College Football Watch Guide – Week 8

There are some weeks where the intro to the Watch Guide comes naturally and some where it doesn’t. I try to keep it to football whenever possible. Last Saturday provided some great games, from an Iowa 40-burger against Washington to an Ohio State-Oregon top three tilt that came down to the final minute and taught everyone the finer points of clock management as it relates to illegal substitution. From what I remember from last weekend or have time to rewatch it was a great day of football.

And yet I just can’t quite come up with a thread to pull on for the intro.

I could take a detour into something completely unrelated to college football which I enjoy from time to time, whether it’s wondering what kind of Halloween candy Kirk buys to a passionate defense of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Sometimes the offbeat path is the right one to take. I did just finish playing through Cyberpunk 2077 over the weekend so I could talk about the promises and pitfalls of transhumanism in the not too distant future. Maybe I’ll file that one away for another week. Until then I have to start on Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth. I must have a thing for sticking it to evil fictional mega-corporations.

Of course sometimes you just start talking and before you know it you’ve used up just over 200 words and you’ve got yourself that rambling, disjointed introduction you needed.

Mission accomplished.

#2 Oregon @ Purdue – Friday, 7:00 PM – FOX

I’ll be honest, I can’t look at this game on paper and expect anything less than an absolute demolition of Purdue. But I need content on the weeknight games, and we know all too well the dangers of being ranked no. 2 and having to play the Boilers.

Oklahoma State @ #13 BYU – Friday, 9:15 PM – ESPN

BYU has been on a tear in 2024. Projected to finish 13th in a preseason conference media poll, the Cougars have catapulted to the top of the league. Oklahoma State meanwhile sits at 3-3 and winless in Big 12 play. It’s not a flashy game, but crazier things have happened on a boring Friday night in October.

Nebraska @ #16 Indiana – 11:00 AM – FOX

Nebraska had their bye week at either the best time or worst time. After falling to Illinois in overtime on September 20, the Cornhuskers won their next two games, picking up some of momentum with which they’d started the season only to go on a two week before facing one of the Big Ten’s three unbeatens. On the flip side, they’ll have two weeks to prepare for a very impressive Hoosier team that has yet to score less than 41 points this year.

#7 Alabama @ #11 Tennessee – 2:30 PM – ABC

The battle of the “we barely got through week 7 alive” teams. Alabama survived by a whisker against South Carolina and Tennessee looked discombobulated early before putting away Florida. Someone’s going down this weekend and I can’t wait to find out who.

#24 Michigan @ #22 Illinois – 2:30 PM – CBS

Illinois has emerged as a dark horse in the Big Ten while Michigan has tumbled all the way from #9 in the preseason. Many will argue the Wolverines shouldn’t even be in the top-25 at all after looking outmatched against Washington and Illinois is absolutely capable of showing them the door this weekend.

Baylor @ Texas Tech – 3:00 PM – ESPN 2

With the Big 12 shaping up the way that it is, Texas Tech has found itself third in the conference, currently ahead of preseason favorites Utah and Kansas State. Baylor finds itself in the bottom of the pile at 0-3 in the conference but every game is worth watching in this wide open league.

Colorado @ Arizona – 3:00 PM – FOX

It’s been a while since I’ve had Colorado on the Watch Guide, but you can refer to my previous sentence about why they’re making another appearance. The Buffaloes and Arizona are more evenly matched than Texas Tech and Baylor, so this game matters so much more in conference positioning. It’s also worth keeping an eye on Heisman contender Travis Hunter who is expected to play after suffering a shoulder injury against Kansas State.

Honorable Mention: #6 Miami @ Louisville, #12 Notre Dame @ Georgia Tech, NC State @ Cal

#8 LSU @ Arkansas – 6:00 PM – ESPN

LSU notched one of the best games of the week with their win over Ole Miss and they’ll now have to avoid the letdown in Fayetteville. Arkansas has shown they can be dangerous as they have an upset of then #4 Tennessee. The Razorbacks will be coming off a bye as well so we’ll see if two weeks is enough time to sleep off the hangover.

#5 Georgia @ #1 Texas – 6:30 PM – ABC

Texas left no doubt they’re the top team in the land after burying Oklahoma on the Texas State Fairgrounds last week. Their reward is a date with the #5 Georgia Bulldogs but at least they won’t have to leave the Lone Star state. Georgia opened as a 3.5 point underdog, the first time they’ve been one in a true road game since October 17, 2020. This will also be the first regular season meeting of Texas and Georgia since 1958.

Photo by Keith Gillett/IconSportswire

Iowa @ Michigan State @ 6:30 PM – NBC

I still find it hard to believe Iowa hasn’t traveled to East Lansing since 2017. This is one of those Big Ten games that feels like it’s supposed to be played every year. I’m just still living in the past I guess. This is a great opportunity for Iowa to build on the momentum of their drubbing of Washington last weekend.

Honorable Mention: #17 Kansas State @ West Virginia, UCF @ #9 Iowa State, Kentucky @ Florida