College football Week 8: The 10 best games this week

Week 8 of the college football season already is upon us, and while it doesn’t have any truly must-watch games, it does have a handful of interesting matchups, especially in the Pac-12 and Mountain West. In addition, it’s fair to think this weekend is Clemson’s last stand to make something of this season.

Then again, as last week reinforced, this has been a season filled with chaos, so who knows what will happen this week?

Here are the 10 best games of Week 8; we also included a bonus game. All games are Saturday except where indicated, and all times are Eastern.

BONUS: Coastal Carolina (6-0) at Appalachian State (4-2)

Time/TV: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
The buzz: Coastal and Louisiana look to be the two best Sun Belt Conference teams, but they do not play each other. Louisiana hammered App State last Tuesday, so think of this as a measuring-stick game for Coastal, which is ranked 14^th this week. App State was on the road last week, and maybe playing at home will help the Mountaineers this week. Coastal leads the nation by averaging 8.82 yards per play, but to be frank, the Chanticleers have put up big numbers against bad teams. While App State’s defense will be the best Coastal has seen, it still isn’t close to elite. The Mountaineers need a big game from QB Chase Brice and must get their ground game cranked up.

10. Wake Forest (6-0) at Army (4-2)

Time/TV: Noon, CBS Sports Network
The buzz: Wake Forest is the only unbeaten team in the ACC, but the Demon Deacons’ shaky run defense makes them vulnerable in this one. Army’s triple-option attack averages 295.0 rushing yards per game, and it also chews clock, to the tune of 38:11 per game. That puts the onus on Wake QB Sam Hartman to be extremely productive because possessions figure to be limited. Army has good pass defense numbers, but the one opponent that made it a priority to throw (Western Kentucky) threw for 435 yards and three TDs. Wake likely will make it a priority to throw.

9. Tennessee (4-3) at Alabama (5-1)

Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN
The buzz: The Vols’ offense figures to put some stress on Alabama’s defense, which has had its share of issues this season. Florida ran all over the Tide in a loss and Texas A&M had a big day in the air in a win; Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker’s dual-threat ability makes him dangerous. The Vols’ defense isn’t that good, though, and Tide QB Bryce Young, RB Brian Robinson and WR Jameson Williams have the ability to put up big numbers. Alabama, which has zero margin for error if it wants to get back to the College Football Playoff, has won 14 in a row in this annual series.

8. San Diego State (6-0) at Air Force (6-1)

Time/TV: 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
The buzz: This is an important division crossover game in the Mountain West. The Aztecs, who are tied for the West Division lead with Nevada (more on the Wolf Pack in a minute), are the only unbeaten team in the league (overall and in the conference). Air Force is 3-1 in the league and in second place in the Mountain Division. San Diego State isn’t much offensively, but its defense is the best in the league; specifically, its rush defense has been excellent, as the Aztecs are allowing a nation’s-low 2.1 yards per rush. Air Force, if course, is all about the run; the Falcons’ triple-option attack leads the nation at 334.6 yards per game. Air Force has a nation’s-best 27 rushing TDs, but SDSU has allowed just one. San Diego State has won eight in a row in this series, dating to 2010.

7. LSU (4-3) at Ole Miss (5-1)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., CBS
The buzz: This game has taken on an extra layer of interest because of the departure of Ed Orgeron. LSU’s season looked dead in the water, but the Tigers unleashed a powerful rushing attack last week to shock Florida. Given Ole Miss’ porous defense, LSU figures to run and run, then run some more. LSU’s defense is porous, too, though, and Rebels QB Matt Corral should be able to put up big numbers. LSU beat Ole Miss last season, when Corral threw five interceptions. The Rebels need a win to keep their “big” bowl hopes alive.

6. Wisconsin (3-3) at Purdue (4-2)

Time/TV: 3 p.m., Big Ten Network
The buzz: All of a sudden, thanks to Purdue’s stunning upset of Iowa, this has become a huge game in the Big Ten West. The division is a jumbled mess; every team has at least one league loss (that includes Purdue) and Wisconsin has two. One difference: Purdue’s loss came in the division, while Wisconsin’s were to East Division teams. Regardless, division title hopes likely go away for both with a loss. Both are defense-oriented, with Wisconsin’s “D” one of the best in the nation. Purdue has the better offense, and in David Bell, it has a wide receiver who can do some real damage. Wisconsin has won 14 in a row in this annual series; last season’s game was canceled by COVID.

5. Nevada (5-1) at Fresno State (5-2)

Time/TV: 7 p.m., FS1 or FS2 (game will be on FS1 if there is no ALCS Game 7)
The buzz: The Mountain West race really heats up this week, with this contest and the aforementioned Air Force-San Diego State matchup. The West Division is the strongest of the two, and these are two of the top three teams in the division. Fresno already has a division loss, and another almost certainly would end any title hopes. Two of the best quarterbacks on the West Coast will be on view in Fresno’s Jake Haener (332.3 yards per game, 20 TDs) and Nevada’s Carson Strong (331.7 ypg, 16 TDs). Fresno’s pass defense has been excellent, Nevada’s adequate. Opposing passers are completing just 48.5 percent of their passes against the Bulldogs, which is the lowest in the nation.

4. Utah (4-2) at Oregon State (4-2)

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network
The buzz: Utah’s victory over Arizona State gives the Utes the pole position in the race to the Pac-12 South title, and this is an important division crossover game. Oregon State has been better than expected this season, and RB B.J. Baylor leads the Pac-12 and is 11^th nationally in rushing (112.8 yards per game). The Utes have allowed just four rushing TDs, but San Diego State, BYU and, to a lesser extent, Arizona State did some damage on the ground against Utah. QB Cam Rising has steadied Utah’s offense, and he needs to take advantage of the Beavers’ shaky pass defense.

3. Oregon (5-1) at UCLA (5-2)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC
The buzz: Oregon is the Pac-12’s only legit playoff hope, and “legit” is used rather loosely here. The biggest issue: The Ducks don’t play a currently ranked team the rest of the way, and their CFP hopes rest on winning out and a bunch of teams ranked above them losing once (or, even better, twice). The Ducks have struggled defensively, and the Bruins, thanks to QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and RBs Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown, have the personnel to take advantage. Thing is, UCLA isn’t that good defensively, either, so the Ducks need to get RB Travis Dye cranked up and hope that QB Anthony Brown can make some plays. Both defenses do a good job of creating turnovers: Oregon has a plus-9 turnover margin and UCLA is at plus-5.

2. Oklahoma State (6-0) at Iowa State (4-2)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., Fox
The buzz: Before the season, Iowa State was considered Oklahoma’s main competition for the Big 12 title, but if the Cyclones lose this, their title hopes basically disappear. Oklahoma State and OU are the league’s only unbeaten teams, and the Cowboys have been doing it with their defense because the offense has been inconsistent. The Big 12 has a bunch of good running backs, and two will be on view in this one in Iowa State’s Breece Hall and Oklahoma State’s Jaylen Warren. These are the two best run defenses in the league; the Cyclones are allowing 2.84 yards per rush, the Cowboys 2.99. It may come down to quarterback play; the Cyclones’ Brock Purdy has been better than Oklahoma State’s Spencer Sanders. As for the secondaries they will be throwing against? As good as Oklahoma State’s pass defense has been, Iowa State’s has been even better.

1. Clemson (4-2) at Pitt (5-1)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN
The buzz: Raise your hand if you thought Pitt’s Kenny Pickett would be the Heisman-candidate quarterback in this matchup. Pickett has been excellent this season; he’s averaging 322.3 passing yards per game, with 21 TDs and just one pick, and completing 69.8 percent of his passes. Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei, meanwhile, is completing just 55.7 of his passes and has four TDs and three picks. Clemson desperately needs its offense to wake up, but considering this is Week 8, maybe that just isn’t going to happen. Still, the Tigers’ defense has been stout and is the reason Clemson remains squarely in the hunt for the ACC title. The Tigers have allowed just five TD passes, and four of those came in one game, to NC State’s Devin Leary. No offense to Leary, but Pickett is better. Pitt is the only team in the ACC Coastal Division with no league losses, and the Panthers basically own a two-game lead in the division. Clemson can’t afford another league loss if it wants to win the Atlantic Division.