College football scores, NCAA top 25 rankings, Week 8: Clemson, Notre Dame remain on collision course

NCAA football scores and highlights from the teams in action during Week 8 of the 2020 college football season

Few college football teams had as much to prove this weekend as No. 3 Notre Dame, which entered as just a 10-point favorite for a game at unranked Pittsburgh. With No. 5 Ohio State making its debut Saturday, the Fighting Irish needed a strong showing to prove they deserved to be ranked in the top three ahead of the Buckeyes.

But Notre Dame might hold off Ohio State in the polls for at least another week after a 45-3 thrashing of the Panthers. The Fighting Irish's 42-point win was the highest margin of victory by any of the four top-five teams in action Saturday. Top-ranked Clemson was favored to beat Syracuse by 48 but had to scrap in the second half to come out with a 47-21 victory over the Orange.

The victories by Clemson and Notre Dame brought the teams a week closer to a potentially huge showdown with each other. If the Tigers handle Boston College and the Fighting Irish beat Georgia Tech next week, they will both be undefeated when they meet at Notre Dame on Nov. 7. The game would have major ACC and national implications. Clemson will almost assuredly be favored in the game, but the Fighting Irish showed on Saturday that -- at least for now -- they belong in the conversation with the nation's top teams.

CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday updating you with all the scores and highlights from the top games around the country in college football. 

College football scores -- Week 8

No. 1 Clemson 47, Syracuse 21 -- Box score
No. 5 Ohio State 52, Nebraska 17 -- Recap, takeaways
No. 14 North Carolina 48, No. 23 NC State 21 -- Box score
Auburn 35, Ole Miss 28 -- Box score
Oklahoma 33, TCU 14 -- Box score
No. 2 Alabama 48, Tennessee 17 -- Recap, takeaways
No. 3 Notre Dame 45, Pittsburgh 3 -- Box score
No. 6 Oklahoma State 24, No. 17 Iowa State 21 -- Box score
Indiana 36, No. 8 Penn State 35 (OT) -- Recap
Wake Forest 23, No. 19 Virginia Tech 16 -- Box score
Texas 27, Baylor 16 -- Box score
No. 18 Michigan 49, No. 21 Minnesota 24 -- Recap, takeaways
No. 11 Miami 19, Virginia 14 -- Box score
No. 9 Cincinnati 42, No. 16 SMU 13 -- Box score
Check out the complete Week 8 scoreboard

Check these out ...

• Week 8 overreactions: Justin Fields immediately joins Heisman party
• Tomorrow's Top 25: Michigan set to soar into top 10
• WATCH: LSU makes history in Death Valley with kick return for TD
• WATCH: Rice loses game on incredible field goal blunder
• Upset alert: Indiana takes down No. 8 Penn State in overtime
• Statement: Texas players stand for 'Eyes of Texas' despite band's absence
• Tide roll again: No. 2 Alabama dominates rival Tennessee
• Injury update: Alabama star Jaylen Waddle out for season with broken ankle
• Buckeyes cruise: No. 5 Ohio State dominates Nebraska in second half
• Streak over: Rutgers snaps Big Ten skid with Michigan State win
• WATCH: Ohio State WR makes insane toe-tapping TD catch
• Badgers dominate: No. 14 Wisconsin cruises past Illinois in Big Ten opener

[Oct 25, 2020 at 12:36 am ET · Ben Kercheval]

Final: No. 9 Cincinnati 42, No. 16 SMU 13

This one got out of hand in the fourth quarter, but what an impressive win for the Bearcats. Desmond Ridder had a huge night with 306 yards of total offense and four touchdowns. Also a great job by the Cincy defense to limit SMU's high-powered offense. The open weeks really helped the Bearcats mesh on the offensive side and it showed. Is Cincy a top 10 team? If not, they're not far off. 

[Oct 25, 2020 at 12:10 am ET · David Cobb]

Half: No. 12 BYU 35, Texas State 7

Zach Wilson is 18-of-21 for 257 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. Just ridiculous. 384 total yards for BYU in the first half. Six possessions in the first half for the Cougars, and five of them ended in TDs.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 11:40 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

End 3Q: No. 9 Cincinnati, No. 16 SMU 10

The Desmond Ridder show continues. The Cincinnati quarterback has three touchdowns tonight, including two on the ground. Ridder has been excellent with his feet but has also developed a nice chemistry with his wide receivers. SMU has some work to do to get back into this one with the final quarter about to start. 

[Oct 24, 2020 at 11:28 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: No. 11 Miami 19, Virginia 14

The Cavaliers cut it to 19-14 with 5:27 left to inject some drama into this one. But the Hurricanes escape and improve to 5-1 heading into a bye week. The 'Canes have disappeared from the national radar a bit since losing to Clemson. But they are in good shape in the ACC with games against NC State, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and UNC ahead. D'Eriq King goes 21-of-30 for 322 yards and a TD tonight.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 11:12 pm ET · David Cobb]

Early 2Q: No 12 BYU 14, Texas State 7

BYU closed as a 30-point favorite vs. 1-5 Texas State, but the underdog Bobcats are hanging around so far. BYU driving.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 11:11 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: No. 18 Michigan 49, No. 21 Minnesota 24

Impressive night in all facets for Michigan as it begins its 2020 season under the national microscope with a lot of noise around Jim Harbaugh. Joe Milton looked really poised at QB and was effective through the air and on the ground along with a convoy of backs. Minnesota was a bit shorthanded, but the offense had some promising moments. The defense? Not so much. Michigan State up next for the Wolverines. Minnesota gets Maryland next week. I.E. easy wins on deck for both teams.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 10:40 pm ET · Barrett Sallee]

Final: LSU 52, South Carolina 24

The Tigers got back on track on Saturday night in Death Valley thanks to a phenomenal performance from freshman quarterback T.J. Finley, who was starting in place of the injured Myles Brennan. Finley threw for 265 yards, tossed one touchdown, rushed for 24 yards and added another touchdown on the ground. There's no word on if Finley will get the start next weekend against Auburn. But the youngster looked like a potential star against the Gamecocks. Sophomore Trey Palmer added a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for the Tigers -- the first in Death Valley since 1981.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 10:36 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Half: No. 9 Cincinnati 14, No. 16 SMU 10

The first quarter of this game belonged to the Bearcats. The second quarter belonged to the Mustangs. SMU erased a two-touchdown deficit as quarterback Shane Buchele got some rhythm going on offense. However, a late second quarter clock management issue forced SMU to kick a field goal instead of go for the touchdown. 

[Oct 24, 2020 at 10:34 pm ET · David Cobb]

No. 11 Miami 13, Virginia 7

If you're looking for a takeaway from a rather dull game so far, it's Michael Hurley's performance at wide receiver for the Hurricanes. Has a career-high 8 catches for a career-high 152 yards and a TD.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 10:21 pm ET · David Cobb]

End 3Q: No. 18 Michigan 42, No. 21 Minnesota 24

Well, Minnesota drove straight down the field on 11 plays to score to open the third quarter. But Michigan answered with a 9-play, 68-yard TD drive of its own. Minnesota drove again — 9 plays and 78 yards — but failed to convert on 4th-and-goal with 49 seconds left in the quarter. Could have cut it to to 42-31 entering 4Q. But now it will take a mini-miracle for the Gophers to get back in this one during the 4th. Oh by the way, did Michigan find a QB?

[Oct 24, 2020 at 9:57 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Today in "special" teams, this ended up being a -38-yard punt for Boise State.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 9:51 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

End 1Q: Cincinnati 14, SMU 0

You can't ask for a better start for the Bearcats as they head on the road for the first time against the Mustangs. The defense has been flying around and hitting hard and Desmond Ridder has been a problem running and throwing. Right now, Cincinnati is bullying SMU and the Mustangs just don't have an answer. 

[Oct 24, 2020 at 9:38 pm ET · David Cobb]

Half: No. 11 Miami 10, Virginia 7

The Hurricanes had a FG blocked and Virginia had a TD called back for penalty and subsequently a missed FG. Ultimately, Miami's Jose Borregales did hit a 32-yarder with 1:02 left in the half for the only points of the second quarter.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 9:26 pm ET · David Cobb]

Half: No. 18 Michigan 35, No. 21 Minnesota 17

Three of Michigan's five touchdowns have come in the following ways: a fumble return, a 9-yard scoring "drive" set up by a kickoff return and a 25-yard "drive" set up by a turnover on downs.

[Oct 25, 2020 at 1:22 am ET · Barrett Sallee]

LSU's Trey Palmer just went 95 yards on a kickoff return for a touchdown. It's the first kickoff return for a touchdown in Death Valley (either team) since 1981. It's crazy that the stadium hasn't had a kickoff return for touchdown since the Reagan Administration.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 9:18 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

I used to remember one great catch a week. Now there are several.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 8:55 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

That's now two (2) awesome toe-tapping touchdowns we've had today. Check out this one from Virginia.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 8:47 pm ET · David Cobb]

End 1Q: No. 11 Miami 7, Virginia 7

D'Eriq King tossed a 43-yard touchdown to Mike Harley on the second play from scrimmage to give the Hurricanes an early lead. Virginia tied it up, but the 'Canes are driving as we enter the second quarter.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 8:39 pm ET · David Cobb]

End 1Q: No. 18 Michigan 21, No. 21 Minnesota 10

Average yards per rush in the first quarter: Michigan 9.6 | Minnesota: 1.9

A 70-yard TD run from Zach Charbonnet, 15-yard TD returned for a touchdown by Donovan Jeter and a 9-yard touchdown pass from Joe Milton to Ben Mason have the Wolverines up 21-10 early. Minnesota didn't do itself any favors by trying this, either ?

[Oct 24, 2020 at 7:43 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: Indiana 36, No. 8 Penn State 35

The Hoosiers do it in overtime by going for two to win it

Un-be-lievable finish. It all came down to a two-point conversion in overtime. Indiana quarterback Michael Penix reached for the pylon on the play. Was ruled a score on the field. Lengthy review. Call on the field stands. Indiana wins.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 7:28 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Rice, in overtime, playing for the winning field goal, unlocks the rare quadruple doink on the field goal attempt. This is hypnotizing.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 7:25 pm ET · David Cobb]

OVERTIME No. 8 Penn State 28, Indiana 28

What a bizarre finish. Penn State couldn't get anything going offensively — at least not in terms of actually scoring — and trailed 20-14 late in the fourth. Then Sean Clifford hit Jahan Dotson for a 60-yard score with 2:30 left to give PSU a 21-20 lead. Penn State got the ball back. But instead of running out the clock, they scored a TD (against the wishes of James Franklin). That made the score 28-20 and let Indiana get the ball back with enough time to go down the field and tie it up. So now we go to overtime AFTER a 58-yard FG came up just short for PSU.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 7:16 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: No. 6 Oklahoma State 24, No. 17 Iowa State 21

The Cowboys had to recover an onside kick after a late Iowa State score. But in the end, a duel of two elite running backs goes to Oklahoma State and Chuba Hubbard. He finishes with 139 yards and a TD on 25 carries. Iowa State's Breece Hall goes for 185 yards and a TD on 20 carries. This means Oklahoma State and Kansas State are tied atop the Big 12 standings. They play each other in two weeks.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 7:02 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: No. 3 Notre Dame 45, Pittsburgh 3

Potential trap game up next at Georgia Tech for Notre Dame before the Nov. 7 showdown with Clemson. But if the Irish defense plays like it did today and the Clemson offense struggles like it did today, Notre Dame would at least have a chance. Pittsburgh finished with just 162 net yards.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 6:58 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

For what it's worth, in Austin ...

[Oct 24, 2020 at 6:54 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: No. 2 Alabama 48, Tennessee 17

Here's what Alabama has left: Mississippi State, LSU, Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas. Based off how those teams have looked so far, Arkansas might be the toughest test. Obviously, losing Jaylen Waddle for the season stinks. But the Crimson Tide have plenty more playmakers and should more or less sleepwalk into the CFP from here, barring something catastrophic. As for Tennessee, what's Jon Gruden's buyout with the Raiders?

[Oct 24, 2020 at 6:46 pm ET · David Cobb]

Final: Wake Forest 23, No. 19 Virginia Tech 16

Freshman linebacker Nick Andersen's third INT of the day seals it for Wake Forest. Wake has won three straight since starting out with losses to Clemson and NC State. Impressive stuff from a goup that lost some key players from last year's 8-5 team. Frustrating offensive effort from Virginia Tech. Crossed midfield numerous times with very little to show for it on the scoreboard.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 6:41 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Tua's little brother, who transferred to Maryland in the offseason, is getting the start.

[Oct 24, 2020 at 6:25 pm ET · David Cobb]

End 3Q: No. 3 Notre Dame 45, Pittsburgh 3

This is the kind of dominant win against a quality opponent that Notre Dame needed to prove that it belongs in the conversation with Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Georgia. As expected, running the ball vs. Pitt has been tough. But the Irish hit on some big plays in the passing game and have played great defense.