Week 8 College Football Playoff impact games: Texas-Ole Miss, Houston-Utah lead slate

Texas fights to save its season against Ole Miss while Utah, BYU and LSU navigate dangerous tests with postseason survival on the line Last week reminded us that the College Football Playoff race can flip in an instant. At one point, Texas looked like the No. 1 overall seed. After a series of upsets, Kentucky and BYU look like a likelier addition to the postseason. The Week 8 slate has a few heavy hitters, headlined by a battle in the Big 12 to stay alive in the playoff race. But downballot, there are a few major moments to keep an eye on. Can Texas bounce back in a pivotal matchup against Ole Miss?

Will LSU survive an upset attempt from Auburn? And can either New Mexico or James Madison truly cement themselves in the playoff race. Here are six games with major College Football Playoff implications in Week 8. The Cougars survived one playoff elimination game last week against Oklahoma State. Now, they face perhaps their toughest test yet as Houston heads to play Utah in Salt Lake City. Utah has been one of the most dominant teams in the country through six games. They also haven't played a quality opponent. A big-time matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium will show whether they're a serious playoff contender, especially with No. 2 BYU