College football Week 8 schedule, TV channels and predictions

The Big Ten returns in Week 8 of the 2020 college football season, and we rejoice!

It’s been way too long since college football fans could enjoy some Big Ten action.

Beginning on Friday night, the Big Ten will resume play with its nine-game, conference-only season schedule. With teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions having serious College Football Playoff aspirations, it’s fantastic to see another section of the country be thoroughly engaged in the sport we love to watch every fall Saturday so very much.

College football Week 8 schedule

Friday, Oct. 23 (8:00 p.m. ET)

• Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 14 Wisconsin Badgers – Big Ten Network

Saturday, Oct. 24 (12:00 p.m. ET)

• Syracuse Orange at No. 1 Clemson Tigers – ACC Network
• Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes – FOX
• No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack at No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels – ESPN
• Kansas Jayhawks at No. 20 Kansas State Wildcats – FS1
• Georgia Southern Eagles at No. 25 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers – ESPNU

Saturday, Oct. 24 (2:30 p.m. ET)

• Florida Atlantic Owls at No. 22 Marshall Thundering Herd

Saturday, Oct. 24 (3:30 p.m. ET)

• No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide at Tennessee Volunteers – CBS
• No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Pittsburgh Panthers – ABC
• No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones at No. 6 Oklahoma State Cowboys – FOX
• No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions at Indiana Hoosiers- FS1
• No. 19 Virginia Tech Hokies at Wake Forest Demon Deacons – ESPN3

Saturday, Oct. 24 (7:30 p.m. ET)

• No. 18 Michigan Wolverines at No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers – ABC

Saturday, Oct. 24 (8:00 p.m ET)

• Virginia Cavaliers at No. 11 Miami Hurricanes – ACC Network

Saturday, Oct. 24 (9:00 p.m. ET)

• No. 9 Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 16 SMU Mustangs – ESPN2

Saturday, Oct. 24 (10:15 p.m. ET)

• Texas State Bobcats at No. 12 BYU Cougars – ESPN

Bold indicates projected Week 8 winner.

Though I don’t have any upsets in the early-afternoon window, I do have three lower-ranked teams projected to win on Saturday. If I had to pick a game where an upset could happen in the early window, I’d say keep an eye on the game going on in Chapel Hill between the No. 23 North Carolina State Wolfpack and the No. 14 North Carolina Tar Heels. Maybe the Wolfpack are good?

I have one upset in the mid-afternoon window with the No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones knocking off the No. 6 Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater. The Cyclones have been the most consistently strong team in the Big 12 this season. Their season-opening loss to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns isn’t as bad as we initially thought it was. How good are the Pokes really? We’ll find out Saturday.

And in the night games, I have two higher-ranked teams going down. The No. 21 Minnesota Golden Gophers Row the Boat in Minneapolis to perplex the visiting No. 18 Michigan Wolverines. A little bit later in the night, I have the No. 16 SMU Mustangs taking control in The American over the No. 9 Cincinnati Bearcats. It’s about to be Party City down in Dallas for its Group of 5 team.

What games have your attention in Week 8 of the 2020 college football season?

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