There are two games between top 11 opponents on Saturday and could go a long way in deciding who plays for the conference title in Atlanta in December. Of the four, only number 1 Texas is undefeated. No. No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee each have a loss.
But there is also a lot to see outside the SEC.
Here are the biggest games of Week 8. (Scroll down to watch the action live.)
The Crimson Tide are road favorites in Knoxville as the Vols offense has had a rough two weeks. UT has been plagued by penalties and sacks, but the Crimson Tide have their own problems. After losing on the road at Vanderbilt, Alabama was only able to put aside South Carolina in the final game in a 27-25 victory. Tennessee has one of the best defensive lines in the SEC. Will Alabama have answers yet?
This has everything to do with a brawl; just look at the top/bottom. Jack Tuttle came on in relief of Alex Orji in UM’s Week 6 loss to Washington and will be Michigan’s third starting QB of the season in the Wolverines’ seventh game. Michigan will obviously look to run the ball as much as possible. And that could be a good strategy against Illinois.
That three-point line is no coincidence. The last four games in this series were decided by exactly three points. The Razorbacks will play their third straight opponent after falling to Texas A&M and beating Tennessee. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier had his toughest game of the season in the Tigers’ OT win over Ole Miss in Week 7, but it was still a win thanks to the Tigers’ defense.
Georgia’s second major road test of the season is the biggest game of the weekend. The top-ranked Longhorns are coming off a blowout win over Oklahoma in Quinn Ewers’ first start since Week 3. It’s not a stretch to say that Georgia needs Carson Beck’s best game of the season to pull out the win. Ewers became more comfortable as the Oklahoma game progressed, but Texas’ biggest strength was its running game.
The Hurricanes were just trying to milk the clock with easy runs, but Damien Martinez had other ideas. The Oregon State transfer broke several tackles en route to a 30-yard touchdown run.
It’s now a two-point game.
The Hurricanes have the ball back and they are taking their time on this drive.
We are now under 5 minutes.
Indiana exceeds the 50-point mark
It’s over in Bloomington.
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes are back in the lead after a quick drive as Ajay Allen rushes into the end zone for a score. Samuel Brown did most of the work on that drive with a long catch and run to put Miami in position.
Touchdown Louisville!
The Cardinals put it back together on a short pass from Tyler Shough to Duke Watson.
It’s 38-38 with just over 13 minutes to go.
End of Q3: Miami 38, Louisville 31
We have one live in Louisville folks! The Cardinals have the ball at the Miami 37 as the game enters the fourth quarter.
Cam Ward is currently making Heisman-esque throws in what is an absolute offensive bash of a game against Louisville. Ward is 17 of 26 for 239 yards and 4 touchdowns. Sticks up 38-31.
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes regain the lead in no time. Cam Ward found Isaiah Horton on a two-yard slant for the score, but it was Xavier Restrepo who did the bulk of the work on the drive with a 63-yard catch and run.
Touchdown Louisville!
What a turnaround! Just a minute and a half after Miami took a two-point lead, the Cardinals have now tied the game on a 21-yard pass from Tyler Shough to Ja’Corey Brooks. Game on!
Fumble recovered by Louisville
And on Miami’s first possession, Cam Ward passed to Mark Fletcher Jr., who immediately gave the ball back to the Cardinals.
They have the ball deep in Miami territory.
TOUCHDOWN LOUISVILLE!
The subsequent kickoff return, courtesy of Louisville’s Caullin Lacy:
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes took their time on the opening drive of the second half, bleeding 6:39 off the clock before Cam Ward found Xavier Restrepo for a 9-yard touchdown.
It’s 31-17 Miami.
Auburn beats No. 19 Missouri
Meanwhile, No. 19 Missouri is in a dog fight with Auburn at home and just muffed a punt, which was then recovered by Auburn.
Indiana Touchdown
The Hoosiers took full advantage of the turnover and scored just three plays later on a short pass from Tayven Jackson to Miles Cross.
It’s now 35-7 Indiana
Interception Indiana!
The Huskers went for it on fourth down in the red zone and Dylan Raiola forced the coverage. Indiana’s Shawn Asbury jumped for it and ran it back 78 yards to put the Hoosiers in position for a score.
We’re back for the second half of Nebraska-Indiana and the Cornhuskers are on the road.
Scoreboard update
So here’s where things stand as the first wave of matches reaches halftime:
Scoreboard update
Halftime: Miami 24, Louisville 17
The Cardinals cut into the Hurricanes’ lead before halftime with a short field goal. It’s been a pretty even match so far; the difference was Miami fumbled to find a TD.
Touchdown Indiana!
The Hoosiers have another one! Judge Ellison cut through the Nebraska defense for a 31-yard touchdown to give Indiana a three-point lead just before halftime.
Louisville misses FG
The Cardinals had made a decent attempt to enter Miami territory, but it failed and they had to settle for a 52-yard field goal attempt that Brock Travelstead missed to his left.
It’s still 24-14 Miami with less than 2 minutes left in the half.
