Week 8 in college football was nothing short of chaotic and surprising. Matt Hayes discusses four key issues stemming from Saturday’s matchups.

First Down: Alabama’s Decline

Let’s take a broader look at the situation, rather than just focusing on the latest events.

Alabama’s decline began last season, not just with their recent loss to Tennessee.

If it weren’t for a remarkable fourth-and-31 conversion during the final moments of the Auburn game, Alabama wouldn’t have even qualified for last year’s College Football Playoff — despite their victory over Georgia in the SEC championship.

This narrow escape against Auburn, along with the locker room unrest following legendary coach Nick Saban’s decision to bench quarterback Jalen Milroe, pointed to a team straying from its traditional Saban-style roots, relying heavily on sheer talent to win games.

When Saban stepped down at the end of last season, largely in response to players gaining newfound power and influence in college football, the last remaining boundaries for a player-led team were lifted. This is where we find ourselves today.

Alabama struggled defensively, conceding 40 points to a Vanderbilt team lacking any players who could start for the Tide. The following week, they barely escaped defeat at home against a struggling South Carolina team with a freshman quarterback.

As for the matchup with Tennessee, it shouldn’t have come down to the final possession. The Volunteers squandered numerous chances to score in their 24-17 triumph, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava missing several open receivers in the Alabama secondary.

If Iamaleava had been more accurate (he went 14-of-27 for 194 yards), Tennessee could have easily scored 40 points.

Remarkably, Alabama has performed best in two critical games against top competitors, defeating Georgia in the 2023 SEC championship and holding a substantial lead against them in a recent game.

Other than those instances, the team’s performance has been largely disappointing.

This isn’t to suggest that Kalen DeBoer, the new head coach at Alabama, won’t find success in Tuscaloosa. However, this season’s focus will mostly be on identifying which players are committed to progressing and responding to DeBoer’s leadership.

As well as determining who is looking toward a different path.

Second Down: Indiana is Becoming a Football School

There’s a risk in counting victories along an unlikely journey. Still, how could you not at this point?

It’s time to recognize unbeaten Indiana as a legitimate contender for the College Football Playoff. Yes, Indiana — often considered the weak link in the Big Ten.

If the upcoming schedule doesn’t convince skeptics, then Saturday’s 56-7 domination of Nebraska certainly should.

“I won’t allow our players, or the coaching staff, to become complacent,” first-year head coach Curt Cignetti stated following Nebraska’s second-worst loss since joining the Big Ten in 2011. “I was a maniac in the fourth quarter during that game.”

This is Indiana football, folks. A coach who has found success at every previous stop is now changing the fortunes of a program that has been the Big Ten’s worst for the last 30 years.

Cignetti has brought in 12 transfers from James Madison (where he led them to 11 wins last season) and an additional 19 through the transfer portal, revitalizing a roster that was previously lacking in talent. The top four rushers, four of the top five receivers, and the leading pass rusher are all transfers.

The numbers reveal a significant transition: 34 players exited the program while 31 joined from the portal — including quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who played five seasons at Ohio before arriving at Indiana. He’s currently completing 73.8% of his passes, averaging 10.9 yards per attempt, and posting a passer rating of 192.1— all career bests.

With 14 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions, Indiana (7-0) has achieved its first unbeaten start this late in the season since the 1960s. And there’s more on the horizon.

The Hoosiers are favored in every game except one during the remainder of the season, with the challenging matchup being on Nov. 23 against Ohio State, which could serve as a crucial moment for their playoff hopes. Win or even play competitively in a loss, and the Hoosiers could secure a place in the playoffs.

Third Down: Miami is Set for the CFP

Despite conceding 45 points to Louisville, Miami managed to clear its last major hurdle for the College Football Playoff.

The 52-45 victory on the road lifted the Canes to 7-0, and their upcoming schedule looks easier than Louisville’s defense: Florida State, Duke, at Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, at Syracuse.

Unless something completely unexpected occurs, Miami will enter the ACC championship game unbeaten and has essentially secured a spot in the CFP — win or lose.

Will Ward accomplish enough against the relatively easy schedule to secure the Heisman Trophy?

Can he surpass the determination of Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who is trying to break the NCAA single-season rushing record (Jeanty requires 1,381 yards to achieve this), or Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s pursuit of the NCAA career passing touchdowns record (Gabriel needs 16 more to set the record)?

Fourth Down: USC and Riley’s tumultuous journey

USC found another way to lose a game on Saturday, and the situation is becoming dire.

The atmosphere at USC is set to become increasingly troubling. There’s a significant financial commitment to coach Lincoln Riley, leaving little room for change.

USC has dropped three consecutive games and four out of five, with defeats against Big Ten teams like Minnesota and Maryland, and a loss to what is arguably the weakest Michigan team since before Jim Harbaugh.

Under Riley, USC has lost nine of its last 14 matches and stands on the brink of missing out on postseason opportunities. The harsh truth is: Riley is going to stay put.

In 2022, he signed a reported 10-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $110 million with USC, and firing him this season would cost over $70 million.

At this moment, there is no worse scenario in college football: Riley is earning more than $10 million per year while suffering losses to teams like Minnesota and Maryland — and potentially more losses to other mid-tier Big Ten teams in the future (Rutgers, Washington, Nebraska, UCLA).