We’re officially in the second half of the 2015 college football season now in Week 8, and there are some clear contenders emerging from the fray.
While this week’s slate of games doesn’t feature as many big-time showdowns as we were treated to last weekend, there are still some fascinating storylines to follow from Thursday to Saturday around the nation.
The following are the most interesting stories to follow in Week 8.
1. Thursday night quarterback duel in the wild, wild West
For the second week in a row, we’ll be treated to a fantastic Pac-12 matchup on Thursday night. This one, between No. 20-ranked Cal and UCLA at the Rose Bowl, features two young quarterbacks who are excelling at the college level, and who may one day be considered outstanding NFL passers.
Junior quarterback Jared Goff leads the Bears into hostile territory for a battle against UCLA, which is led by true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen. The youngster has learned many a lesson already in the first half of the season, and he’d better put all of them to use this week.
Between these two passers, they’ve piled up 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns. Both teams feature defenses that are open to being torched, so a shootout is likely.
It would seem Cal has an advantage, given the experience of Goff and the way the Bears nearly knocked off Utah, which is one of the top teams in the nation. However, these conference games are always so unpredictable, and anything can happen.
This game is being televised nationally on ESPN beginning at 9 p.m. ET, meaning it is competing with the Thursday Night Football matchup featuring the Seattle Seahawks taking on the San Francisco 49ers. Time for some picture-in-picture action, football fans, because this game will be worth watching.
2. Small schools getting big attention
While many of the top programs picked to lead the way in the preseason have fallen by the wayside, some smaller schools have taken their places in the rankings — three of which are the undefeated teams in the American Athletic conference.
On Thursday night on ESPN2, fans can watch No. 22-ranked Temple hit the road to take on East Carolina, which is actually favored to win by a small margin. Both teams move the ball well and score over 32 points per game, but Temple’s defense is the key to victory for the Owls.
Undefeated Memphis is flying high at No. 18 overall after taking down Ole Miss last weekend. They’ll be featured on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN going up against conference foe Tulsa, which has lost three of four coming into the contest.
Houston comes in at No. 21 and will be on the road Saturday to face UCF at noon ET on ESPNEWS. This matchup should go all Houston’s way, as duel-threat quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has been on fire of late.
Another smaller school making noise right now is Toledo, which is the only undefeated team in the Mid-American conference. The Rockets are also on the road this weekend, taking on Massachusetts, which isn’t much of a challenge. Fans can watch this contest on ESPN3 starting at 3 p.m. ET.
3. Big 12 showdown between programs in the process of crisis management
Texas hosts Kansas State on Saturday, and both programs are in “better-win-or-else” mode right now. Kansas State actually has the better record (3-3) but is reeling in a big way after losing two heart-breakers against Oklahoma State and TCU before completely losing their way last Saturday at home against Oklahoma, which unleashed holy hellfire on them after getting beaten soundly by Texas the weekend before.
Now the Wildcats will have a chance to seek revenge against the program that spurred the Sooners to play the best game of their season.
Charlie Strong somehow inspired his players to shrug off a three-game losing streak that eerily resembles the one Kansas State has just endured. Tight losses — thanks to horrible special teams play — to Cal and Oklahoma State, followed by a terrible beat down by TCU, were swept away in a single day, as the Longhorns beat up a very good Oklahoma team in Week 6.
Now it comes back around full circle. The Wildcats need to take a page out of Texas’ playbook with an inspired victory over the very same Longhorns in order to ensure they remain viable for a decent bowl invitation.
On the other hand, Texas needs to ride the momentum it created with the victory over Oklahoma in order to avoid another loss and a record of 2-5.
It should be fun. The game will be nationally televised on FS1 starting at noon, ET.
4. Can Al Golden’s Hurricane’s wreck Clemson’s season?
Clemson (No. 6) is rolling, coming into Week 8 with an undefeated 6-0 record and a hot young quarterback in Deshaun Watson. The Tigers also feature the nation’s No. 6-ranked defense — a fleet-footed unit that flies to the football.
On the other side is a Miami team led by one of the most polarizing coaches in America in Al Golden. The Hurricanes have yet to lose at home in 2015, and they have a historical advantage over the Tigers, having won six of nine meetings between the two ACC programs. History won’t have much bearing on the outcome of this one, however, as the last time they played was five years ago.
Miami actually is quite competitive and should give Clemson a run for its money. A loss for the Tigers would be potentially deadly for their chances of making it into the four-team playoff at the end of the season. A win for the Hurricanes could potentially help Golden keep his job, and despite the outcry for the university to fire him, his players continue to play hard for him.
The game will likely come down to the play of both team’s sophomore quarterbacks. Watson has thrown an interception in each of his six games this year. Meanwhile, Miami’s Brad Kaaya has thrown 10 touchdowns compared to just one interception.
This could be an upset special, folks. If Kaaya maintains his stellar play, and if Watson stays true to form and gets turned over a couple of times, then Miami can certainly win at home.
The game is going to be shown on national television starting at noon ET on ABC.
5. Potential trap game for Michigan State
Fresh off a monumental all-time great, last-second victory over hated Michigan, the Spartans (No. 7) are walking right into a trap game in Week 8 against Indiana, which gave Ohio State a run for its money a few weeks back.
On paper, there is no way Michigan State should lose. Indiana has lost three games in a row and has given up 39.3 points per game during this stretch. However, games aren’t played on paper, and there is always a chance the underdog comes into the contest and socks the favorite right in the gut. History is against the Hoosiers, though, who haven’t beaten a top-10 team since 1987.
The way Indiana can change history is by pounding the rock. Sophomore running back Devine Redding, who has three two-score games under his belt already this year, has filled in admirably for Jordan Howard, who was injured and missed the past two games. Howard may or may not be available for the upcoming game. Head coach Kevin Wilson is keeping his cards tight to the vest about this.
Not much of an update on Jordan Howard today.
Wilson: "If you want a copy of the practice tape, I'll send it to coach Dantonio, too."
— Mike Miller (@MikeMillerSTL) October 20, 2015
The Hoosiers will need all hands on deck to pull off an upset, but it’s not out of the question.
On the flip side, the Spartans are led by senior quarterback Connor Cook and rock-solid head coach Mark Dantonio. If there is any team in the nation equipped to avoid a letdown against a desperate team, it’s this one.
The game can be viewed around the nation at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
6. Must-win game for both Texas A&M and Ole Miss
Neither team can afford another loss right now.
Ole Miss has been stunned now twice this season after coming out as one of the hottest teams in the nation the first few weeks. A big win against Alabama seemed to indicate this program was here to stay as a playoff contender. Then, Florida gave the Rebels a dose of reality by pounding them 38-10, and another loss to Memphis last weekend really sealed their fate as a non-contender for one of the coveted four spots.
On a positive note, fans of Robert Nkemdiche will be happy to know he’s not trying to stop contributing on offense. In fact, after his scary concussion in Week 7, he made sure to let his feelings be known on the matter.
“He came to see me (Monday) morning to make sure I wasn’t thinking of keeping him from doing that,” Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze said (h/t clarionledger.com). “That is just the competitor in him for sure.”
It’s not yet know if he will be available to play. Nkemdiche is still going through concussion protocols at this time, but given his competitive nature it’s a given he’ll be on the field if he is cleared.
Ole Miss still has a chance to earn a prominent bowl bid if it can stop the losing at home on Saturday.
The Aggies (No. 15) are trying to bounce back from an SEC big-brother beating, as Alabama humbled them in their own house last weekend, 41-23. Quarterback Kyle Allen needs to regain some confidence after throwing three interceptions against the Crimson Tide. Thankfully for his sake, the Rebels are open to being gouged through the air.
A win on the road against another top team — albeit one that is limping right now — would go a long way towards landing Texas A&M back in the top 10.
This game is being televised nationally at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
7. J.T. Barrett time for Ohio State
It seems like Urban Meyer has finally seen the light when it comes to which quarterback should start for No. 1-ranked Ohio State. Meyer announced on Tuesday that Barrett will be making the start this Saturday when the Buckeyes take on the Rutgers in New Jersey.
Citing better production on third downs and in the red zone — the two most critical aspects for any offense — Meyer says the starting job is Barrett’s but that Cardale Jones would be “a very active part” of Ohio State’s offense, per ESPN.com news services.
The Buckeyes can’t afford any more slow starts or any more periods of stagnancy on offense. This team should be starting to peak as the second half of the season gets kicked off, and it sure seems Barrett is the right man to make it happen on offense.
Rutgers is next on the menu, and the Scarlet Knights are at home this weekend. They recently took Michigan State to the brink, won a high-scoring affair last weekend against Indiana and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
This game is being nationally broadcasted on ABC starting at 8 p.m. ET.
8. Can USC stop the bleeding at home against Utah?
For a program that had national championship aspirations to start the year, USC’s 2015 campaign can only be described as disastrous. The aftermath of the chaos left in the wake of Steve Sarkisian’s demise has the Trojans at 3-3 midway through the season with a 1-3 record the past four games.
Given the talent on both sides of the ball, USC has the ability to erase this trend, but it won’t be easy. No. 3-ranked Utah — which many believe is the top program in the nation — is coming to Southern California this Saturday.
Featuring the soundest all-around roster in college football today, the Utes love to get after opposing offenses for turnovers and rarely turn the ball over themselves. Offensively, Utah can beat defenses through the air and on the ground. Quarterback Travis Wilson isn’t what you’d consider elite, but combined with the outstanding running of Devontae Booker, the Utes feature quite a potent attack.
USC quarterback Cody Kessler needs a signature performance to keep his team in the game. With talented skill players at his disposal in JuJu Smith-Schuster and Adoree’ Jackson, it’s certainly possible. It’s time for Kessler to not only step up his game as a quarterback, but also as a leader for his beleaguered teammates.
This Pac-12 clash begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
9. Will Stanford keep rolling against Washington?
Since losing their first game of the season on the road to Northwestern, Stanford has been red hot, winning five in a row by an average score of 45-23. The past two games, the offense, led by running back Christian McCaffrey, has been even more potent scoring an average of 55.5 points.
McCaffrey has tossed his name into the Heisman hat of late, kickstarting the offense by rushing for 605 yards and five touchdowns the past three games. The sophomore, who doesn’t look like much, at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, is on pace to break Barry Sanders’ single-season record for all-purpose yards.
Washington has been competitive against other top Pac-12 teams but still only managed a 1-2 record in conference play, losing to both Cal and Oregon. It’s safe to say Stanford is a step above those schools, meaning it’s going to take quite a special kind of performance for the Huskies to walk out of Stanford Stadium with an upset victory.
Those still awake on the east coast itching for more football after a long day can find the game on ESPN starting at 10:30 p.m. ET.
10. Heisman race is getting hot
Halfway through the season and we’re starting to see the true contenders emerge for the 2015 Heisman Trophy.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette has a clear lead over everyone, but it’s far to early to hand him the trophy, despite what Shaquille O’Neal might have to say about the matter. Fournette should feast on the defense of Western Kentucky at home this weekend, though, so it’ll take some amazing performances by the rest of the pack to keep pace or gain ground.
Trevone Boykin of TCU has the week off, but he’s likely to retain the No. 2 spot regardless, after going for over 500 total yards and five touchdowns last weekend.
Baylor’s Corey Coleman is the best receiver in the nation, and he’s going to have a field day against Iowa State at home.
It’ll be interesting to see if FSU running back Dalvin Cook’s hamstring is better against Georgia Tech. He’s been outstanding of late, even with the injury, but if the thing lingers he might be forced to shut it down for a while, which would be a shame.
Ezekiel Elliott of OSU is always a threat to go for big yardage. And now that Barrett is the starter, you have to imagine Meyer will be leaning more and more on the running game to set up big plays on the play-action pass. This means more work for Elliott, which likely means a boost in the rankings.
Stanford’s McCaffrey could find it tough to gain big chunks against Washington’s underrated, swarming defense. Then again, the way Stanford’s offensive line is making people move he could be in for another big game.
Alabama’s Derrick Henry has definitely launched himself into this group of late, and he could have another huge day at home against Tennessee, which features a middling run defense that hasn’t really shut anyone down.
All these guys are in the mix as we enter into the second half of the season. There are others right there on the outskirts, as well, and it will be fascinating to see how it all shakes out.