2026 NCAAF: Week 8 Preview

We labeled Week 7 beforehand as one of the biggest weekends of the season, and it certainly delivered on those expectations and then some.

For fans who crave chaos, you were more than satisfied. For the first time in the history of the AP poll, five teams in the top eight of those rankings lost on the same weekend. Only one of those games was decided by more than four points.

It has created massive shoes to fill for the rest of the season. And while I’ve been around this game long enough to know that you’re unlikely to get two straight weekends where things seemingly implode, I can’t help but think “what if?” quite a bit as we head into this coming weekend. You’ll see what I mean when you read my predictions.

Here is the best that the Week 8 slate has to offer.

5 Games You Need to Watch This Weekend

#8 Texas Tech at Cincinnati (Saturday, 12 PM ET – FS1)

The dominance displayed by the Red Raiders in 2025 on both sides of the ball has failed to carry over into 2026, with the Red Raiders ranking in the bottom half of the Big 12 in both total offense and defense this season. That said, Texas Tech is still averaging 37.8 PPG and has been lightly tested outside of a nailbiter against Houston. Joey McGuire’s team has only left Lubbock twice this season, and both times the offense sputtered, relatively speaking.

For the Bearcats, there has been no place like home in 2026. Before leaving the greater Cincinnati area, Scott Satterfield’s group was 4-0. But two straight weeks on the road have left the Bearcats seeking a get-right game after the defense got exposed by both Arizona and West Virginia. Make no doubt about it, Cincinnati will have trouble defending Texas Tech’s attack as well. But the Bearcats won’t be intimated by a shootout and despite a run-first philosophy have shown an ability to adapt as necessary on offense. While the metrics don’t necessarily point to it, my gut tells me that the Red Raiders will again struggle to pull away on the road and Cincinnati will have a good shot at pulling off the upset.

My Pick: 37-34 Cincinnati (covers +11.5 spread)

#18 LSU at Auburn (Saturday, 12 PM ET – ABC)

Auburn’s surprise victory over Georgia last weekend was fueled by two things: Byrum Brown displaying what has made him one of the most dynamic players in college football over the course of his career, and the defense forcing Georgia into its first -3 turnover margin in a single game since the end of September 2024 (a loss to Alabama). Brown’s performance was as eyebrow raising as the turnover margin, considering that the Bulldogs were allowing just 74.6 YPG on the ground (Brown has 115 yards rushing by himself). Auburn will now get a chance to prove it was no fluke when it takes on an LSU team that is the current SEC leader in run defense, allowing 88.1 YPG.

While it’s not exactly something to boast about, Lane Kiffin’s squad has been a handful for opponents all season while simultaneously not taking great care of the football. Georgia played uncharacteristically against Auburn and lost. LSU can play similarly and still be right where it wants to be. I expect Kiffin to force Auburn to find more creative ways to move the football than just letting Brown lower his shoulder, and Auburn’s defense has not been consistent enough to convince me it won’t return to struggling against a dynamic attack. LSU is riding a six-game losing streak on the road, while Auburn just upset the previous No. 1 at home. All the momentum may appear to be with Alex Golesh’s team but – not so fast, my friend. Lane Kiffin will put an end to the brief nirvana that Auburn fans are experiencing.

My Pick: 35-27 LSU (covers -7.5 spread)

#7 Mississippi at #19 Texas (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – ABC)

We are barely past the midpoint of the regular season, and Texas is officially on the ropes. The Longhorns have now suffered back-to-back defeats, albeit against Top 25 competition, but pair these losses with two victories (over Ohio State and Tennessee) in which the team looked far from impressive and could be characterized as escape jobs. The No. 19 ranking is as much a nod to the media’s preseason confidence in the team as it is a real indication of its quality. The fall from grace for Arch Manning has been gradual but felt abrupt at the same time. Texas just isn’t good offensively, struggling to run the ball in large part because the passing game is so inconsistent. This weekend, the Longhorns’ season is on the line against one of the SEC’s most potent offenses, which averages 37.5 PPG.

I was very wrong about Missouri last weekend and using the Tigers as an anchor point to make a case for the Longhorns in this game works fairly well. The Tigers were absolutely gashed by the Rebels on the ground (257 yards allowed) and, true to form this season, did not do a good job taking advantage of redzone opportunities. In games where it has allowed at least 100 yards rushing, Missouri is 0-2. Texas has faced some good rushing attacks this season as well, with varying results, but should at least be prepared to face a heavy dose of the run game from Pete Golding’s squad. If the Longhorns can contain that, which I think they will, this should be yet another close game for Steve Sarkisian’s group. Given the necessity to win this one and the fact that it is at home, I’m going with my gut that some surprises will happen to ensure Texas is at least presented with an excellent opportunity to take down Mississippi.

My Pick: 28-24 Texas (covers -3.5 spread)

#16 Southern Cal at Wisconsin (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET – NBC)

I have spent a lot of time on this site writing about Southern Cal’s road woes since joining the Big Ten, and despite the 2-0 record that the Trojans have put together in road games this season, am not convinced that they have completely exonerated those demons. We’ll find out for sure this weekend when Lincoln Riley’s group travels to Madison to take on a scrappy Wisconsin team looking for a true “statement” victory to add to what has already been a positive first half of the season. The Badgers are unbeaten at Camp Randall in 2026 and outside of a tough draw to start the season against Notre Dame, have shown an ability to hold their own against anyone.

Southern Cal brings in a dynamic offense that has been particularly tricky to stop through the air thanks to Jayden Maiava at quarterback and his embarrassment of riches to throw to on the outside. It should be a fascinating battle between this group and a Wisconsin defense that has allowed the second fewest passing touchdowns (3) in the country this season. Luke Fickell’s team won’t wow you in many ways, but have adopted a toughness that is infectious and really just fits the culture of the program that Fickell has worked so hard to overhaul. If they can match the Trojans by playing a clean game offensively and limit Maiava through the air, Wisconsin has a great shot at pulling off the upset. With Ohio State looming next weekend (potentially affecting focus) and the track record on the road not great for Southern Cal, I feel it is a calculated risk to take the Badgers in this one.

My Pick: 24-21 Wisconsin (covers +2.5 spread)

#14 Houston at #10 Utah (Saturday, 10:15 PM ET – ESPN)

What a month it has been for the state of Utah. For the first time ever, both BYU and Utah are ranked in the Top 10 at the same time and may be on a collision course for the highest stakes Holy War in history in a couple of weeks. But first, the Utes must get by a Houston team that has been lurking in the shadows for about the past two years. I have been high on the job that Willie Fritz has done with the Cougars, quickly transforming them into a league title contender just as he has with every other program he has led throughout his career. I’m surprised by how good Utah has looked this season as well, following the departure of Kyle Whittingham. The way these two are playing, this game has all the makings of being decided in the final minutes (or drive). If you need to take a nap during the day to stay up for this one, make sure you do so.

Utah has built a solid foundation on both sides of the football, allowing fewer than 15 points per contest to opposition and establishing a balanced offensive approach that collectively amasses almost 490 yards per game. Both of these teams rank in the top 25 in time of possession and top 15 in terms of run defense, suggesting similar desires in terms of controlling tempo with an equally difficult task actually doing so. Not having had a ton of opportunities to study him this season, I’m curious to see how Devon Dampier is able to soften Houston’s defense with his arm and scrambling ability. I trust Conner Weigman’s capabilities in those areas but Dampier is similarly experienced and has talent around him that can be trusted to make plays as well. While Salt Lake City is a difficult place to win as a visitor, I’ve seen Houston take one of the other Big 12 contenders to the brink on the road and feel like they are already battle tested. This is an absolute coin flip of a contest but I’ll stick with my gut and side with the team I felt better about at the beginning of the season.

My Pick: 28-27 Houston (covers +6.5 spread)

5 Games to Keep an Eye On This Weekend

#6 Indiana at Michigan (Saturday, 12 PM ET – FOX)

The relationship between the Wolverines and Bryce Underwood has seemingly soured beyond repair, with Michigan opting to utilize Tommy Carr ay quarterback last week following two interceptions from Underwood, bringing his total to six on the season. The Hoosiers lost in heartbreaking fashion last weekend and will have no shortage of motivation, but Ann Arbor remains a difficult place to grab a road victory.

#2 BYU at UCF (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – FOX)

Fresh off its upset victory over Notre Dame, BYU travels across most of the country to take on a Knights squad that has been fairly competitive in all of its games this season. UCF doesn’t instill a ton of fear in anyone, but this has the potential to be a letdown spot for a Cougars squad that has had everything go right for it thus far.

#11 Tennessee at South Carolina (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – ESPN)

I was impressed with Tennessee’s victory over Alabama, and will admit that it is time to start taking the Volunteers seriously as a CFP contender. With that said, Josh Heupel’s squad lost the only game that the offense failed to produce at least 150 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. South Carolina’s defense is the third best in the SEC against the run and has allowed just four touchdowns on the ground this season.

#15 Iowa at Minnesota (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET – FS1)

There is a sense that these two programs aren’t as far apart from each other as the rankings would suggest. Minnesota has struggled against teams with a potent offense, but Iowa’s results this season don’t tell the true story of how its offense operates. Expect P.J. Fleck’s squad to bounce back from its blowout loss to Purdue last weekend and defend home turf valiantly against the Hawkeyes.

North Dakota State at New Mexico (Saturday, 10 PM ET – The CW Network)

The Bison dropped their first game of the season last weekend but is still in great shape in terms of the Mountain West title race. Next up: another tough road test against the current league leaders, whose lone loss is a single-digit loss on the road to Oklahoma. The philosophies of both teams are similar, and it will be a battle of wills to determine which ground game is able to move the ball better against excellent run stopping defenses.