College Football Week 8 preview: Big Ten Conference returns to the gridiron
It's the first week of the season for Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan and others
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Big Ten is back.
It is the first week of the college football season for the Big Ten Conference, after officials postponed and then reneged on their decision over the course of a couple of months. Fans will finally get to see other top schools like Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan play this season.
The Big Ten is eligible for the College Football Playoff even at Week 8 of the college football season. It starts Friday night when Wisconsin takes on Illinois.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Read below for a brief look at the Top 25 schools in action.
BIG TEN’S RETURN HIGHLIGHTS A SUPER 6 COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEKEND
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(14) WISCONSIN VS. ILLINOIS
FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2019, file photo, Wisconsin running back Nakia Watson (14) runs past Michigan State safety Xavier Henderson (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)
Wisconsin and Illinois are among the teams Big Ten teams getting things kicked off for the conference’s 2020 season. The two teams meet on Friday night at Camp Randall. Wisconsin finished last season with a Rose Bowl loss to Oregon while Illinois got a RedBox Bowl loss to Cal. But The Fighting Illini beat the Badgers by one point during their matchup last year.
DATE: Oct. 23
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): 8 pm
WATCH: Big Ten Network
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(1) CLEMSON VS. SYRACUSE
Clemson returns home to take on Syracuse. Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers have rolled all season long and it’s not expected to stop Saturday afternoon.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): Noon
WATCH: ACC Network
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(5) OHIO STATE VS. NEBRASKA
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields (1) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. Ohio State hosts Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
Fans will get to see Justin Fields for the first time as Ohio State hosts Nebraska. The Buckeyes are expected to do big things this season while Nebraska is seen as more of a wildcard team. With this being their first game, you never know what can happen.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): Noon
WATCH: FOX
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(14) NORTH CAROLINA VS. (23) NC STATE
North Carolina's Michael Carter (8) leads the celebration following the Tar Heels' 56-49 victory over Virginia Tech in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
In a battle of North Carolina, the Tar Heels and Wolfpack will meet. North Carolina is coming off of a stunning loss to Florida State last week. While NC State only had a Virginia Tech loss on their resume this season. North Carolina topped N.C. State last year, 41-10.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): Noon
WATCH: ESPN
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(20) KANSAS STATE VS. KANSAS
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (15) looks for an open receiver in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Kansas State and Kansas will have a pivotal Big 12 matchup. The Wildcats are looking to go 4-1 and hopefully move up in the next AP poll next week. Kansas is still searching for its first win.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): Noon
WATCH: FS1
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(25) COASTAL CAROLINA VS. GEORGIA SOUTHERN
Coastal Carolina players celebrate after place kicker Massimo Biscardi (29) kicked the go-ahead and eventual game-winning field goal during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Lafayette in Lafayette, La., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Kieu)
Coastal Carolina is in the Top 25 for the first time in its history. The Chanticleers upset Louisiana last week and now have to take on Georgia Southern.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): Noon
WATCH: ESPNU
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(22) MARSHALL VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Marshall will play for its fifth consecutive win of the season against Florida Atlantic. Thundering Herd running back Brenden Knox has seven rushing touchdowns this season and will be key in this game.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): 2:30 pm
WATCH: TBD
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TENNESSEE VS (2) ALABAMA
Alabama will hit the road to take on Tennessee. The Crimson Tide has proven to be a top team with a win last week over Georgia. Mac Jones will hope to continue the trend against the Volunteers.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): 3:30 pm
WATCH: CBS
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PITTSBURGH VS. (3) NOTRE DAME
Notre Dame place kicker Jonathan Doerer kicks during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Notre Dame is hoping that they don’t fall into the ACC trap. Ian Book and the offense only scored 12 points against Louisville and are going up against a Pittsburgh team that has the ability to score a ton of points when the offense is clicking.
DATE: Oct. 24
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TIME (ET): 3:30 pm
WATCH: ABC
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(6) OKLAHOMA STATE VS. (17) IOWA STATE
FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 file photo, Oklahoma State's Chuba Hubbard (30) carries the ball during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against West Virginia in Morgantown, W.Va. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, File)
The Big 12 has another interesting matchup Saturday afternoon. Oklahoma State welcomes Iowa State into Stillwater. The Cowboys are No. 6 in the nation and another win could catapult them even higher. The Cyclones are hoping a win against a top-ranked team could erase an earlier loss to Louisiana.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 3:30 pm
WATCH: FOX
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INDIANA VS. (8) PENN STATE
FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 file photo, Penn State head coach James Franklin leads his team onto the field for an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
Penn State will march into Indiana and hope that the travel doesn’t affect their play. It’s the first game of the season for both schools.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 3:30 pm
WATCH: FS1
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WAKE FOREST VS. (19) VIRGINIA TECH
Virginia Tech is in the middle of the pack when it comes to the AP Poll but improving to 4-1 is something that could pay dividends in the future. The Hokies will have to find a way to stop Sam Hartman. The Demon Deacons quarterback has 893 passing yards and three touchdowns.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 3:30 pm
WATCH: ESPN3
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(21) MINNESOTA VS. (18) MICHIGAN
FILE - In this Nov. 30, 2019, file photo, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calls a timeout in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)
The winner of Michigan and Minnesota could easily have College Football Playoff implications. Jim Harbaugh and P.J. Fleck both need wins to start their seasons.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 7:30 pm
WATCH: ABC
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(11) MIAMI VS. VIRGINIA
Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) passes against Pitts in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (Al Diaz/Miami Herald via AP)
D’Eriq King will try to get back into the Heisman Trophy conversation against Virginia. Miami is 4-1 this season and Virginia is 1-3.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 8 pm
WATCH: ACC Network
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(16) SMU VS. (9) CINCINNATI
A meeting of undefeated Group of Five teams when No. 9 Cincinnati plays the No. 16 Mustangs on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, the American Athletic Conference’s top defense trying to stop one of the league's best offenses, and the first game matching Top 25 teams since SMU (5-0, 3-0 AAC) resumed playing on campus three decades ago. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Cincinnati is one of the under-the-radar teams this season. The Bearcats are a quiet 3-0 and ranked No. 9. A win against a 5-0 SMU team would be huge. A Mustangs win over Cincinnati would be big as well. The American Athletic Conference has one of the biggest games in a while.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 9 pm
WATCH: ESPN2
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(12) BYU VS. TEXAS STATE
FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2017, file photo, BYU fans cheer in the first half during an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Kim Raff, File)
BYU’s Zach Wilson has 12 touchdown passes this season and is starting to get NFL eyes on him. BYU has what appears to be an easy Texas State team, but when the East Coast is sleeping, you never know what can go down in the mountains.
DATE: Oct. 24
TIME (ET): 10:15 pm
WATCH: ESPN