2025 Week 8 College Football Recap And Top Performers

We’ve hit the midway mark of the 2025 college football season, and as always, the road ahead remains wide open. While Week 8 didn’t deliver many marquee matchups, it did offer some amazing upsets and clarity. The gap between playoff contenders and pretenders is beginning to emerge—subtle, but unmistakable. Here’s what Week 8 revealed.

What Did We Learn From Week 8?

• At this point, it’s no secret—Ohio State is the best team in the country. That’s all that needs to be said.

• Speaking of elite programs, the Indiana Hoosiers are proving they belong in that conversation. Their dominant win over Michigan State solidified a 7–0 record and sent a clear message to the rest of the nation. Barring a major setback, Indiana looks like a lock for the College Football Playoff.

• To say the least, Oregon responded with a vengeance after last week’s loss to Indiana. This one wasn’t close—by halftime, the Ducks had already piled up six touchdowns, leaving little doubt about their offensive firepower. Unfortunately for Rutgers, they were on the wrong end of this blowout, and it was a long evening from the opening whistle.

  
  

• Say what you will about Vanderbilt, but they’re getting it done this season. With only one blemish on their record—a hard-fought loss to Alabama—Diego Pavia and company managed to crack LSU’s top-ranked defense in impressive fashion. Are they legitimate contenders? That remains to be seen, but they’re certainly making noise.

  
  

  For the Tigers, this lost was costly in many ways, one of which could be their playoff hopes.

  
  

• Speaking of Alabama, they’ve officially become one of the hottest teams in college football. After a Week 1 loss to Florida State, many were quick to write them off. Fast forward seven weeks, and Kalen DeBoer has both sides of the ball clicking. The Crimson Tide’s dominant win over Tennessee was just the latest proof that this team is surging—and very much back in the playoff conversation.

• Ole Miss vs. Georgia was an instant classic—high-octane offense, momentum swings, and just enough defense to keep things dramatic. While both teams traded blows in a shootout, it was Gunner Stockton who made just a few more plays than Trinidad Chambliss when it mattered most. Though they are not out of the playoff picture with this loss, the Rebels need to make sure they don't lose down the stretch.

• As for the Washington–Michigan showdown, it’s clear the future of quarterback play in the Big Ten is in good hands. Still, it was the Wolverines’ defense that stole the spotlight, giving Huskies quarterback Desmond Williams fits from start to finish.

• Texas A&M vs. Arkansas was one of the weekend’s most entertaining matchups, thanks to standout performances from quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Taylen Green. As expected, both signal-callers shouldered the offensive load for their teams, trading big plays in a back-and-forth battle. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, someone had to come up short—and this time, it was them. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that Taylen Green looked every bit like a future NFL quarterback. His poise, arm talent, and athleticism were on full display.

• Quarterback Carson Beck didn’t do Miami any favors, tossing four interceptions in the Hurricanes’ upset loss to Louisville. With the win, the Cardinals have made a strong case for a spot in the Top 25. As for Miami, the last thing they need is for Beck to regress to his 2024 form. For their sake, let’s hope this defeat is merely a blip on the radar.

• It’s safe to say that the top running back in college football might just be wearing Notre Dame colors. Jeremiyah Love was electric in the Fighting Irish’s statement win over USC, showcasing elite vision, burst, and toughness. That victory didn’t just boost their résumé—it may have saved their playoff hopes and salvaged the season.

• To be fair, Texas Tech was without starting quarterback Behren Morton, yet still nearly pulled off a win against Arizona State. Despite the setback, they showed grit and resilience. One thing is certain—David Bailey continues to prove he’s the most dominant pass rusher in college football. His impact is undeniable.

• Was it pretty? Not even close. But the Texas Longhorns found a way to grind out a win over the Kentucky Wildcats, despite turning in one of their most underwhelming offensive performances of the season. While some are quick to point fingers at Arch Manning, the Longhorns’ struggles go far beyond the quarterback position—but credit to Texas (especially their defense) for finding a way to win when it mattered most.

• Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola learned the hard way just how explosive Minnesota’s defense can be, getting sacked nine times in the Gophers’ dominant win over the Cornhuskers. From our vantage point, Raiola would be better served focusing on leading scoring drives rather than trying to emulate Patrick Mahomes.

• It was a nail-biter, but the Houston Cougars pulled through late in the fourth quarter thanks to a clutch touchdown drive engineered by quarterback Conner Weigman. They may not be ranked just yet, but sitting at 6–1, it’s getting harder to ignore them. The Cougars are knocking on the door—and it might be time to let them in.

• If there were an award for the most disappointing college football team this season, South Carolina would be the frontrunner. Despite all the offseason hype and talent on the roster, the Gamecocks have consistently found ways to lose. To put it in perspective: Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer led his team to victory over South Carolina while still recovering from hand surgery. That’s a tough look for a program that was expected to contend.

• Another week, another game where quarterback Haynes King put Georgia Tech on his back. But the standout under center may have been Duke’s Darian Mensah, who—despite a costly handoff miscue—kept the Blue Devils in striking distance with a poised and gritty performance. In the end, the Yellow Jackets held on and, at 7–0, they have a real chance of making the playoffs.

• And finally, hats off to UAB for pulling off a stunning upset over Memphis as 23.5-point underdogs. It was a milestone moment for head coach Alex Mortensen, who earned his first career win at the helm of the Blazers. As the son of the late Chris Mortensen — you truly couldn’t script a better story.

Week 8 Top Performers

Defense -

• EDGE Yhonzae Pierre - Alabama

• DB Keionte Scott - Miami

• DB Wrook Brown - Houston

• DL Karter Menz - Minnesota

• DL Anthony Smith - Minnesota

• CB Zabien Brown - Alabama

• EDGE David Bailey - Texas Tech

• LB Colin Simmons - Texas

• DB Jy Gilmore - Georgia Tech

• LB Anthony Hill - Texas

• DL Stephen Daley - Indiana

• S Dalton Brooks - Texas A&M

• DB Malik Muhammad - Texas

• EDGE R Mason Thomas - Oklahoma

• DL Jaxon Howard - Minnesota

• EDGE Derrick Moore - Michigan

• LB Sam Brumfield - Memphis

• LB Arvell Reese - Ohio State

• LB Gavin Moul - Delaware

• DL Rion Roseborough - East Carolina

• LB Mac Sanders - Jacksonville State

• DE Demarcus Hendricks - Arkansas State

• DB OJ Frederique Jr. - Miami

Offense -

RB Jeremiyah Love - Notre Dame

WR Chris Bell - Louisville

QB Fernando Mendoza - Indiana

QB Dante Moore - Oregon

QB Gunner Stockton - Georgia

RB Darius Taylor - Minnesota

WR Malachi Toney - Miami

QB Julian Sayin - Ohio State

QB Joe Fagnano - Connecticut

QB Taylen Green - Arkansas

RB Noah Whittington - Oregon

QB Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss

WR Carnell Tate - Ohio State

QB Marcel Reed - Texas A&M

TE Kenyon Sadiq - Oregon

QB Darian Mensah - Duke

QB Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt

WR Cooper Barkate - Duke

WR Omar Cooper Jr - Indiana

RB Kaytron Allen - Penn State

QB Katin Houser - East Carolina

QB Nick Minicucci - Delaware

WR Jordan Dwyer - TCU

RB Anthony Smith - East Carolina

TE Brody Foley - Tulsa

WR Julian Gray - Liberty

RB Kejon Owens - FIU

RB Cam Cook - Jacksonville State

RB London Montgomery - East Carolina