The 2023 college football season has delivered some of the most entertaining games in recent history week after week, from the Notre Dame-Ohio State thriller in September, to last week’s nail-biting Pac-12 showdown between Oregon and Washington. This week promises to deliver at least one more memorable game if not multiple, and we’re here with the list of games we think are most likely to be the next to gain the status of college football classic.
Here are the five games were keeping a close eye on as Week 8 gets underway. Do not touch your remote once these matchups kick off.
5
No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 16 Duke (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)
Favorite: Florida State -14
Duke head coach Mike Elko is sounding more and more optimistic that quarterback Riley Leonard could be healthy enough to play this weekend after missing last week’s win over NC State. If healthy, Leonard and Florida State QB Jordan Travis could give us one of the best quarterback duals of the season, with each facing off against consistently great defenses. In an otherwise down year for the ACC, this could be the game of the season in that conference.
4
No. 18 USC vs. No. 14 Utah (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on FOX)
Favorite: USC -20
To say that the Trojans were exposed last week by Notre Dame might be understating it. What the Fighting Irish did to USC has the potential to create a midseason crisis for the Trojans, one they can little afford to be going through when Utah comes to town. While Utah’s offense hasn’t quite been the same without Cam Rising this season, USC’s defense appears to be chicken soup for the ailing offenses of college football this season.
3
Auburn vs. No. 13 Ole Miss (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Favorite: Ole Miss -6.5
Sometimes the games on this list have implications for the College Football Playoff, or a conference championship race. Sometimes they could have an impact on a coach’s career. And sometimes they’re on this list because we simply love mess. If college football was a soap opera, this game would make even long-time viewers say “they’ve gone too far.” Lane Kiffin coaching his first game against Auburn since last year’s multi-week flirtation with taking their vacant head coaching position. Hugh Freeze coaching against the team he led to its highest highs in decades before getting fired for, um, let’s say a variety of things! Ole Miss is unquestionably the better team heading into this game but the intangible factors at play could make for unspeakable chaos.
2
No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 17 Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS)
Favorite: Alabama -9.5
One year after Tennessee broke a nearly unthinkable 15-game losing streak against Alabama, the Volunteers now have to travel to Tuscaloosa to face one of the most baffling and unpredictable teams of the Nick Saban Era. While last year’s game was an epic offensive shootout, both teams this year have struggled to find a consistent offensive identity but have been playing some of the best defense in college football. Can Tennessee start a streak of its own and knock Alabama out of the playoff race for good?
1
No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Penn State (Saturday, Noon ET on FOX)
Favorite: Ohio State -4
The 2023 college football season has presented us with some truly fantastic games between top teams already and this has the makings of an instant classic. The Big Ten front runners have all looked dominant this season so far but we’re approaching the part of the season when they finally start playing each other. Ohio State is clearly one of the most talented teams in college football but has yet to play a consistent four quarters of great football. Meanwhile, Penn State has absolutely destroyed every opponent but has yet to play in an environment even remotely as challenging as what they’ll see Saturday.
