Notre Dame at Florida State highlights college football Week 8

Notre Dame at Florida State highlights college football Week 8 with a primetime matchup on Saturday, Oct. 18, on ABC.

This weekend in college football features a big matchup in primetime on ABC at 8pm ET as the No. 5 Notre Dame Fighting Irish take on the No. 2 Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Two dynamic quarterbacks, Notre Dame’s Everett Golson and FSU’s Jameis Winston, will be on display in a game that could impact the teams’ hunt for a berth in the new playoffs. Both teams have had their share of off-the-field complications, with the Irish dealing with players suspended for academics and FSU’s Winston just kind of being himself.

“I think Florida State’s a different team where they have more talent around Jameis Winston where they can overcome if he has a poor game,” says ESPN college football analyst and former Seminoles quarterback Danny Kanell. “But I think Everett Golson is an X‑factor in this game without question. He has to play well. He has to have a strong performance in order for Notre Dame to win.”

Former Notre Dame head coach and current ESPN analyst Lou Holtz put more expectation on the the Irish defense. “I don’t think Golson has to play an A‑game, Holtz says. “I think Notre Dame’s defense does. The one advantage that Notre Dame has is the offense and defense. I think Notre Dame can run the ball and protect the pass. I’m not sure Florida State can. I think Notre Dame’s secondary plays the ball much better than Florida State.”

Either way, the loser of this game isn’t necessarily out of the national championship picture. Holtz thinks these two teams could meet again in the New Year. “Both of them have an excellent chance with this loss,” he says. “I think the team that wins this game is really punching their ticket to the final four. You look at their schedule remaining at Notre Dame. They have an open date after this game. Then they play Navy, Arizona State is having severe problems on defense. They have to travel out to this other town which is always a rivalry game. But they should be OK. I think looking at Florida State and Notre Dame, both of them, regardless of the outcome of this game should win out. If both sides do that, both of them will be in the game again and have a chance to possibly repeat this performance.”

Where to watch Top 25 teams in action:
Saturday, Oct. 18
No. 4 Baylor at West Virginia, 12pm ET, FS1
No. 14 Kansas State at No. 11 Oklahoma, 12pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
No. 21 Texas A&M at No. 7 Alabama, 3:30pm ET, CBS
No. 8 Michigan State at Indiana, 3:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
Rutgers at No. 13 Ohio State, 3:30pm ET, ABC/ESPN2/WatchESPN
No. 10 Georgia at Arkansas, 4pm ET, SEC Network/WatchESPN
No. 15 Oklahoma State at No. 12 TCU, 4pm ET, FS1
Colorado at No. 22 USC, 6pm ET, Pac-12 Network
Tennessee at No. 3 Ole Miss, 7pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN
No. 19 Nebraska at Northwestern, 7:30pm ET, BTN
Washington at No. 9 Oregon, 8pm ET, FS1
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Florida State, 8pm ET, ABC
No. 23 Stanford at No. 17 Arizona State, 10:30pm ET, ESPN/WatchESPN

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.