← Week 8 predictions

Playoff impact · Week 8

Updated Aug 30, 2026

The games that actually matter

10 of the 54 college football games in Week 8 would change who makes our projected 12-team playoff field, led by Indiana at Michigan. Updated August 29, 2026.

Measured, not asserted: we build the projected field twice for every game — once with each side winning — and count the spots that change. That's why a game between two teams who are both getting in anyway can rank below one that swings a conference title.

Changes who gets in

  • Indiana at Michigan2 spots swing · 37% home

    If Michigan wins
    Michigan make the field

    If Indiana wins
    Ole Miss make the field

  • Ole Miss at Texas2 spots swing · 78% home

    If Texas wins
    Michigan make the field

    If Ole Miss wins
    Ole Miss make the field

  • USC at Wisconsin2 spots swing · 26% home

    If Wisconsin wins
    Ole Miss make the field

    If USC wins
    USC make the field

  • Texas A&M at Alabama2 spots swing · 54% home

    If Alabama wins
    Alabama make the field

    If Texas A&M wins
    Texas A&M make the field

  • Texas Tech at Cincinnati2 spots swing · 18% home

    If Cincinnati wins
    BYU make the field

    If Texas Tech wins
    Texas Tech make the field

  • Oklahoma at Mississippi St2 spots swing · 26% home

    If Mississippi St wins
    Michigan make the field

    If Oklahoma wins
    Oklahoma make the field

  • UTSA at Tulane2 spots swing · 59% home

    If Tulane wins
    Tulane make the field

    If UTSA wins
    Boise State make the field

  • BYU at UCF2 spots swing · 24% home

    If UCF wins
    Texas Tech make the field

    If BYU wins
    BYU make the field

  • LSU at Auburn2 spots swing · 39% home

    If Auburn wins
    Michigan make the field

    If LSU wins
    LSU make the field

  • Boise State at Washington St2 spots swing · 35% home

    If Washington St wins
    Tulane make the field

    If Boise State wins
    Boise State make the field