That number is two fewer than last week, as North Carolina and Penn State both dropped their first games of the season. 

PODCAST: Do we have any more clarity after some major week eight decisions?

The lone 8-0 team is No. 2 Michigan, and the Wolverines have held their spot in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll each week this season. Michigan is No. 1 in scoring defense in the NCAA holding opponents to 5.88 points per game. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 8 to Week 9. 

Tony Elliott, Virginia 

The Cavaliers added a notch under their belt with a 31-27 defeat of the then-No. 10 Tar Heels. 

It served as a milestone victory under second-year head coach Tony Elliott, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Clemson. He’s no stranger to a big game. 

So after receiver Malik Washington hauled in the go-ahead touchdown and James Jackson intercepted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, Elliott and Virginia enjoyed plenty of celebration after the game. 

“It’s awesome,” Elliott said. “For me, it’s really just the sounds, the smiles, the smell, just everything about it being present in the moment, and that’s what you coach for is an opportunity to see your guys celebrate victory and more so just a confirmation of all the work that they put in. The belief that they that they had for 60 minutes, just the hard days that they’ve been through to all culminate to experience that joy in the locker room. So it’s an experience that’s hard to describe but that’s why you coach to see these young men experience joy like that.” 

Greg Schiano, Rutgers 

The Scarlet Knights are going bowling. 

Head coach Greg Schiano and Rutgers clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014 after beating Indiana on the road 31-14. The Scarlet Knights were a COVID replacement team in the Gator Bowl in 2020. 

Schiano was seen in the locker room postgame delivering a long-awaited message to the Scarlet Knights team. 

“Nothing matters to us. We just stay on that spot, right? This is a big, big step for the program. There’s no doubt about it guys, right? It’s been a while this program’s been bowl eligible. What did I say?” Schiano said. “So that feels good. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the way you guys fought through eight straight weeks, the eighth week being on the road after an emotional win. All the things that coaches lose sleep over. You son of a guns. You battled together. Let’s have a little celebration on this plate ride home.” 

Kyle Whittingham, Utah 

Utah has had USC’s number over the past two seasons. 

The Utes earned another victory over the Trojans on Saturday, their fourth-consecutive dating back to the 2020 season. 

READ: Arkansas relieves OC Enos of duties, names Guiton new playcaller

The Trojans had their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Caleb Williams under center for them this time around, and Utah was without starting quarterback Cam Rising who has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to injury. 

Utah backup Bryson Barnes did his best to outduel Williams, throwing for 235 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to Williams’ 256 yards and 70.6% completion. 

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham affirmed belief in Barnes after the game. 

“They got a Heisman Trophy-winner at quarterback and so they’re going to make some things and that’s just the way it is, but we got ourselves a pig farmer at quarterback so we’re proud of that guy too and they love him,” Whittingham said. 

The post Quotables: Week 8  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Whether it was Ohio State making the stop on third down or Virginia’s James Jackson intercepting North Carolina in the final minutes, there were a number of plays that defined Week 8. 

PODCAST: The Shane Beamer Story Isn’t That Serious

Here are some of the top statistical performances from Week 7. 

Baker blows a kiss during UCF-Oklahoma 

UCF-Oklahoma was a lot closer than maybe many expected. 

Both teams tied at 17 points apiece at halftime, and one of the more eye-catching touchdowns took place in the first half. 

Trailing 14-10, UCF faced a long way to go when it began its drive with 1:43 left in the second quarter. It started at its own 14-yard line. 

After a rush for no gain, Oklahoma called a timeout and allowed UCF to regroup. 

On the next play out of the timeout, UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee wound up and found receiver Javon Baker wide open on the left side of the field. 

Baker brought in the reception, then with open space blew a kiss toward the Oklahoma sideline en route to his 86-yard touchdown. 

It flipped the score in favor of the Knights who later led by as much as 23-17 in the fourth quarter. 

Boston College brings down an acrobatic pick-six 

Boston College faced an early 7-3 deficit against Georgia Tech, a matchup between two 3-3 teams. 

Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King dropped back to pass facing a heavy blitz by the Eagles. King looked to his left for receiver Dominick Blaylock but couldn’t connect. 

Eagles cornerback Amari Jackson dropped back in coverage, then came forward to defend Blaylock. The pass came in and Jackson threw up his arms, then later came down with the interception and returned it 30 yards for the pick-six. 

It was a score among five that led to Boston College upending Georgia Tech 38-23. Jackson finished with four tackles along with the interception. 

Memphis makes the pick-six 

Deadlocked at 14 points apiece through most of the second quarter, Memphis and UAB remained tied in a back-and-forth first half. 

UAB quarterback Harrison Barker and the Blazers began their drive with 6:30 left on the clock in the first half from their own 33-yard line. 

After a 4-yard rush and an incompletion, Barker dropped back on third and six. He ranged to his left where he threw the football, which deflected off the group of players including his intended receiver. 

The ball dropped back toward the pile where Memphis defensive back Malik Feaster brought it in, and he took off 36 yards up the sideline for the pick-six. 

Feaster finished with one tackle and a pass break-up in addition to his pick-six. 

Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State 

This week’s leading rusher was worthy of his own place in the Stat Pack. 

Gordon rushed for a weekly high of 282 yards across 29 carries, averaging more than nine yards each time he ran the football. 

Gordon played a large role in Oklahoma State’s 48-34 beating of West Virginia, helping the Cowboys claim a third-consecutive win. 

Gordon had runs of 53, 46, 34 and 32 yards among his longest of the day. Two of his final three carries went for long touchdowns on rushes of 46 and 53 yards. 

The Fort Worth, Texas, native scored a career-high four touchdowns in the effort against the Mountaineers. 

Rutgers blocks the punt on way to bowl eligibility 

The ground game ruled most of the day on Saturday between Rutgers and Indiana, and the two teams combined for four rushing touchdowns in the game. 

But one play that served as a sort of momentum difference-maker came early in the second quarter. 

READ: Virginia shocks No. 10 North Carolina 31-27

Indiana was about to cap a seven-play drive with a punt on fourth and 13. Hoosiers punter James Evans received the football after the snap, then disaster struck. 

Rutgers defensive back Shaquan Loyal leapt forward and blocked the punt from the right side of the line of scrimmage, and the football dangled toward defensive back Eric Rogers. 

Rogers came down with the football and raced toward the end zone where he punched in 17 yards later. 

It helped Rutgers defeat the Hoosiers 31-14 and clinch their sixth win, earning bowl eligibility for the first time since 2014. Rogers also had a pass break-up in addition to his special teams touchdown. 

The post Stat Pack: Week 8  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Cavaliers receiver Malik Washington caught the go-ahead touchdown and linebacker James Jackson had the game-sealing interception during the fourth quarter. 

PODCAST: The Shane Beamer Story Isn’t That Serious

Virginia led early throughout the first quarter and for a good amount of time in the first half. The Cavaliers entered halftime trailing 17-14 as North Carolina kicker Noah Burnette made a 43-yarder as time expired. 

The Tar Heels led by as much as 24-14 after quarterback Drake Maye ran in a 3-yard score with 9:35 left to play in the third quarter. 

Mike Hollins helped key the Cavaliers’ comeback, dialing up a 1-yard touchdown run and later kicker Will Bettridge made a 45-yard field goal with 32 seconds left in the third quarter to tie the game at 24 points apeice. 

Burnette then made a 27-yard field goal to give the Tar Heels a 27-24 lead, but it wouldn’t last. 

Virginia mounted a seven-play, 73-yard drive over 3:12 that led to Washington’s 14-yard score with 8:51 left. The Cavaliers were tasked with stopped the Tar Heels the rest of the way. 

The Cavaliers forced a three-and-out and allowed four plays on North Carolina’s second drive thereafter, halting the Tar Heels from gathering momentum before they got the ball back one final time with 1:12 left after a Virginia punt. 

Maye completed three quick passes and moved 27 yards down the field to Virginia’s 48-yard line. 

Disaster struck as Jackson intercepted Maye on second and 10, ending the game and sealing the upset. 

READ: Baxter’s late TD gives No. 8 Texas bounce-back win over Houston 

Maye finished with 347 passing yards and two touchdowns as North Carolina had the edge in yardage 490 to 436. 

Virginia quarterback Tony Muskett completed 67% of his passes for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Washington had 115 receiving yards and a score. 

The post Virginia shocks No. 10 North Carolina 31-27  appeared first on Saturday Glory.