College football is experiencing a notable surge in competitive conference games, with the number of one-score contests reaching levels not seen in at least half a century. Last week alone, 30 Bowl Subdivision conference games were decided by eight points or fewer, a figure that contributed to a season total of 128 such matchups through Week 8. This represents the highest number of close conference games at this point in the season since at least 1973, and is 32 more than recorded at the same time last year.
The average point differential in conference games this season stands at 13.9 points, another metric indicating a higher degree of parity, also lowest since at least 1973, according to Sportradar.
Within the Power Four conferences, the trend is particularly pronounced. The ACC has seen 20 of its 39 conference games decided by one score (51%), followed by the Big Ten with 19 of 38 (50%), the Big 12 with 13 of 33 (39%), and the SEC with 17 of 39 (44%).
This season's slate of games includes numerous matchups with significant stakes and potential for upsets. Among the highly anticipated games this week are:
- Miami at North Carolina
- Ohio State at UCLA
- Georgia vs. Florida
- Indiana at Michigan
- Notre Dame vs. Navy
- Utah vs. BYU
- UCLA vs. San Diego State
- BYU at Arizona State
- Texas vs. Mississippi State
- Ole Miss at Auburn
- Arizona at Texas Tech
- Wake Forest at Virginia
- SMU at Navy
- Boise State vs. Fresno State
- Northwestern at Oregon
- Missouri at Vanderbilt
- Oklahoma State at Cincinnati
- Iowa vs. Wisconsin
Several prominent teams, including No. 9 Kentucky, No. 10 Alabama, No. 15 LSU, No. 16 Tennessee, and No. 18 Houston, are on bye weeks.
Last week, prognosticators went 10-7 in straight-up picks and 8-8-1 against the spread. For the season, the record stands at 100-39 straight-up and 68-69-2 against the spread.