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Joel AndersonESPN
Joe Burrow was supposed to make the difference between this year's LSU team and all the other teams that were not sufficiently offended to overthrow Alabama in recent seasons.
The transfer of the state of Ohio has largely contributed to stabilize the attack of the Tigers, leading them to four victories against classified teams. But Burrow has been skeptical about the nature of LSU's threat to the country's top teams, not to mention Alabama.
Consider that Saturday was the fourth game of the season when Burrow failed to throw a touchdown pass.
Among the handful of teams considered serious contenders for the national title, the Tigers are likely to have the weakest and least threatening offense, which is largely due to Burrow's limitations.
That's why Oklahoma (with Kyler Murray) and Michigan (Shea Patterson) quickly beat LSU in the top five, until at least November 3 at Death Valley against Alabama.
1. Alabama (8-0, 5-0 SEC)
Result week 8: Defeated Tennessee 58-21
And after: Open week
It is assumed that the Crimson Tide will face his first real challenge of the season on Nov. 3 against LSU at Death Valley. But even that seems to be well after their eighth consecutive loss of the season – no other team has scored three. Jeremy Pruitt, Bama's former defense coordinator, and Tennessee were the last to experience a 60-minute slump. This is another example of the distance between Saban's acolytes program and those they hope to rebuild. Beating his 15-0 record against former assistants, Saban earned another Heisman-style performance from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (306 yards, four touchdowns) despite a knee injury.
2. Clemson (7-0, 4-0 ACC)
Result week 8: State of North Carolina defeated 41-7
And after: at Florida State (Saturday 12h)
In relatively short time, the Tigers have dispelled any confusion as to whether they have a legitimate challenger for the Atlantic Division title. Clemson scored touchdowns on two of his first three possessions, quickly eliminating the suspense of this supposed showdown between two undefeated teams. In his third career start, real freshman Trevor Lawrence seemed to be saying that recruiting analysts would tell him that he would score 26 goals out of 39 for 308 yards and a touchdown. The defense of Lawrence and Clemson, who left no mark until the fourth quarter, and harassed Wolfpack's quarterback, Ryan Finley, in three turnovers, seems (to this day) to be the only one able to 39, prevent a repeat in Alabama.
The tide and tigers continue to go to a rematch, with both teams stronger than ever.
The first defeat of the Ohio State season against Purdue not only dealt a blow to the Buckeyes' playoff summary, it revived hopes of another defeat .
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3. Our Lady (7-0)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: at the Navy (20h Saturday, CBS)
It is far too early to talk about the playoffs and the waking echoes, especially now that opponents have four movie games against junior quarterback Ian Book. In fact, do not be surprised if the next Fighting Irish matches look a lot like their last-minute escape to Pittsburgh last week. The Navy and the Northwest have traditionally played hard and the state of Florida has been steadily improving in recent weeks. But as the Irish have shown by going over the Panthers, Book can save them in games when they are not at their best. This has not been the case for Notre-Dame for a long time.
4. Michigan (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten)
Result week 8: State of Michigan defeated, 21-7
And after: Open week
Jim Harbaugh followed a win over Wisconsin with another victory. Another event at Penn State on November 3rd will surely appease critics who wonder if his huge salary and his explosive personality were worth it. Is not it? At least until Ohio State? Whatever the case may be, this was to be one of the most satisfying victories of the Wolverines' recent memory. They limited the Spartans to 94 meters of attack, making it their third lowest result in school history and their worst offensive performance in 71 years. In addition, Karan Higdon scored 143 yards on the country's best run defense. Shea Patterson (212 yards passing, 2 touchdowns) continued to give Michigan a dimension that had been lacking at the quarterback for years. Overall, the Wolverines largely supported Devin Bush's pre-match speech.
5. Oklahoma (6-1, 3-1 Big 12)
Result week 8: Defeated TCU 52-27
And after: Kansas State (2:30 pm Saturday, Fox)
Saturday was a big step forward for the Sooners to re-enter the playoff race. After a heartbreaking defeat to rival Texas, Oklahoma regained its form against the dominant road victory against the TCU. Aside from a slow game near the first half, Kyler Murray and the Sooners, contenders to Heisman, controlled the game from start to finish. And their first match under new defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was a resounding success, limiting the Frogs to 275 yards and 12 first tries. Oklahoma might have even found a way to replace the production of wounded star RB Rodney Anderson, with Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon exceeding 100 yards.
6. LSU (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
Week 8 result: Victory of the Mississippi State 19-3
And after: open week
After victories over Miami, Auburn and Georgia, the Tigers had improved a lot under second-year head coach Ed Orgeron. But a mediocre victory over the state of Mississippi should raise questions about the quality of LSUs. The same old problems of the previous seasons confronted the Bulldogs. Cole Tracy's four goals provided virtually the only goal for the Tigers, who had their only touchdown after a dramatic turnaround in the Bulldogs and were beaten at 260-240. There is no chance that the Tigers will survive a similar performance against Alabama on November 3rd, a task already made more difficult given the linebacker Devin White will miss the first half of this match as a result of a targeting call against the state of Mississippi.
7. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: against Florida (3:30 pm Saturday, CBS)
How long can Jake Fromm retain freshman Justin Fields? We will probably know about the Gators in Jacksonville next Saturday. Florida has a formidable defense that is not totally different from the LSU that forced Fromm into the worst game of his career (16 of 34, two interceptions, four sacks and many missed shots). If Fromm begins with difficulty, it is not hard to imagine that Kirby Smart feels the pressure to turn to Fields. Beyond that, another defeat would most likely prevent the Bulldogs from making another trip to the SEC championship game. Basically, both Fromm and Smart have a lot to gain from their first possessions against Florida.
8. State of Ohio (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten)
Result week 8: Lost in Purdue 49-20
And after: Open week
It's hard to know what to do from the spectacular collapse of the Buckeyes to Purdue. Is it just their annual inexplicable disappointment, like the loss of 31 points last year to Iowa? Was there any more serious problem for a team that, at one stroke, could no longer support the race or tackle in open ground? The state of Ohio will have a chance to catch up with this mulligan, as it faces the most flexible part of its program after spring break (Nebraska, Michigan State and Maryland, three defeats) before a little game in Ann Arbor. But after a night in which quarterback Dwayne Haskins had almost as many pass attempts (73) as the Buckeyes (76), Urban Meyer will probably not let them forget everyone.
9. Texas (6-1, 4-0 Big 12)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: at Oklahoma State (8 pm Saturday, ABC)
OK, yes, Oklahoma is ranked ahead of the Longhorns even though it would have been settled in Dallas a few weeks ago. But these are rankings of power, not a list devolved to the transitive property. And if these two teams meet again, for example during the Big 12 Championship game, rest assured that the Sooners will be the favorites. That said, the Texas game could not have come at a better time, as he let quarterback Sam Ehlinger more time to recover from the shoulder injury that he suffered. against Baylor last week. According to information received in Austin, Ehlinger would launch again and could perhaps play next Saturday. Texas will need him to defeat a Oklahoma State team that will certainly score a few points.
10. UCF (7-0, 4-0 American)
Result week 8: Vanquished Carolina East 37-10
What's Next: Open Week
The Knights had a glimpse of life without McKenzie Milton on Saturday. It was not pretty. The sophomore Darriel Mack Jr. started in Milton's place, which saw his series of 27 consecutive starts come to an end as a result of an ankle injury. Predictably, it took UCF some time to catch up with Mack at the helm before moving away to extend his winning streak to 20 games. Mack was much better on the field (120 yards, 1 TD) than he was in the air (12 of 20 for 69 yards) and the Knights' defense imposed five turnovers that led to 24 points. Milton will have the week of rest to regain health before a Thursday night battle against Temple for first place in the eastern United States.
11. Florida (6-1, 4-1 SEC)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: in Georgia (15h30 Saturday, CBS)
Perhaps the greatest success of Dan Mullen during the first half of his first season in Gainesville is this: there is no longer any conflict over the identity of the starting quarterback. Felepe Franks certainly did not forget Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel or even Chris Leak. But it has shown a modest improvement over last year, by already registering more touchdowns (15) than it has done all last year (nine) and developing a better sense of avoidance. pressure. He has just finished the best game of his career in the Vanderbilt win, scoring 19 of 29 attempts for 284 yards and two touchdowns. For the Gators to eliminate Georgia, it will have to be even better and certainly not worse.
12. Texas A & M (5-2, 3-1 SEC)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: at Mississippi State (7 pm Saturday, ESPN)
It's hard to imagine anyone expecting Jimbo Fisher's first season at College Station to be much better than expected. A nail against Clemson and a respectable performance against Alabama are the only flaws in his record and, hey, these are probably the two best teams in the country. According to RecruitingNation, they have won three consecutive conference wins – and are currently the country's most successful recruiting category. Now, Fisher has the chance to prove that there has been a real improvement in the program during a next stretch of three games against rivals from the SEC-West, Mississippi State, Auburn and Ole Miss. Earn at least two of those defeats and maybe those jokes about Aggie will eventually be against someone else's expenses.
13. Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC)
Result week 8: Vanderbilt defeated 14-7
And after: in Missouri (Saturday 16h, SEC network)
Benny Snell Jr. and one of the nation's most radical defensemen helped the Wildcats rebound after a loss in overtime against Texas A & M a few weeks ago. After Kentucky managed to fumble in the red zone early in the fourth quarter, Snell had 74 yards passing by the assist that ended with a 7-yard touchdown. The Wildcats forced another late fumble to put the game away, placing them in the heart of the SEC East race. Snell racked up 169 rushing yards out of 32, bringing Kentucky to his feet, while he was struggling to part with a surprisingly stingy Vanderbilt. This is the kind of deadly and courageous effort that has characterized change in Lexington, where the Wildcats look like contenders for the first time in recent memory.
14. Washington (6-2, 4-1 Pac-12)
Week 8 result: Defeated Colorado 27-13
And after: in California (4:30 pm Saturday)
Unsurprisingly, the Huskies started slowly following their overwhelming loss in overtime at Oregon. But they found their way back to Colorado in the superficial style that was one of the pillars of the Jake Browning era. It's the 26-yard touchdown by Browning in fourth with less than four minutes that has finally put the game out of reach of the Huskies. Most impressively, Browning and Washington had to do it without Myles Gaskin, the school's greatest rider who missed a game for the first time in his career. But they will need his return and be healthy for the end of the season, which will include games against Stanford and Washington that will likely decide the Pac-12 North champion.
15. Penn State (5-2, 2-2 Big Ten)
Result week 8: Defeated Indiana 33-28
And after: in Iowa (15h30 Saturday)
The losses suffered by the losses in the states of Ohio and Michigan have almost sentenced the Nittany Lions to Bloomington, a place more and more difficult to play for the heavyweights of the conference. Trace McSorley helped Penn State escape with a win from 220 yards per minute, racking up 107 yards and scoring three touchdowns. It was barely enough to make up for a defense that yielded 554 yards but managed to create two turnovers over the last three possessions of Indiana. The Nittany Lions will have to be much improved at next week's game in Iowa, a game that looks just as great as the ones they've already lost.
16. Iowa (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten)
Result week 8: Defeated Maryland 23-0
And after: against Penn State (3:30 pm Saturday)
On a day when wind gusts reached 40 km / h in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes eliminated the game and remained in Maryland's intimidation along the two lines of scrimmage. Iowa held the ball for more than 40 minutes, limiting the Terrapins to just 115 yards and seven first tries in his first shutout in his first shutout against two opponents. In approaching the next week's showdown at State College, few teams in the country are playing better than the Hawkeyes, who have won their last three games with an average of 21 points. It's not hard to imagine that Iowa continues on this impressive run against Penn State.
17. Washington State (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12)
Result week 8: Defeated Oregon 34-20
And after: at Stanford (Saturday 7pm)
It was a long afternoon, the Cougars having hosted Oregon and College GameDay, the alleged favorite of Pac-12 North, in town. But with Mike Leach's powerful attack now backed by a savory defense, Washington State has pleaded itself for the division's favorite role. While the Cougars looked unstoppable in building a 27-point lead in the first half, it was their defense that slowed Justin Herbert and Oregon in the race for victory. The Ducks needed 9, 11 and 16 games to score in the second half and their last offensive possession ended with three inconsistencies in a row and one bag. Wazzu will need a reminder to Stanford, who has lost two of his last three games but still has offensive weapons.
18. West Virginia (5-1, 3-1 Big 12)
Result week 8: Open week
And after: against Baylor (Thursday 7 pm, FS1)
The Mountaineers had shown signs of flutter in a closer than expected victory against Kansas and were overturned the following week in their most difficult test so far at Iowa State. Is a week off is enough to fix everything that goes on with the offense, which was once thought to be among the best in the country, but only 152 yards out of 42 matches during the defeat at Ames? The West Virginia defensive is also not fully illustrated, giving up 498 yards to the Iowa State offensive, led by a true beginner quarterback . All the toughest climbers' games are still in front of them (Texas, TCU, Oklahoma State, OU). They will need to understand quickly
19. Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten)
Result week 8: Defeated Illinois 49-20
And after: North West (Saturday 12h)
The Badgers may already be out of the playoffs but they are still at the heart of Big Ten West. The win over Illinois marks a big game against Northwestern, which leads the division by half a game. To win this victory, Alex Hornibrook will be relying on Saturday's performance after his 100-yard debacle and two interceptions in Michigan. Hornibrook had 13 yards out of 22 for 188 yards and was more stable than in the loss at Ann Arbor, but he still had two interceptions, a third erased by a defensive penalty. A more promising sign was the Badgers' defense, which was missing up to five starters in Michigan. They created five turnovers and limited the Illini to 90 yards.
20. Oregon (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12)
Week 8 result: Lost to Washington 34-20
And after: in Arizona (22h30 Saturday, ESPN)
Saturday in Pullman was almost as close to a programmed ambush as a team can have. After winning an overwhelming overtime win over longtime Nemesis Washington, we should have expected the Ducks to weaken. But 27-0 was simply too big a deficit to be able to recover. That said, Oregon can find comfort in a half-second comeback that has brought Oregon closer to a touchdown by the end of the fourth quarter. And in the league's best offensive, the Ducks forced two shots on goal and a punt before giving up the decisive touchdown. It's something on which to build. Two of the weakest teams in the league – Arizona and UCLA – are the following, before a road match against the leader of Pac-12 South, Utah.
21. Utah (5-2, 3-2 Pac-12)
Result week 8: Defeated USC 41-28
And after: at UCLA (10:30 am Saturday, ESPN)
The Utes' third consecutive victory has designated it as the favorite of the South Pac-12, almost by default in a year in which almost all other members of the division have been disappointing. Utah caught up to 14-0 with 34 straight points, a pass with three touchdown passes from Tyler Huntley. The most impressive was a Utes defense that limited the Trojans to just 205 yards, forcing them to replace real freshman JT Daniels to replace Matt Fink. It stank of USC as palpably as Utah. Utes can sweep schools from Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl next week.
22. State NC (5-1, 2-1 ACC)
Result week 8: Lost for Clemson 41-7
And after: in Syracuse (Saturday, ESPN2)
The Wolfpack entered Death Valley under a cloud of suspicion, with an undefeated record that built a particularly weak non-conference slate – although a match against West Virginia was canceled due to Hurricane Florence – and two victories of ACC against Virginia and Boston College. Saturday clarified the distance between the Wolfpack and Clemson (and that's huge), but they should still be favored with every remaining match in their schedule. This assumes that, of course, quarterback star Ryan Finley and NC State came out confident and healthy in a game that earned them less than 300 yards and three turnovers. There is no great shame to lose to Clemson, but they will have to recover quickly to survive Saturday's game on the road to Syracuse.
23. Appalachian State (5-1, 3-0 solar belt)
Result week 8: Defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 27-17
And after: at Georgia Southern (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPNU)
In retrospect, the early season loss of the Mountaineers to Penn State announces better and better with time. A series of five consecutive victories also helps them to enter the Top 25 for the first time this season. Saturday's 10-point win was their first competitive game after beating the previous four opponents by an average of 43 points. Darrynton Evans paced the Appalachians with 183 yards and 26 touchdowns. There is probably another tight meeting on Thursday night, when the Mountaineers will travel to South Georgia to face unbeaten teams in the Sun Belt East.
24. South Florida (7-0, 3-0 American)
Result of the Week 8: Victory of Connecticut 38-30
And after: in Houston (3:30 pm Saturday, ABC / ESPN2)
It is becoming increasingly difficult to put a lot of action into the Bulls' unblemished record after again defeating a team in front of a winning team. The USF first narrowly defeated a point win at Tulsa, before continuing with an unimpressive performance against UConn on Saturday. Regardless, these Bulls matched the school's best start to the year before a match against Houston – like last year. The USF lost this match against Houston in 2017. The Bulls enter the second leg with a more diversified attack, relying on a hasty attack including Johnny Ford (164 yards and 3 touchdowns on 7 carries), Jordan Cronkrite (103 yards) and even quarterback Blake Barnett (78 yards and one touchdown). Defense? It may take a bit of work after the Huskies have accumulated 455 yards of offense.
25. Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1 Big 12)
Result week 8: Defeated Kansas 48-16
And after: in the state of Iowa (12pm on Saturday, ESPN2)
It had been a long time since the Red Raiders had a defense worthy of mention. On Saturday, it was the third time in four games that they were holding an opponent at 17 points or less and the first time they had had less than 20 consecutive points in conference since 2013. But as always, the offense from Texas Tech wore the day. Freshman Alan Bowman racked up 408 yards and three touchdowns in his first game since he had a partially collapsed lung three weeks ago. They will have a tougher test next Saturday in Ames, where Iowa State put an end to an even more powerful attack in West Virginia two weeks ago.
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