Week 8 schedule what to watch

Week 8 of an impressive college football schedule begins Saturday with several high-profile games that will have a direct impact on what the playoffs look like. Here are the key games we’ll be keeping a close eye on today.

Conference games are getting hotter as we move into October, so we have games coming up that will have a direct impact on how the championship race and the College Football Playoff race ultimately play out.

Alabama and Tennessee will meet again in a game on the third Saturday in October that looks like a back-to-back and will play a big role in how the selection committee views the SEC in the playoffs.

But the most consequential game may come from the Forty Acres, as No. 1 Texas is off to its best start since 2009 and hosts No. 5 Georgia in a bombastic confrontation full of conference and national championship implications.

As the Week 8 schedule begins today, here’s a look at the biggest games on your TV screen that you should pay the most attention to.

Always east

Why watch? To see if Indiana is the real deal. With Kurtis Rourke and his receivers amassing a 6-0 record behind a dynamic aerial offense, we’ll see if they can keep up that pace against a tough Nebraska front-seven defense, which will be the Hoosiers’ biggest challenge yet .

12 p.m. on Fox

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Why watch? This game could play an outsized role in what the ACC standings looks like going forward and how the College Football Playoff plays out. Miami has been tested the last two weeks and its undefeated record is on the line against a Louisville team that can get to the quarterback and score some points.

12 p.m. on ABC

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Why watch? The third Saturday in October is always must-see television during college football season and this year’s edition is truly up for grabs. Tennessee isn’t the vertical threat we thought it was, but it still plays ferocious defense on the line and can run the ball, whereas Alabama needed some luck last week to avoid being upset by the Gamecocks. Who is this team really?

3:30 p.m. on ABC

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Why watch? Already coming off two losses this year, Michigan is playing with fire despite having almost no passing offense, instead relying on its defensive front and productive backs to get by, but Illinois has the receivers to make a statement in the big Ten.

3:30 p.m. on CBS

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Why watch? Everyone had their eyes on this game for nearly a calendar year, looking ahead to the Longhorns’ SEC debut season. But to be honest, we thought Georgia would be more dominant defensively since that unit was already coming off a loss at Alabama and the Bulldogs have their backs against the wall hoping to avoid a costly second SEC loss. And as the Longhorns look to further solidify their position as the No. 1 seed in a top matchup, the selection committee is watching closely.

7:30 p.m. on ABC

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The game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.

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