There were several must-watch games on the Week 8 schedule, but this is college football — every game is must-watch TV. The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs knocked off the No. 1 Texas Longhorns. The Louisville Cardinals took the No. 6 Miami Hurricanes the distance. And naturally, there was no shortage of eye-popping performances.
Without further ado, the Week 8 College Football Players of the Week.
College Football Players of the Week | Week 8
Quarterback of the Week: Ethan Garbers, UCLA
Not only did Ethan Garbers snap a five-game skid and lead the UCLA Bruins to their first-ever win in the Big Ten, but he did so in near-flawless fashion.
He connected 84% of his passes (32 of 38) and became the second QB in UCLA history (Dorian Thompson-Robinson against USC in 2021) to complete 30+ passes at an 80% or higher rate.
But Garbers wasn’t just dinking and dunking, as he threw for 383 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. If that wasn’t enough, he also took a 49-yard scramble all the way to the house.
LOOK AT HIM GO 😤
Ethan Garbers just ran 49 yards to put @UCLAFootball on top, 14-7. #B1GFootball on FS1 📺 pic.twitter.com/YvdxeeYFOQ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 19, 2024
Honorable mentions: Gio Lopez, South Alabama; Caden Veltkamp, WKU; Jalon Daniels, Kansas; Ben Woolridge, Louisiana; Sawyer Robertson, Baylor; John Mateer, Washington State; Cam Ward, Miami; Bryson Daily, Army; Avery Johnson, Kansas State;
Offensive Player of the Week: Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
Rest in peace to Darren Evans’ school-record 253 rushing yards (2008-2024).
What happened, you ask? Bhayshul Tuten happened.
In a home bout with the Boston College Eagles on Thursday night, Tuten took 18 carries for 266 yards (14.8 per carry) and three scores, adding a 20-yard TD reception for fun. The result was a 42-21 Virginia Tech Hokies victory and a new program record.
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Tuten had TD runs of 83, 61, and six yards before the coaching staff pulled him from the game. However, once they found out how close he was to making history, they reinserted him into the lineup — Tuten set the mark with a 17-yard scamper on the team’s final drive of the game.
Honorable mentions: Quinton Cooley, RB, Liberty; Jevon Jackson, RB, UTEP; A.J. Turner, RB, Marshall; Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State; Terrance Carter, TE, Louisiana; Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green; Darius Lassiter, WR, BYU; Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State; Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt; Ja’Quez Cross, RB, Ark State; RJ Harvey, RB, UCF; Mario Anderson, RB, Memphis; DT Sheffield, WR, UNT;
Defensive Player of the Week: Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, EDGEs, Georgia
Texas allowed just six sacks through the first six games of the season — Georgia left Austin with seven in Week 8.
EDGEs Jalon Walker (three — in the first half!) and Mykel Williams (two — his first game back from an ankle injury) combined for five of the seven, with Walker also recovering a fumble in the first half and Williams forcing another in the second.
It was truly a dominant performance by the Bulldogs’ entire defensive front, but Walker and Williams were especially dominant against one of the top OT duos in the nation.
Honorable mentions: Brendan Jackson, LB, Troy; Garland Benyard, LB, Kennesaw; Kale Edwards, DL, NMSU; Lantz Russell, S, UTEP; J.J. Roberts, DB, Marshall; Cameron Martinez, DB, BC; Jalen McLeod, DT, Auburn; Raion Strader, DB, Miami-OH; Jaden Williams, DB, FAU; Matt Jones, LB, Baylor; Whit Weeks, LB, LSU; Jaden Jones, DL, Ark State; Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE, VA Tech; Dashaun Peele, DB, Navy; Nick Emmanwori, S, South Car; Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas; Daylen Everette, DB, Georgia; Antonio Doyle Jr., DL, UNLV.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Jonathan Kim, K, Michigan State
The Michigan State Spartans scored 32 points to upset the Iowa Hawkeyes in Week 8 — kicker Jonathan Kim accounted for 20 of them.
On top of making both of his PATs, Kim set the Spartans’ single-game record for made field goals with six: 29 yards, 36, 42, 43, 46, and 55. His lone miss came on a 55-yarder just before halftime — it was also his first miss of the entire season.
Honorable mentions: Jacob Ulrich, P, Kennesaw; Emile Sebafundi, P, Coastal; Oscar Chapman, P, Auburn; James Burnip, P, Alabama; Mitchell Tomasek, P, EMU; Alec Bevelhimer, P, Miami-OH; Riley Riethman, P, Navy; Buzz Flabiano, K, UTEP; Jesus Gomez, K, EMU; Josh Smith, P, Kent State; Palmer Williams, P, Baylor; Andrew Stokes, P, USF; Jonah Delange, K, UAB; Ryan Hanson, P, JMU; Barion Brown, KR, Kentucky; Samuel Singleton Jr., KR, FSU; Omari Kelly, PR, MTSU; Caullin Lacy, KR, Louisville.
Freshman Player of the Week: Jadan Baugh, RB, Florida
With senior Montrell Johnson out with an injury, the Florida Gators turned to freshman Jadan Baugh to carry the load — and boy, did he.
Not only did Baugh rumble for 106 yards on one of the SEC’s premier defenses (the Kentucky Wildcats entered the week 10th in rushing yards allowed per game at 89.3), but he tied the Gators’ school record — held by Tim Tebow and Trey Burton — with five rushing TDs.
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The freshman single-handedly (leg-edly?) powered Florida to a 48-20 victory, its first in the annual series against Kentucky since 2020.
Honorable mentions: TJ Pride, WR, NMSU; Jacob Jordon, WR, Oklahoma; Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina; Colton Hood, CB, Colorado; Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama; Jack Lutrell, CB, Arizona; Bryson Washington, RB, Baylor; Caden Durham, RB, LSU; CJ Bailey, QB, NC State; Nick Marsh, WR, Michigan State.
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