BYU, Tennessee, and USC: Why Elite Teams Are Failing in Week 8 Chaos

College football’s top tier is breaking. Over the past three weeks, top 10 teams have lost 11 times, a figure that ties the regular season record for the most top 10 losses in a three-week span. The last time this occurred was in 2007. This volatility has reshaped the College Football Playoff race and sent shockwaves through the AP Poll.

Week 8 delivered several major upsets that fueled the chaos. LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina rallied from behind to beat Tennessee, dampening the Vols' playoff hopes. Texas Tech suffered a similar fate during a charged visit to Cincinnati. USC, emerging from a bye week, managed just seven points in a loss to Wisconsin.

BYU’s fall from grace was particularly abrupt. The Cougars rose to No. 2 in the AP Poll after beating Notre Dame but dropped that status after a double-overtime road loss to UCF. In that game, BYU averaged only 3.2 yards per carry and quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed just 16 of 32 passes.

Other high-profile games ended with narrow escapes. Indiana survived at Michigan to win 13-6 in overtime, holding the Wolverines to 54 rushing yards on 39 carries. Alabama used fourth-quarter touchdowns to outlast Texas A&M, though the Crimson Tide managed only 68 rushing yards on 28 carries. Boise State also avoided a stumble against Washington State with a late surge.

Miami maintained its No. 1 ranking with a 52-23 victory over Pitt. Malachi Toney caught a school-record 16 passes for 194 yards. Despite the win, Pitt recorded three sacks on Darian Mensah, highlighting pass protection issues. Miami faces North Carolina next before a critical game against Notre Dame on Nov. 7.

Ohio State prepared for a matchup at USC without starting quarterback Julian Sayin, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. True freshman Luke Fahey is expected to start, with the team moving the pocket to create throwing lanes. Former five-star recruit Tavien St. Clair also received first-team snaps during the week.

Georgia, ranked fourth, used its open week to address health concerns following a 27-24 loss to Auburn. The Bulldogs gained only 113 rushing yards in that game. Star tailback Nate Frazier returned from a rib injury but appeared rusty, while backup Chauncey Bowens remained sidelined. Georgia faces Florida in Atlanta on Saturday.

Kentucky, now ranked eighth, extended its winning streak to six games with a 34-17 win over Vanderbilt. The Wildcats limited the Commodores to 15 rushing yards and forced two turnovers. This victory secured Kentucky’s third winning record in the SEC since 1977 and kept its title hopes alive.