College Football

Penn State-Ohio State, Utah-USC, more: CFB Week 8 by the numbers

Published Oct. 18, 2023 1:50 p.m. ET

As we head into Week 8 of the college football season, it's safe to expect more breathtaking action as conference rivals come head-to-head and top-ranked teams look to maintain their top spots.

A Big Ten East matchup featuring No. 7 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State will kick off the day as the Nittany Lions head to Ohio Stadium (Noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app). This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams in which both are 6-0 or better.

The "Big Noon Kickoff" crew will be on hand for all the action in Columbus with pregame coverage beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

Later on FOX, No. 8 Texas heads to Houston for a Lone Star State matchup at 4 p.m. ET. The Longhorns lead the rivalry against the Cougars, 16-7-2, and have won the last seven meetings.

Closing out the evening, another in-state rivalry takes center stage as No. 2 Michigan visits Michigan State at 7:30 p.m ET, followed by No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Here are the numbers to know for the marquee matchups in Week 8.

SATURDAY

No. 7 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State
Noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app

Top 2: Penn State and Ohio State have the top defenses in the FBS this season based on a yards-per-play basis.

11: The Nittany Lions have the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten, and their longest since the 1998-99 season.

15: Penn State has won every game this season by this many points or more.

40: Penn State is the only FBS team averaging over 40 PPG and holding opponents under 10 PPG this season.

2016: The last time Penn State beat Ohio State.

10: The number of wins by the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions in the last 11 meetings.

6-0: Record for Ohio State for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The only exception was a 5-1 start in 2021.

308.0: The Buckeyes have the No. 1 passing offense in Big Ten this season.

Ohio State-Penn State preview and predictions: Can the Nittany Lions pull off the upset?

No. 17 Tennessee at No. 11 Alabama
3:30 p.m. ET

2014-15: The last time Alabama lost to the same opponent in back-to-back seasons.

10: Jalen Milroe is the only SEC QB with 10-plus passing touchdowns and five-plus rushing touchdowns this season.

7: Linebacker Dallas Turner leads the SEC in sacks this season.

30: Alabama has been held under this many points in five of its last six games.

2003: The last time Tennessee beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

33.5: The Vols are averaging this many points per game this season, which ranks fifth in the SEC.

230.3: Tennessee has the No. 1-ranked rushing offense in SEC this season.

4.0: The Volunteers are averaging this many sacks per game, which ranks second in the SEC.

Tennessee-Alabama & Florida State-Duke preview: Who will seize control in their conference?

No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC
8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app

1: Utah features the No. 1-ranked scoring defense in the Pac-12 (12.2 PPG allowed | fifth in FBS).

40: The Utes have scored 40-plus points in their last three meetings with USC.

22: Number of wins for Utah in its last 26 games against Pac-12 opponents.

305.3: Total YPG for USC’s Caleb Williams, along with 29 TDs (leads FBS) and four interceptions.

2020: Lincoln Riley has lost back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since 2020.

17: Passing TDs allowed by USC this season.

USC-Utah preview: The Trojans MUST bounce back and beat the Utes to stay alive in the CFP

No. 8 Texas at Houston
4 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app

2009: The Longhorns are ranked in the AP Top 10 for the sixth consecutive week, the longest single-season stretch since 2009.

15: Texas ranks 15th nationally in offensive efficiency this season.

24: Xavier Worthy ranks third in UT history with 24 career touchdown receptions.

121.0: YPG for RB Jonathon Brooks, who ranks fourth in the nation and first in the Big 12 Conference in that category.

37-34: The score of Texas Tech's win over Texas last season when Donovan Smith was under center for the Red Raiders. Smith is now the starting QB at Houston.

4: The Cougars have not committed a turnover in four of their six games this season.

5: Houston is one of five teams nationally without a fumble lost.

20th: The Cougars are seeking their 20th victory against a top-10 team and their third against a top 10-ranked Longhorns team.

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No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State
7:30 p.m. ET

1: Michigan ranks No. 1 in scoring defense this season, holding opponents to 6.7 points per game.

19: The Wolverines have won 19 straight Big Ten games, which is tied for the school record.

16: Michigan is the least penalized team in the country, committing this many penalties in seven games this season.

12: RB Blake Corum leads the nation with this many rushing TDs.

7-12: Michigan State's record against AP top-five opponents since 2000.

2-5: The Spartans' record against AP top-two opponents since 2000, with both wins coming against Ohio State (2013, 2015).