Saturday features two games between top-11 opponents and could go a long way to deciding who is playing in Atlanta for the conference title in December. Of the four, only No. 1 Texas is undefeated. No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee each have a loss.
But there’s a lot to watch outside the SEC too.
Here are the biggest games of Week 8. (Scroll down to follow 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 issues of their own. After losing on the road at Vanderbilt, Alabama couldn’t put South Carolina away until the final play in a 27-25 win. Tennessee has one of the best defensive lines in the SEC. Will Alabama have answers up front?
This has all the makings of a slugfest; just look at the over/under. Jack Tuttle came on in relief of Alex Orji in UM’s Week 6 loss to Washington and is set to be Michigan’s third starting QB of the season in the Wolverines’ seventh game. Michigan will, of course, 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 have been decided by exactly three points. The Razorbacks are playing their third straight ranked opponent after falling to Texas A&M and beating Tennessee. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier had his roughest 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 huge 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 much of a stretch to say that Georgia will need the best game of the season from Carson Beck to get the win. Ewers got more comfortable as the Oklahoma game went on, but Texas’ biggest strength has been its running game.
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Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes were just trying to milk the clock with simple run plays, but Damien Martinez had other ideas. The Oregon State transfer broke several tackles on his way to a 30-yard touchdown run.
It’s a two-score game now.
The Hurricanes have the ball back and they’re taking their sweet time on this drive.
We’re under the 5-minute mark now.
Indiana crosses 50-point mark
It’s over in Bloomington.
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes are back in the lead after a quick-hitting drive as Ajay Allen plunges into the end zone for a score. Samuel Brown did the bulk of the work on that drive with a long catch and run to put Miami into position.
Touchdown Louisville!
The Cardinals have tied it up again on a short pass from Tyler Shough to Duke Watson.
It’s 38-38 with just over 13 minutes left.
End of Q3: Miami 38, Louisville 31
We have a live one in Louisville folks! The Cardinals have the ball at the Miami 37 as the game heads to the fourth quarter.
Cam Ward is making Heisman-type throws right now in what is an absolute offensive bash of a game against Louisville. Ward is 17 of 26 for 239 yards and 4 TDs. Canes up 38-31.
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes have the lead back in a flash. Cam Ward found Isaiah Horton on a 2-yard slant for the score, but it was Xavier Restrepo who did the majority 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-score 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 play of its possession, Cam Ward passed to Mark Fletcher Jr., who fumbled it right back to the Cardinals.
They have the ball deep in Miami territory.
TOUCHDOWN LOUISVILLE!
The ensuing kickoff return, courtesy of Louisville’s Caullin Lacy:
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes took their sweet 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 beating 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.
Touchdown Indiana
The Hoosiers take fully advantage of the turnover and score 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-and-long in the red zone and Dylan Raiola forced it into coverage. Indiana’s Shawn Asbury jumped in front of it and ran it back 78 yards to put the Hoosiers in position for a score.
We are back for the second half of Nebraska-Indiana and the Cornhuskers are on the move.
Scoreboard update
So here’s where things stand as the first wave of games hits halftime:
Scoreboard update
Halftime: Miami 24, Louisville 17
The Cardinals cut into the Hurricanes’ lead with a short field goal before the break. It’s been a fairly even game thus far; the difference was that Miami fumble recovery for a TD.
Touchdown Indiana!
The Hoosiers have another one! Justice Ellison sliced through the Nebraska defense for a 31-yard TD to give Indiana a three-score lead right before the break.
Louisville misses FG
The Cardinals had pieced together a decent drive to get into Miami territory but it fizzled out and they had to settle for a 52-yard field goal attempt, which Brock Travelstead missed left.
It’s still 24-14 Miami with under 2 minutes left in the half.
