Halfway through the NCAA college football season
The GIST: The college football season’s officially past the 50-yard line, and its behemoths have never looked more vulnerable. Tune in to Tuesday’s midseason recap on The GIST of It, then prep for tomorrow’s massive Week 8 identity crises ranked matchups.
No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-0) vs. No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0), 12 p.m. ET (FOX): Undefeated records are on the line as College GameDay sets up shop in Columbus, OH. Penn State’s aiming for the sport’s upper echelons, and a road win over one of the country’s elite dynasties, especially at full strength, would send them there stat.
No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) vs. No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-1), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS): Not to be dramatic, but Alabama’s very identity as the football powerhouse is at stake here. Last year’s trip to Rocky Top wasn’t just a major heat check for the Tide, it was also one of the year’s most exciting games — just ask Tennessee’s goalposts (if you can find ’em).
No. 16 Duke Blue Devils (5-1) vs. No. 4 Florida State Seminoles (6-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC): Duke junior quarterback (QB) Riley Leonard suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 5, and HC Mike Elko says he’s now day-to-day. If Leonard plays, this could be a thrilling showdown with ’Noles sixth-year QB Jordan Travis. If he doesn’t…buckle up, Blue Devils.
No. 14 Utah Utes (5-1) vs. No. 18 USC Trojans (6-1), 8 p.m. ET (FOX): The Utes are the only Pac-12 team to top USC in the Lincoln Riley era (twice!), and the Trojans look decidedly beatable at the moment. But Utah QB Cam Rising is still injured, and USC QB Caleb Williams is still the reigning Heisman winner, so this one could go either way. *bites nails*
