Skip to main content

Alabama-Tennessee Showdown Leads College Football’s Week 8 Watchability Index

Two titans clash in the Big Ten, while USC tries to recover and the Tide takes on the Vols in the annual “Third Saturday in October” matchup.

The college football season rolls on with Week 8 offering us one of the biggest games of notable intrigue you will ever find, but not necessarily for a good reason. Strap in, it’s gonna be a great weekend of football.

All times Eastern. Watch college football with Fubo.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) signals a first down after running with the ball during the fourth quarter of a game against Penn State.

Harrison Jr. and the Buckeyes will look to stay defeated against a talented Penn State squad in Week 8.

Definitely good

Penn State vs. Ohio State (12 p.m., Fox)

The big one. Ohio State’s won 10-of-11, and a win here would get a major monkey off of Penn State’s back. Both defenses are expected to bring it, so which offense can rise above and make just enough plays to win the game?

Forde: Penn State Seems Poised to Tackle Its Ohio State Demons

Tennessee vs. Alabama (3:30 p.m., CBS)

The annual “Third Saturday in October” matchup featured an absolutely classic iteration last year where Tennessee exorcized a truckload of demons on one fateful October afternoon. Can the Tide repay the favor and light the cigars as they’ve become so accustomed to doing?

Utah vs. USC (8:00 p.m., Fox)

USC needs to prove they can be the more physical team because there is one thing Utah is going to do especially if they continue to not have Cam Rising at QB: run the absolute hell out of the ball. It’s going to be up to the Trojans to prove they can hit and tackle in this game. It’s the simple things in football sometimes, but until they show they can do it, the Utes won’t be stretched to find a way to generate points outside of their conservative shell.

Sneaky good (or at least with something of notable intrigue)

Minnesota vs. Iowa (3:30 p.m., NBC)

A total of around 30.5, depending on where you get it at, should tell you just what we’re expecting in this game. Points aren’t just at a premium, they might not even exist much at all with two stout defenses and two offenses that are, well, also stout.

Duke vs. Florida State (7:30 p.m., ABC)

Riley Leonard’s health is by far the biggest factor here with the lower leg injury he suffered against Notre Dame. If he can go, Duke has a fighting chance to stay with FSU if the Noles are able to get a lead against a good defense. But if he’s not 100%, does he have the movement ability to generate big plays with his legs?

Michigan vs. Michigan State (7:30 p.m., NBC)

Expect this one to be nasty with plenty of vitriol and no love lost after last year’s ugly tunnel scene. A rivalry that didn’t need much in the way of extra juice got it.

Clemson vs. Miami (8:00 p.m., ACC Network)

If the Hurricanes have any hope of salvaging this year they’ve gotta start now and get this one against Clemson. The Tigers will want to play spoiler and show they’re still in the ACC’s upper tier and that they haven’t been supplanted.

Well, it’s certainly better than watching not football

Air Force vs. Navy (12 p.m., CBS)

UCF vs. Oklahoma (12 p.m., ABC)

Washington State vs. Oregon (3:30 p.m., ABC) 

UTSA vs. FAU (6:00 p.m., ESPN+) 

Watch college football with Fubo. Start your free trial today.