Is Nick Saban still the best coach in college football?
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg and Dan Wolken break down Alabama Crimson Tide’s season thus far.
USA TODAY
College football’s biggest teams continue their 2022 seasons during Saturday’s Week 8 action. Here’s a rundown of the day.
Kickoff: Noon
TV: Fox
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The most intriguing subplot to Saturday’s game is whether Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud can continue completing passes deep down the field while pitted against a secondary that rarely yields them. As Stroud leads the country with 10.9 yards per pass attempt, the Hawkeyes surrender only 4.7 yards per attempt, a mark that ranks the best among 131 FBS teams. The longest completed pass against Iowa this season is 34 yards, and it is only one of two defenses in the country that hasn’t allowed a pass longer than 40 yards. — Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Kickoff: Noon
TV: SEC Network
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: An SEC title shot, Hendon Hooker’s Heisman campaign and College Football Playoff chances for the Vols are being bantered about across college football. It can be dizzying. And players sense Josh Heupel’s even-keeled demeanor is needed now more than ever. But the Vols will need more than Heupel’s steadiness to finish the long haul. When Tennessee returned to practice Monday, coaches implored them to utilize every medical resource to get healthy and rehab injuries for the stretch run. Tennessee has been fortunate in minimizing and absorbing injuries at other positions. That must continue to stay unbeaten in the final six games. — Adam Sparks, Knoxville News Sentinel
MIDSEASON CHECK: First-half awards headlined by Ohio State, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel
COLLEGE FOOTBALL FIX: Nick Saban, Alabama on decline? Playoff race unpredictable as ever?
WINNING STREAKS: Ranking the unbeatens in college football based on their chances to run the table
Kickoff: Noon
TV: ABC
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: Don’t expect these quarterbacks to shy away from contact. Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei and Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader are not going to duck out of bounds and they’re definitely not going to slide. Shrader (6-4, 228) is a 1,000-yard rusher with 19 touchdowns in 18 games at Syracuse. Uiagalelei, meanwhile, has already eclipsed last year’s rushing total in six fewer games. He’s run for 337 yards and four touchdowns. — Todd Shanesy, Greenville News
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Crimson Tide ranks dead last among FBS teams with 66 accepted penalties through seven games. Alabama is third from the bottom with 9.43 penalties per game. If the Crimson Tide is going to run the table and have a shot at the College Football Playoff, it needs to start by cleaning up penalties. The defensive backfield especially can’t afford to let the loss to Tennessee bleed into another game, especially against quarterback Will Rogers and the Air Raid offense. The matchup provides a prime opportunity for the Crimson Tide to show the bad performance was a one-off, not a trend. — Nick Kelly, Tuscaloosa News
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: CBS
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What to know: Don’t be surprised if the outcome of this game comes down how well the Rebels can prevent scrambles from hurting them. One month into the season, Ole Miss’ defense looked like it could be among the nation’s best. But three games into SEC play, opponents are finding ways to crack the Rebels’ foundation. The most effective way has been with a mobile, hard-to-corral quarterback. And LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels might be the most mobile, hardest-to-corral quarterback in the nation. — Nick Suss, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Kickoff: 8 p.m.
TV: FS1
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What to know: Kansas State QB Adrian Martinez is one of only two FBS quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 passing attempts who has yet to throw an interception. And K-State is the only team that has not been picked off once. Having All-America running back Deuce Vaughn in the same backfield has helped deflect some of the attention from Martinez, which in turn has benefited both players. Vaughn is second in the Big 12 in rushing with 110.2 yards per game and Martinez is fifth at 91.0 with nine touchdowns. Martinez has completed 62.3% of his passes for 900 yards and four scores. — Arne Green, Topeka Capital-Journal
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: Fox
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What to know: UCLA head coach Chip Kelly has things cooking in Westwood, as the Bruins are off to their best start since opening the 2005 season 8-0. Fifth-year senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has thrown for 1,510 yards (251.7 per game), 15 touchdowns and two interceptions and leads the Pac-12 with a 180.58 pass-efficiency grade. Meanwhile, Oregon has won 22 straight at Autzen Stadium, which is the third-longest active winning streak in the nation and one win shy of the school record of 23 set between 1997-2001. — Chris Hansen, The Register-Guard
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
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What to know: Through the midway point of the season, there are no obvious signs of wearing down for Oklahoma State running back Dominic Richardson. He has proven to be durable and capable of handling the duties of a workhorse. He’s a physical runner, and that’s been handy as he’s often created something out of nothing. He’s shown an improved ability to make defenders miss. The Cowboys are searching for consistency rushing the football, particularly with blocking. But they also want to protect their starting running back without limiting his impact. — Jacob Unruh, The Oklahoman
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ACC Network
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What to know: No. 13 Wake Forest still has six opponents to go in ACC play: Boston College, Louisville, No. 23 North Carolina State, No. 24 North Carolina, No. 14 Syracuse and Duke. While the Demon Deacons are essentially eliminated from winning the ACC Atlantic for the second year in a row, winning at least five of six would merit a New Year’s Six bid and could land quarterback Sam Hartman a seat among the Heisman finalists. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
TV: ABC
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What to know: A motivated, energized Penn State team, no matter its exact expertise at the moment, should be able to grind its way past a less-talented side with just as many issues. It may not look as sharp as many would hope or even expect. But delivering just enough at this moment will suffice for now, welcomingly so. If nothing other than they know how the alternative feels. — Frank Bodani, York Daily Record
Kickoff: Noon
TV: ESPN
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: Bye weeks have been kind to the University of Cincinnati football team of late. The Bearcats are 4-1 in games after a bye under sixth-year head coach Luke Fickell. With injuries to starting quarterback Ben Bryant, starting wide receiver Tyler Scott and key running back Corey Kiner, Fickell admitted his Bearcats needed a break and time to heal some of their “nicks and bruises” before beginning the second half of their schedule. Fickell said he’s preparing for a “battle,” as the bull’s-eye on Cincinnati’s back has never been bigger. — Keith Jenkins, Cincinnati Enquirer
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.
TV: ESPN2
Betting info: Odds, moneyline and more
What to know: The Tigers have their highest scoring average in three seasons (35.6 points). However, they’re averaging just 5.88 yards per play, the lowest for a Tigers season since 2014. A key reason has been the run game struggling for a third consecutive season. The Tigers have gone 17 consecutive games without an individual 100-yard rusher and are ninth in the AAC (among 11 teams) with just 3.73 yards per carry, which would be the fewest at Memphis since 2013. — Evan Barnes, Memphis Commercial Appeal
