After the 8th weekend of college football, there were four games that featured two ranked teams, and there were three games in which a ranked team blew out an unranked team. Out of the ranked matchups, two of the games ended in one score matchups, and the other two ended in two and three score wins for the higher ranked team. All three of the blowouts happened with the ranked team winning by 62, 49, and 35 points.
#3 Ohio State went to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania to play #7 Penn State and Ohio State won 20-12. This game was a defensive battle the entire game, as there were only three touchdowns the entire game. Marvin Harrison Jr. is a big reason for the Buckeyes victory, with 11 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown. #14 Utah played #18 USC, in Los Angeles, and Utah won 34-32. Utah won the game off of a game winning field goal, which turned the lead from 31-32, to 34-32. Utah won this game because of receiver Sione Vaki, who had 149 yards and two touchdowns off of only five catches. #11 Alabama played #17 Tennessee in Tuscaloosa, and they won 34-20. They won because of the 27 points they scored in the second half while also holding Tennessee to zero points. Alabama was led by running back Jase McClellan, who had 115 yards and two touchdown. #4 Florida State hosted #16 Duke, and won this game 38-20. The Seminoles won this game because of their defense. Florida State held Duke’s quarterback to only 69 yards passing and did not let him throw a touchdown or score a rushing touchdown. Florida State also had a good performance by their quarterback, Jordan Travis who had 268 yards and two touchdowns.
#19 LSU hosted Army in Death Valley for their second to last out of conference game of the season. The TIgers were led by their quarterback Jayden Daniels who had 279 yards for three touchdowns on only 11 passes, he also had one rushing touchdown. LSU also had a diverse run game, as they had four different playersscore a rushing touchdown. #2 Michigan went to Lansing, Michigan to play their in-state rivals, the Michigan State Spartans. Michigan won 49-0, in one of the biggest blowouts of a Power 5 team this season. Michigan’s quarterback, JJ McCarthy threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns while only playing three quarters. #25 UCLA went to Palo Alto, California, and beat them 42-7. UCLA was led by their quarterback, Ethan Garbers, who had 240 yards and two touchdowns. They were also led by their running back Carson Steele, who had 76 yards and three touchdowns.
