Week 8 recap
College football’s landscape continues to shift dramatically each week. Week 8 saw every spot in the Top 25 change except for No. 1, underscoring the growing parity and unpredictability of this season. As the playoff race tightens, teams continue to rise and fall, setting the stage for a dramatic stretch run. Here’s a look at the biggest stories and standout performances from the weekend.
Team of the week: Louisville. In one of the biggest upsets of the season, the unranked Louisville Cardinals stunned #2 Miami 24-21 on the road. The Cards intercepted the ball 4 times including one with 34 seconds left on the clock, sealing the game. The offense also changed things up with three different quarterbacks taking snaps and a faked field goal that led to a touchdown just one drive later. Wide receiver Chris Bell had an unbelievable performance with 9 receptions, 136 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Louisville now enters the polls ranked #19 and slowly climbing their way up the ACC ladder. Head coach Jeff Brohm is known for showing up in big games, going 4-2 in top 5 teams but facing a test in Boston College in week 9 as Louisville has a history of getting upset after coming off big wins.
Player of the Week: Gunner Stockton. Georgia quarterback led his team to a 43-35 win against #5 Ole Miss at home. Stockton went 26/31 in completions, passed for 289 yards, threw 4 touchdowns and rushed for a 59 yards touchdown without being sacked once. This was by far tockton’s best performance of the season and a clear statement to the national spotlight that he’s a rising star to watch as Georgia pushes deeper into the playoff hunt.
Underrated unranked team: Houston. Houston has quietly emerged as one of the most underrated teams in the national this season Sitting at 6-1, the Cougars are bowl eligible for this first time since 2022. They are led by dual threat Texas A&M transfer QB Conner Weigman and have very solid production on both sides of the ball. Houston has a test with a road game against No. 24 Arizona State coming up. A win here could gain them more national attention and possibly a lower spot in the AP rankings.
Underrated ranked team: Georgia Tech. Despite being ranked #7 in the country and undefeated, the story of Georgia Tech isn’t getting the same national buzz as the traditional powerhouses. To start the season, no one had Tech pegged as a top ACC team before the season as most projections had them middle-of-the-pack or worse. Yet, they are the only undefeated team left in the conference and one of 4 undefeated team left in the AP poll. Not to mention, this was considered by many to be a possible rebuild year but yet this is their best start since 1966. While the schedule hasn’t been the toughest yet, the Jackets are passing every test they’ve faced. Still, Georgia Tech hasn’t cracked the top tier in the national conversation and that’s exactly why they’re dangerous. They’ve got nothing to lose and everything to prove. If they keep this momentum rolling through November, don’t be surprised if they’re in the ACC title race or even pushing for a New Year’s Six bowl.
