Week 8 is a big one for the SEC.
Saturday features two games between top-11 opponents and could go a long way to deciding who is playing in Atlanta for the conference title in December. Of the four, only No. 1 Texas is undefeated. No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama and No. 11 Tennessee each have a loss.
But there’s a lot to watch outside the SEC too.
Here are the biggest games of Week 8. (Scroll down to follow the action live.)
No. 7 Alabama at No. 11 Tennessee
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Alabama -3 | Total: 56.5
The Crimson Tide are road favorites in Knoxville as the Vols’ offense has had a rough two weeks. UT has been plagued by penalties and sacks, but the Crimson Tide have issues of their own. After losing on the road at Vanderbilt, Alabama couldn’t put South Carolina away until the final play in a 27-25 win. Tennessee has one of the best defensive lines in the SEC. Will Alabama have answers up front?
No. 24 Michigan at No. 22 Illinois
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: CBS | Line: Michigan -3 | Total: 43.5
This has all the makings of a slugfest; just look at the over/under. Jack Tuttle came on in relief of Alex Orji in UM’s Week 6 loss to Washington and is set to be Michigan’s third starting QB of the season in the Wolverines’ seventh game. Michigan will, of course, look to run the ball as much as possible. And that could be a good strategy against Illinois.
No. 8 LSU at Arkansas
Time: 7 p.m. | TV: ESPN | Line: LSU -3 | Total: 55.5
That three-point line is no coincidence. The last four games in this series have been decided by exactly three points. The Razorbacks are playing their third straight ranked opponent after falling to Texas A&M and beating Tennessee. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier had his roughest game of the season in the Tigers’ OT win over Ole Miss in Week 7, but it was still a win thanks to the Tigers’ defense.
No. 5 Georgia at No. 1 Texas
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Texas -4.5 | Total: 55.5
Georgia’s second huge road test of the season is the biggest game of the weekend. The top-ranked Longhorns are coming off a blowout win over Oklahoma in Quinn Ewers’ first start since Week 3. It’s not much of a stretch to say that Georgia will need the best game of the season from Carson Beck to get the win. Ewers got more comfortable as the Oklahoma game went on, but Texas’ biggest strength has been its running game.
Live61 updates
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Interception Alabama!
On the very next play, Tennessee backup Gaston Moore threw an ill-advised deep ball and Malachi Moore intercepts it and returns it 41 yards.
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Nico Iamaleava injured
The Tennessee quarterback was taken down awkwardly and went to the medical tent after this hit.
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Meanwhile, Illinois has taken command early in its Big Ten showdown with Michigan. After two early field goals, Luke Altmeyer finds Tanner Arkin in the corner of the end zone for the score.
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Touchdown Alabama!
Who else but the star freshman wideout to get things started in Knoxville? After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama drives down and scores the game’s first TD on a pass from Jalen Milroe to Ryan Williams.
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Touchdown Colorado
Shedeur Sanders has his first touchdown pass of the day, connecting with Delon Miller for a short score.
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An ugly first quarter comes to an end in Knoxville. The scoreboard says 0-0, but don’t let that fool you. Both teams are losing right now.
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) October 19, 2024
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Vols miss FG
The Vols can’t do anything with that field position though as Max Gilbert’s 52-yard attempt sails right. We’re still scoreless in Knoxville.
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Interception Tennessee!
The Crimson Tide were inside the Vols’ 3-yard line when Jalen Milroe made a poor decision in throwing at Jermod McCoy, who returned it 54 yards to put Tennessee in great field position.
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Colorado up early at Arizona
Meanwhile, Arizona started off the game with an onside kick and it didn’t work. Then Shedeur Sanders led the Buffs on a quick drive for 7 points to take the early lead.
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The Crimson Tide can’t do much after the turnover and punt it back to the Vols.
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Alabama recovers fumble!
The Volunteers started the game with the ball and had some momentum going, but RB Dylan Sampson lost the ball while fighting for extra yardage and Alabama jumped on it.
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Final: Miami 52, Louisville 45
The Hurricanes survive another close one thanks to Cam Ward, who finished with 319 passing yards and 4 touchdowns.
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Miami recovers onside kick
The Hurricanes recover the ensuing onside kick and that’ll do it for this one.
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Touchdown Louisville
The Cardinals finally reach the end zone on a short TD pass, but the Hurricanes may them work for it and bled precious time off the clock.
It’s 52-45 with under a minute left.
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Final: Indiana 56, Nebraska 7
The No. 16 Hoosiers remain undefeated and this blowout was never in question.
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Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes were just trying to milk the clock with simple run plays, but Damien Martinez had other ideas. The Oregon State transfer broke several tackles on his way to a 30-yard touchdown run.
It’s a two-score game now.
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The Hurricanes have the ball back and they’re taking their sweet time on this drive.
We’re under the 5-minute mark now.
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Indiana crosses 50-point mark
It’s over in Bloomington.
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Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes are back in the lead after a quick-hitting drive as Ajay Allen plunges into the end zone for a score. Samuel Brown did the bulk of the work on that drive with a long catch and run to put Miami into position.
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Touchdown Louisville!
The Cardinals have tied it up again on a short pass from Tyler Shough to Duke Watson.
It’s 38-38 with just over 13 minutes left.
