Week 8 brought chaos across college football with major upsets shaking up the AP Poll and conference standings. The Big 12 and ACC both have new teams sitting at the top, while the SEC saw big movement after several wild in-conference games. The list of unbeaten contenders keeps getting shorter, and the playoff picture is starting to take shape.
Biggest Games and Upsets of the Week
Louisville 24, Miami 21
The Hurricanes’ perfect season came to a screeching halt. Unranked Louisville stormed into Miami and left with a season-defining win, vaulting to No. 19 in the latest AP Poll.
Carson Beck’s Heisman campaign took a major hit as he threw four interceptions and no touchdowns in his worst performance of the year. Miller Moss led the Cardinals with two passing touchdowns and another on the ground, giving Louisville its biggest win in years and shaking up the ACC race.
Notre Dame 34, USC 24
The Irish stayed alive in the playoff hunt with a hard-fought win that dropped USC out of the rankings. Notre Dame relied heavily on its run game, and it delivered in a big way.
Jeremiyah Love ran for 228 yards and a touchdown, while Jadarian Price added 87 yards and another score. Neither quarterback impressed, but Notre Dame’s physicality and ground dominance proved the difference. Now at 5–2 after an 0–2 start, the Irish have an opportunity to run the table with a favorable schedule.
Georgia 43, Ole Miss 35
In one of the SEC’s most entertaining games of the season, Georgia outlasted Ole Miss in a high-scoring shootout.
Trinidad Chambliss accounted for three touchdowns and 305 total yards, but Gunner Stockton outdueled him with five total touchdowns and 348 yards. Despite the loss, Ole Miss remains in the mix in the West, though the door could open for Austin Simmons to reclaim the starting quarterback job if Chambliss stumbles again.
AP Top 25 Risers and Fallers
Risers
#10 Vanderbilt (up 7): Rebounded from the Alabama loss with a huge win over LSU, vaulting into the Top 10.
#7 Georgia Tech (up 5): The Yellow Jackets keep rolling, now 8–0 after handling Duke to remain unbeaten and move into the Top 10.
#11 BYU (up 4): The Cougars remain perfect and now sit as the Big 12’s top-ranked team.
#19 Louisville (previously unranked): The Cardinals’ upset over Miami launches them into the rankings and right into the ACC title conversation.
Fallers
#20 LSU (down 10): A crushing loss to Vanderbilt torpedoes their playoff hopes.
#9 Miami (down 7): The Hurricanes’ shocking home loss to Louisville drops them out of the ACC’s top spot.
#14 Texas Tech (down 7): Fell to Arizona State, allowing BYU to leapfrog them as the Big 12’s highest-ranked team.
Betting Strategy: Adjusting After Week 8
Do Not Bet Against the Buckeyes
Ohio State continues to dominate. Their 34-0 shutout of Wisconsin was just the latest reminder that there is no value in fading this team. Julian Sayin is in complete command, while Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate form the most dangerous receiving duo in college football. The Buckeyes look destined for an undefeated regular season.
Look for Value in Ranked Matchups
A few Week 9 lines could offer hidden value, especially in the Mizzou vs. Vanderbilt and Texas A&M vs. LSU matchups. The rankings do not tell the full story, and smart bettors will dig deeper into efficiency numbers and situational edges before placing bets. We will break down those numbers later this week in Hedmann’s Campus Card.
Fade Penn State and Florida
It is officially time to move on from both programs. Penn State is in disarray after firing James Franklin and losing Drew Allar for the season. Florida also parted ways with Billy Napier. Both teams are rudderless and unreliable right now, which are two things you never want to back at the window.
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