Around the CFB World Week Eight

Headlines

1. Whited Out

Although Penn State had looked dominant through the early part of the season, the Nittany Lions lacked quality wins. After beating Iowa two weeks ago, PSU picked up another victory against a good team, topping Michigan 28-21 in Happy Valley. Michigan played tough, making it a one score game after trailing 21-0 midway through the second quarter, but an incomplete pass on 4th and goal from the PSU 3 yard line late in the game allowed James Franklin and company to push their record to 7-0.

2. Quack comeback

Oregon entered the season as the favorite to win the Pac-12 and possibly represent in the CFB playoff. Although the loss to Auburn set the Ducks back, they have won every game since. The latest was a 35-31 comeback effort on the road against Washington. It was a big day for Justin Herbert who threw four scores in the victory.

3. Bear Up

Don’t look now but Matt Rhule and Baylor are gunning for the Big 12. With their convincing 45-27 in Stillwater against Oklahoma State, the Bears are now 7-0. Baylor’s defense was particularly strong, forcing three Oklahoma State turnovers. Offensively, Baylor outscored OkSt 35-14 in the second half.

Taillines

1. Lots of Lovie

Wisconsin was another team that looked like they had something special in the mix, until they met Illinois. In what is arguably Lovie Smith’s best win since becoming head coach, the Illini upset Wisconsin 23-21 on a last second field goal. The Badgers didn’t do much to help their cause, committing three turnovers despite holding the ball for a whopping 40 minutes.

2. Not great day for horses

To start the Saturday slate, the Sooner Schooner flipped over while celebrating an Oklahoma touchdown. Then, later in the day, Boise State saw its undefeated season come to an end with a 28-25 loss to BYU despite scoring 15 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

3. Involuntary

Alabama should have had a pretty easy time against Tennessee, yet it was a one possession game until an Alabama TD late in the third quarter gave the Tide some breathing room. Compounding the underwhelming performance was Tua Tagovailoa suffering a high ankle sprain, taking him out of the lineup for the coming game against Arkansas.

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Notes

• Things are still a pretty mixed bag, relatively speaking, at Clemson. Although the Tigers took care of business with a 45-10 victory at Louisville, Trevor Lawrence tossed two bad interceptions. The Tigers were up just 17-3 at the half before pulling away in the second half.
• The momentum South Carolina had a week ago dissipated quite quickly, losing at home 38-27 to the Gators. There were times when it looked like South Carolina could make it more interesting, but several odd penalties ended up costing the Gamecocks.
• Les Miles brought out one of his specials against Texas. On multiple, yes multiple, occasions Kansas actually held a lead against Texas. It was a wild game with both teams combining to score fifty points in the fourth quarter, although the Longhorns won out 50-48.
• A feel good story on the weekend, when Casey O'Brien, a four-time cancer survivor made his debut as the Minnesota holder, on an extra point attempt. The Gophers remained undefeated after a 42-7 thrashing of Rutgers.