For the second week in a row, the college football schedule is highlighted by seismic clashes between teams with national title aspirations as the season’s second half begins with a bang. The headliner is an SEC showdown between No. 1 Texas and No. 5 Georgia as the Longhorns look to remain among the sport’s unbeaten and cement their claim as the nation’s top squad.
Elsewhere in the SEC, No. 7 Alabama visits No. 11 Tennessee in an afternoon showdown between rivals looking to remain firmly in the College Football Playoff picture after each showed vulnerabilities in recent weeks. The Crimson Tide are a 3.5-point betting favorite to win on the road, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. There’s also a top-25 clash between Big Ten teams in the same window as No. 24 Michigan travels to No. 22 Illinois for the first game between ranked teams at Memorial Stadium since 2000.
That’s just a sampling of the action in store for another jam-packed Saturday of college football as the separation of contenders from pretenders continues amid the march to the first-ever 12-team CFP.
As Week 8 action arrives, here’s a viewer’s guide to help you navigate through all of Saturday’s games.
All times Eastern
The best games
No. 6 Miami at Louisville — noon on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): Miami has been living on the edge with a pair of dramatic victories in its past two contests as the Hurricanes have reached 6-0 behind the play of star quarterback Cam Ward. But traveling to Louisville will pose a test as the 4-2 Cardinals seek to notch a season-altering upset against the ACC’s top-ranked squad.Â
Nebraska at No. 16 Indiana — noon on Fox, fuboTV (try for free): Will Indiana’s storybook start continue, or will Nebraska finally secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016? Plenty is at stake for both sides as the Hoosiers seek to reach 7-0 and validate their legitimacy against their toughest opponent yet. The Cornhuskers could use a strong performance to generate some momentum entering next week’s showdown at Ohio State. The Buckeyes currently have the second best sports betting odds to win the national title, according to FanDuel.Â
No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): Tennessee snapped a 15-game losing streak against Alabama in a 52-49 classic the last time the Crimson Tide visited Neyland Stadium in 2022. Can the Volunteers pull off another program-defining takedown of their rivals? Both teams have looked flawed in recent weeks and need victories to stay on par with their lofty aspirations.
No. 24 Michigan at No. 22 Illinois — 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free), Paramount+ with Showtime: Michigan is rolling with its third starting quarterback of the season as 25-year old Jack Tuttle gets the nod coming out the Wolverines’ bye week. Can he spark a listless passing offense? Even if he can, this will likely come down to Illinois’ ability to stop Michigan’s elite duo of running backs as the Illini seek to reach 6-1 with a head-turning victory in the day’s only game between ranked Big Ten teams.
No. 8 LSU at Arkansas — 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): Coming off an emotional home win over Ole Miss, LSU now faces a trap spot as the Tigers travel to face a plucky Arkansas team that is coming off a bye. It’s been a decade since the Razorbacks took down LSU at home, but the Hogs already have one home win over a top-10 team (Tennessee) and are yearning for another moment of glory.
No. 5 Georgia at No. 1 Texas — 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): Georgia has offered glimpses of greatness but has been inconsistent and lacking its customary dominance. Texas has crushed everything in its path thus far but hasn’t been tested by a team with anything close to Bulldogs’ level of quarterback play. This is the ultimate statement opportunity for the Longhorns and coach Steve Sarkisian.
All sports betting odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Check out the latest FanDuel promo to get in the game.
Best of the rest
- Auburn at No. 19 Missouri — noon on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- East Carolina at No. 23 Army — noon on ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free)
- Wake Forest at UConn — noon on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- Virginia at No. 10 Clemson — noon on ACC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Charlotte at No. 25 Navy — 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- No. 12 Notre Dame at Georgia Tech — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 14 Texas A&M at Mississippi State — 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 17 Kansas State at West Virginia — 7:30 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (try for free)
- UCF at No. 9 Iowa State — 7:30 p.m. on FS1, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 21 SMU at Stanford — 8 p.m. on ACC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Colorado State at Air Force — 8 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)