10 Takeaways: Week Eight

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1. Meet the new boss - same as the old boss

In a season that's been pure chaos through eight weeks, Georgia went into Austin and showed everyone who the safest bet to win it all is. The Dawgs' have played ugly football this year –to be blunt– but their 30-15 win at Texas was another reminder that nobody plays in the mud better than Kirby Smart. Georgia smothered the Longhorns offense, holding them to just 29 yards rushing, and forcing four turnovers. They made life miserable for Quinn Ewers, and shook Steve Sarkisian enough to replace him with Arch Manning, then switch back to Ewers in the second half. Their defensive dominance allowed them to survive a bad game from QB Carson Beck (three interceptions) by setting the offense up for short scoring drives. In essence - it was exactly the kind of 2008-style SEC game that Smart loves playing, and the Longhorns aren't yet familiar with.

As far as it goes for Texas - The Longhorns are still perfectly positioned for the playoff, despite the loss. I'll go a step further and say I don't think them potentially even winning a rematch is out of the question. They cut a 23-0 deficit to 23-15 by the end of the third quarter, and at least showed some serious fight before Georgia put the game away. Sark's gonna have to manage the QB stuff delicately now that he pressed that button, but Ewers and Manning each seem level-headed enough to not let it become an issue.

Sidenote - The officials ultimately got the call right in overturning the pass interference on Jahdae Barron's third quarter interception, but picking and choosing which penalties to overturn after the fact is a slippery slope. I can't recall ever seeing something like that, and Texas not at least taking a penalty for their fans throwing trash on the field was bizarre.

2. Make peace with at least one three-loss SEC team making the playoff while you can

• Alabama already has two losses before November and still has to play LSU and Missouri.
• LSU still has to play Alabama and at Texas A&M. Even a trip to Florida isn't a guaranteed win, given the history of that rivalry.
• A&M still has to play LSU, Texas, and has trips to South Carolina and Auburn.
• Missouri still has to play Alabama, at South Carolina, and finishes with a tricky game against Arkansas.
• Tennessee lowkey has the most favorable remaining schedule out of anyone, with just a trip to Georgia.
• Georgia still has to play Tennessee and travels to Ole Miss.
• Ole Miss shouldn't be anywhere near the playoff discussion, but this new system unfortunately means they're not completely out yet. They get Georgia at home November 9.
• Texas visits Arkansas and finishes with A&M.

Someone has to lose these games, and I'm just letting you know now that at least a couple SEC teams will get the benefit of the doubt when it's time for the committee to make their final decision - even if they have a '3' in the loss column.

3. Get ready to learn 'Indiana Football,' buddy

Let's start with the bad news first for Indiana. QB Kurtis Rourke got injured in the Hoosiers' 56-7 win over Nebraska:

Beyond just the numbers –he's thrown for almost 2,000 yards and 15 TD already– Rourke has been the perfect QB for Curt Cignetti's offense. He spent five seasons at Ohio before transferring to IU, leading the Bobcats to back-to-back ten-win years the past two seasons. Having a vet like that at QB is such a valuable asset for a coach's first season in a new job, so the Hoosiers will obviously miss his presence on the field for however long he's out.

They at least have a nice backup option in Tayven Jackson. Jackson filled in for Rourke in the second half, throwing two touchdowns - including this beauty:

People can talk about Indiana's schedule being soft all they want, but they've done exactly what great teams do in those games - bulldoze their opponent. The story was the same against Nebraska. The Huskers came into the game giving up an average of 84 yards rushing, and hadn't allowed a single rushing touchdown all season. Indiana dismantled those numbers, running for 215 yards and five TD. The defense was just as dominant. They forced five turnovers, and harassed Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola to the tune of three interceptions.

Whichever way you want to look at it, they've been elite this season. Advanced stats love them, and it's impossible to deny Cignetti's resume:

If they can navigate through Rourke's injury the next few weeks, their only real test left is a trip to Ohio State on November 23. It's time to realistically start talking to your children about Indiana making the playoff.