bryce Underwood for Tommy Carr, the hosts are full of uncertainty.
Prediction: Indiana 23, Michigan 13
No. 18 LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2), 3:30 p.m.
LSU probably won't surrender much defensively, but turnovers—including on downs—have played a major role in the results for both teams. Sam Leavitt needs to protect the ball on the road, or Auburn will be well-positioned for back-to-back upsets after stunning Georgia.
Prediction: LSU 24, Auburn 20
No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (3-3), 3:30 p.m.
South Carolina is... favored? Yes, despite taking down Alabama, Tennessee is hitting the road as the underdog. South Carolina calmed a storm with a recent upset of Florida, and UT—like Michigan—is managing a QB conundrum. The outlook is understandable. If the Gamecocks' giveaway woes return against a disruptive defense, Tennessee will be heading back to Rocky Top with a win.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, South Carolina 21
No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) at No. 19 Texas (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
As if Texas doesn't have enough problems with Arch Manning's subpar play, star edge rusher Colin Simmons (ankle) is now sidelined. Optimism has faded anyway, but a loss to Ole Miss would essentially remove Texas from the College Football Playoff discussion. Here comes the dagger.
Prediction: Ole Miss 26, Texas 23
No. 14 Houston (6-1) at No. 10 Utah (6-0), 10:15 p.m.
The gauntlet has arrived for Utah. They face three Top 25 opponents left on the schedule. Barely slipping past Colorado wasn't an encouraging sign before Houston's balanced, efficient offense comes to town. Utah should be able to hang on at home, but an upset wouldn't be close to surprising.
Prediction: Utah 28, Houston 27
ACC Games
2 of 11
Pitt (5-2) at No. 1 Miami (6-0), Noon ET
For the first time since the 2002 campaign, Miami is No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Pitt has often been a nuisance in this matchup, but the Panthers are understandably reeling from the loss of QB Mason Heintschel (knee). After a nervy win over Florida State, Miami should avoid the drama in Week 8.
Prediction: Miami 34, Pitt 17
Duke (4-2) at Virginia (4-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: UVA 24, Duke 23
North Carolina State (3-3) at Stanford (3-4), Friday, 10:30 p.m.
Prediction: NC State 31, Stanford 20
Cal (3-4) at No. 23 SMU (5-1), Noon
Prediction: SMU 38, Cal 16
Boston College (3-3) at Georgia Tech (2-4), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Georgia Tech 27, Boston College 20
Virginia Tech (5-2) at Clemson (4-2), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Clemson 21, Virginia Tech 20
Syracuse (2-4) at North Carolina (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: UNC 30, Syracuse 17
Big Ten Games
3 of 11
No. 16 USC (6-1) at Wisconsin (4-2), Noon
On paper, Wisconsin shouldn't be able to keep up with USC's offense. These long journeys to the Midwest have routinely been a problem for the Trojans, though, as this contest is an early kick. I still expect USC to win, but it might be ugly.
Prediction: USC 24, Wisconsin 16
No. 6 Indiana (6-1) at Michigan (4-2), Noon
Prediction: Indiana 23, Michigan 13 (Top Matchups)
Rutgers (2-4) at No. 24 Northwestern (5-1), Noon
Prediction: Northwestern 38, Rutgers 27
Oregon (4-2) at Illinois (3-3), 3 p.m.
Prediction: Oregon 30, Illinois 14
Michigan State (2-5) at No. 9 UCLA (6-0), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: UCLA 24, MSU 13
No. 15 Iowa (5-1) at Minnesota (4-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Iowa 20, Minnesota 17
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Big 12 Games
4 of 11
No. 2 BYU (6-0) at UCF (3-3), 3:30 p.m.
Fresh off a massive win over Notre Dame, BYU is readying for a cross-country trip to Orlando. As long as the defense travels, the Cougs should be fine. UCF's offense is among the Power Four's worst at generating explosive plays. If that trend doesn't reverse, BYU will remain unbeaten.
Prediction: BYU 23, UCF 13
No. 8 Texas Tech (6-0) at Cincinnati (4-2), Noon
Prediction: Texas Tech 37, Cincinnati 24
West Virginia (4-3) at TCU (3-3), Noon
Prediction: TCU 34, WVU 30
Baylor (4-2) at Kansas (2-4), 1 p.m.
Prediction: Baylor 27, Kansas 23
Kansas State (4-2) at Arizona State (3-3), 3:45 p.m.
Prediction: ASU 28, K-State 24
Colorado (2-4) at Oklahoma State (4-2), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 36, Colorado 17
Iowa State (3-3) at No. 25 Arizona (5-1), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Arizona 31, Iowa State 20
No. 14 Houston (6-1) at No. 10 Utah (6-0), 10:15 p.m.
Prediction: Utah 28, Houston 27 (Top Matchups)
SEC Games
5 of 11
Texas A&M (4-3) at No. 13 Alabama (5-2), 3:30 p.m.
During previous road losses to LSU and Missouri, Texas A&M mustered six points in each game. It's tough to justify an upset pick, even as Alabama comes off a dreadful offensive day in the setback at Tennessee.
Prediction: Alabama 28, Texas A&M 17
No. 18 LSU (5-2) at Auburn (4-2), Noon
Prediction: LSU 24, Auburn 20 (Top Matchups)
No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (3-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Tennessee 27, South Carolina 21 (Top Matchups)
Oklahoma (3-3) at Mississippi State (4-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Oklahoma 20, Mississippi State 17
No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) at No. 19 Texas (4-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Ole Miss 26, Texas 23 (Top Matchups)
Vanderbilt (3-4) at No. 12 Kentucky (6-1), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Kentucky 31, Vanderbilt 16
American Games
6 of 11
East Carolina (3-3) at Memphis (5-2), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Prediction: Memphis 34, ECU 20
Army (4-2) at Tulsa (4-3), Friday, 8:30 p.m.
Prediction: Tulsa 30, Army 28
Rice (1-6) at Florida Atlantic (4-2), Noon
Prediction: FAU 33, Rice 24
North Texas (4-2) at Navy (2-4), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: North Texas 38, Navy 31
UTSA (6-1) at Tulane (3-3), 8 p.m.
Prediction: UTSA 27, Tulane 20
Conference USA Games
7 of 11
Middle Tennessee (3-3) at Florida International (3-3), Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: FIU 28, MTSU 20
Missouri State (2-4) at Delaware (2-4), Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Delaware 30, Missouri State 24
New Mexico State (2-4) at Sam Houston (1-5), Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Prediction: NMSU 23, Sam Houston 19
Liberty (5-1) at Kennesaw State (1-5), Thursday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Liberty 31, Kennesaw State 24
MAC Games
8 of 11
Massachusetts (4-3) at Connecticut (3-3), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: UConn 34, UMass 20
Western Michigan (5-2) at Toledo (5-2), Noon
Prediction: Toledo 24, WMU 23
Akron (1-6) at Kent State (2-5), 1 p.m.
Prediction: Kent State 27, Akron 21
Miami (4-3) at Central Michigan (3-4), 1 p.m.
Prediction: CMU 24, Miami 20
Sacramento State (1-6) at Ball State (2-5), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Ball State 34, Sac State 13
Bowling Green (2-5) at Buffalo (4-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Buffalo 23, BGSU 17
Eastern Michigan (4-4) at Ohio (5-2), 4 p.m.
Prediction: Ohio 29, EMU 24
Mountain West Games
9 of 11
Air Force (5-1) at Wyoming (4-3), Friday, 9 p.m.
Prediction: Air Force 28, Wyoming 17
Hawaii (1-6) at Northern Illinois (0-6), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: NIU 23, Hawaii 20
San Jose State (4-3) at Nevada (2-4), 5 p.m.
Prediction: Nevada 27, SJSU 24
North Dakota State (6-1) at New Mexico (5-1), 10 p.m.
Prediction: UNM 21, NDSU 19
Pac-12 Games
10 of 11
No. 21 Boise State (5-1) at Washington State (1-6), 6 p.m.
Prediction: Boise State 38, Washington State 17
San Diego State (3-4) at Colorado State (2-4), 6:30 p.m.
Prediction: SDSU 34, CSU 31
Utah State (2-4) at Texas State (3-3), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Texas State 41, Utah State 24
Sun Belt Games
11 of 11
South Alabama (4-2) at Marshall (3-3), Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Marshall 34, South Alabama 31
James Madison (7-0) at Appalachian State (4-2), Thursday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: JMU 31, App State 23
Louisiana-Monroe (0-6) at Troy (3-3), 4 p.m.
Prediction: Troy 38, ULM 17
Louisiana (5-2) at Southern Miss (1-5), 5 p.m.
Prediction: Louisiana 30, Southern Miss 16
Old Dominion (2-5) at Louisiana Tech (4-2), 5 p.m.
Prediction: La Tech 28, ODU 20
Georgia State (4-2) at Arkansas State (3-4), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Arkansas State 33, Georgia State 27
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