5 Top 25 teams on upset alert in Week 8

What does Week 8 have in store for an encore?

After a stunning Week 7 that featured a historic five of the country's top seven teams in the Associated Press poll fall, underdogs will look to keep the upsets coming this Saturday.

Below, we take aim at five ranked teams most in danger this weekend.

No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten)

at Michigan Wolverines (4-2, 1-2 in Big Ten) • 12 p.m. ET, Fox

Indiana's undefeated run had to end at some point, but it must shake off last Saturday's disappointing home loss to No. 3 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 in Big Ten) to avoid another streak extending.

The Hoosiers haven't won in Ann Arbor in almost 60 years, their last win coming on Oct. 21, 1967, per Stathead. But Indiana didn't have coach Curt Cignetti roaming the sidelines during any of those 22 consecutive losses in the years since, and he's among the coaches we'd trust most to have his team ready to play after a loss.

The biggest X-factor on Saturday will be Michigan quarterback Tommy Carr, who replaced former No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood at halftime of Week 7's comeback win over Penn State (3-4, 0-4 in Big Ten). The freshman went 7-of-9 for 70 yards and two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) while adding 54 yards on six carries. Was it a one-week spark or a sign of something more? Week 8 will provide clarity.

No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-2, 3-2 in SEC) 

vs. Texas A&M Aggies (4-3, 1-3 in SEC) • 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC

All three of Texas A&M's SEC losses have been by double digits, including the last two by a combined score of 62-12. Alabama, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back regular-season losses for the first time since 2007. One of these teams will have their misery extend a week, and with Alabama's offense compromised, we can't rule out that being the Tide.

During the two-game losing skid, Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, who had Heisman numbers amid a 5-0 start, completed 59.3 percent of his passes for 332 yards (5.6 yards per attempt), two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and two interceptions.

Wide receiver Ryan Williams-Coleman (knee) has been ruled out for the second game in a row, leaving Russell without his best target as the Tide attempt to get an offense averaging 13.5 points per game over the last two weeks back on track.

No. 15 Iowa Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten)

at Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2, 2-1 in Big Ten) • 3:30 p.m. ET, FS1

In wins against Michigan (4-2, 1-2 in Big Ten) and at Washington (4-3, 1-3 in Big Ten), Minnesota below their season-averages in rushing, allowing 119 yards combined and 2.2 yards per carry. The Gophers will need that kind of effort to contain Iowa running back Kamari Mouton, who is coming off a 208-yard performance in Week 6 at Washington.

Both teams are coming off a bye, and the last time we saw Minnesota, Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi exploded for 195 yards on 31 attempts against his former team. Head coach P.J. Fleck has had plenty of time of get his unit right after that letdown, and stalling Iowa's rushing attack would likely keep things close.

Another key factor will be field position.

Per Fourth and Short, Iowa's opponents have the second-worst average starting field position — 23.8 yards from their goal line — in FBS, while Minnesota averages beginning drives at its 34.7-yard line, second-best in the country.

No. 16 USC Trojans (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten)

at Wisconsin Badgers (4-2, 2-1 in Big Ten)

No matter what coach Lincoln Riley tries, fixing USC's defense is a lost cause. Even after hiring former TCU coach Gary Patterson as defensive coordinator, the unit has struggled, allowed 25.1 points per game, 79th in FBS.

A high-scoring offense has once saved the Trojans, but Wisconsin has the means to shorten Saturday's game with a ground-and-pound attack. Over its last two games, Wisconsin has just 36 pass attempts compared to 75 rush attempts. After going on the road and holding No. 9 UCLA (6-0, 4-0 in Big Ten) to 17 points in a Week 7 road loss, it could create similar problems for the Trojans, who don't have a defense that can save them.

No. 18 LSU Tigers (5-2, 2-2 in SEC)

at Auburn Tigers (4-2, 2-2 in SEC) • 12 p.m. ET, ABC

LSU has lost eight consecutive SEC road game dating back to October 2024. Auburn is coming off a win over the No. 1 team in the country.

Are we sure an LSU win wouldn't be the upset?

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown is growing more comfortable in the SEC with each start and has over 100 rushing yards in each of his past two games. His ability to extend plays with his legs could create problems for an LSU defense that had difficulties containing Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss earlier this year.

LSU won its last game on The Plains in 2022 and hasn't claimed back-to-back road victories in the series since 1996 and 1998. It will need a clean performance from quarterback Sam Leavitt to end the drought, but with an FBS-leading eight interceptions, that isn't his strong suit.