CFB Week 8 winners, losers: Texas keeps playoff hopes alive, Big 12's CFP chances take big hit and more

For a coach known to "row the boat," Fleck has his team floating with the current and possibly into the AP rankings on Sunday. But with a pair of top-10 opponents on deck over the next two weeks — No. 6 Indiana (7-1, 4-1 in Big Ten) and No. 9 UCLA (7-0, 5-0 in Big Ten) — Fleck will need to get Minnesota (5-2, 3-1 in Big Ten) to quickly refocus to avoid the fate of others coming off big wins. 

Loser: USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley

Coming off a bye, No. 16 USC (6-2, 3-2 in Big Ten) couldn't get anything going offensively in a 24-7 road loss to Wisconsin (5-2, 3-1 in Big Ten), scoring its fewest points of the Riley era (since 2022).

Because of Maiava's five sacks for 57 yards, the Trojans officially had negative 17 rushing yards, but the team's running backs were a non-factor. Sophomore King Miller led the team with 11 carries but gained eight yards. Overall, USC's three running backs combined for 40 yards on 20 attempts.

For a coach billed as an offensive innovator, Lincoln was laughably inept against Wisconsin, unable to get his team in a rhythm during a must-win game. Three of USC's final four opponents are No. 3 Ohio State (6-1, 4-0 in Big Ten), Indiana and UCLA, putting the program on track for a third 7-5 regular-season finish in its last four seasons.

The Trojans have settled into a level of mediocrity under Riley that, five years into his tenure, has never felt more impossible to shake. 

Winner: Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney

The star sophomore wideout had the spotlight to himself with Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith (52 receptions, 984 yards, 12 touchdowns) and Oregon State receiver Jesse Legree (46 receptions, 1,040 yards, 14 touchdowns) on byes, and he used it to remind everyone why he belongs in the conversation for best college wide receiver.

Toney set a Miami program record with 16 receptions in the 52-23 win over Pittsburgh, finishing the game with 183 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

"They just keep feeding their best player," ESPN play-by-play announcer Bob Wischusen said during a call of Toney's 53-yard touchdown as he sliced between two defenders.

When debating the best receiver in college football this season between Legree, Smith and Toney, there is no wrong answer, just three players in the process of becoming all-time greats.

Loser: Big 12

Before Saturday, with four teams in the AP top 14 and three of the country's final five undefeated programs, there were starting to be questions about how many playoff teams the Big 12 could secure after only getting one in each of the first two years of the 12-team playoff.

After Sunday, the conference is trending toward once again being a one-bid league. No. 8 Texas Tech (6-1, 3-1 in Big 12) joined BYU in picking up its first loss, losing convincingly at Cincinnati (5-2, 2-2 in Big 12), 37-24.

While the Cougars still have a marquee win over No. 4 Notre Dame (6-1), their margin for error has slimmed. Without a signature win on its resume, Texas Tech may need a run to the Big 12 championship game to get a second consecutive CFP berth.

Week 8 couldn't have gone much worse for the Big 12. With the conference's top two teams picking up losses to unranked opponents, its chances of having multiple playoff participants took a massive hit.