Week 8 had everything imaginable in a slate of college football.

There were acrobatic catches, Heisman poses, left-handed completions, successful fake punts and, of course, trolling. Louisville coach Jeff Brohm strengthened his résumé as an underdog, Minnesota‘s conservative punt paid off and California‘s mascot delivered a blow to Bill Belichick and North Carolina.

With the busy schedule, we handed out several nontraditional superlatives for Week 8.

Scariest coach to face while in the AP top 5?: Jeff Brohm

Louisville entered Hard Rock Stadium unranked and with a seven-game losing streak against AP top-5 opponents as undefeated Miami awaited. The No. 2-seeded Hurricanes were double-digit favorites; however, history and the betting market didn’t account for Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm.

Brohm has found unlikely success as an underdog. Before Friday, he had secured three victories as an unranked opponent against an AP top-5 foe. He improved that mark to four after Louisville stunned Miami 24-21. Brohm is 4-4 when facing a top-5 team, with this marking his first such victory with the Cardinals.

Louisville’s schedule doesn’t currently include a similar matchup. But if it all lines up again, Brohm will be back in his element.

Best display of the Heisman pose: Diego Pavia

Vanderbilt defeated LSU at home in a statement win for the program — and Diego Pavia’s Heisman case. Pavia threw for 160 yards and a score, and he added two rushing touchdowns. He’s the second Vanderbilt quarterback over the past 20 seasons with multiple rushing touchdowns against an AP top-10 opponent.

The senior quarterback has 1,409 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions this season. It’s never too early for Pavia to make a push for the Heisman — he entered the game with 150-1 odds to win the award, per ESPN BET — and he made the most of it Saturday.

After scoring a rushing touchdown in the third quarter, Pavia struck the pose.

Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia hit the Heisman and paid homage to Johnny Manziel 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ukQZ67VIDs

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 18, 2025

Best use of their nondominant hand: Dylan Raiola

Minnesota‘s defense stifled Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, sacking the sophomore nine times Friday, the Golden Gophers’ most in a game since 1977. Pressured throughout the game, Raiola had to think creatively to get the ball out at times.

He displayed perfect execution on second-and-6 early in the second quarter. While running a bootleg play-action pass, Golden Gophers linebacker Maverick Baranowski rushed Raiola as he began moving to his right. Raiola then stopped, avoided the sack, moved the ball to his nondominant left hand and delivered a strike to tight end Luke Lindenmeyer for 18 yards.

⬅️➡️⬆️⬇️pic.twitter.com/bEzp1MYwGz

— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) October 18, 2025

Least likely to go all-in during a card game: Minnesota

In an era of fourth-down aggressiveness, spearheaded by analytics, Minnesota went back to simpler times against Nebraska.

The Golden Gophers held a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter after forcing a three-and-out. They received the ball at their 38-yard line, gained nearly 10 yards then punted on fourth-and-inches from the 47. (Don’t tell Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell.)

The conservative play call proved to be correct. Minnesota upset Nebraska 24-6.

Every catch matters in a game, and it doesn’t matter how it’s completed. Just ask Tulane wide receiver Shazz Preston and Duke wide receiver Jake Taylor.

Tulane was on the brink of defeat until Jake Retzlaff fired a pass toward Preston. An Army defender deflected the ball, sending it to the end zone, where Preston juggled it then secured the go-ahead touchdown catch.

OFF THE BOBBLE FOR THE SCORE 😱 pic.twitter.com/jQ9IWroAf3

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 18, 2025

With the Blue Devils facing a third-and-3 late in the second half against No. 12 Georgia Tech, quarterback Darian Mensah fired a strike toward Taylor.

The ball bounced off Taylor’s hands and helmet in front of him, prompting the wide receiver to tip the ball in the air with his right hand toward the sideline. The ball flew over Georgia Tech defensive back Jon Mitchell as Taylor dove to make the 4-yard grab.

Tipped it to himself for the catch 😱 pic.twitter.com/eGjfQBZuHi

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 18, 2025

Fake punt of the week: Indiana State

When playing one of the best teams in the FCS, all tricks are on the board — including fake punts.

Indiana State hosted undefeated North Dakota State and made a statement early. Facing a fourth-and-2 deep in their territory, the Sycamores brought out the punting unit. But they didn’t plan to kick.

Punter Harry Traum ran the ball for 18 yards, shifting momentum toward Indiana State. The risk paid dividends as the Sycamores scored a touchdown to end the drive. North Dakota State won 38-7.

There goes that man!

Harry Traum tucks the punt and takes it 18 yards for the first down near midfield.#MarchOn | #LeaveNoDoubt pic.twitter.com/khChvA6Ibn

— Indiana State Football (@IndStFB) October 18, 2025

Safest job security in America: Cal’s mascot

North Carolina‘s opponents have found ways to troll the program and Bill Belichick this season. California took it to another level during its 21-18 win Friday, and utilized its mascot, Oski the bear.

The Tar Heels seemed headed toward a late lead as they set up in the red zone. Quarterback Gio Lopez found Nathan Leacock for 12 yards, but when Leacock went to cross the goal line for a score, Cal defensive back Brent Austin punched the ball out to gain possession.

The Golden Bears immediately trolled, posting a “statement” from Oski on the jumbotron that read: “I am fully committed to Cal athletics and the program we are building here. Why do you ask?” Below it was a statement from Cal executives that read: “Oski has our full support. No, really, we mean it. Why else would we make this statement?”

The mock quotes were a reference to an Oct. 8 story, in which Belichick put out a statement that he was “fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here.” UNC athletics director added that Belichick has the administration’s “full support.”

WNBA star Angel Reese opened up on her fear of the media and claimed she would rather just pay a fine than speak with reporters. 

The Chicago Sky player and arch-rival to Caitlin Clark spoke about her thoughts on interacting with media in the latest episode of her podcast “Unapologetically Angel,” this week. 

“Even before the game, I’m terrified of what the media is about to ask. Because it could be the nicest question, but it’s going to get flipped or put into a different light or a different perspective. It’s like, ‘Are you here intentionally to start mess, or are you intentionally here to ask a question?’ And it’s really tough for me in the media, like I don’t want to do an interview with anybody,” Reese said.

“Seriously, I’d rather take the fine sometimes than talking to the media because it always gets flipped. And I think that’s where media has gotten these days. You could literally post ‘the sky is blue’ and Angel said ‘it’s too dark.’ Stuff like that you know. So I think, it’s just, for me, the media is really scary.” 

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Reese has been the subject of intense media attention dating back to the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, when her LSU Tigers beat Clark’s Iowa Hawkeyes, and Reese taunted Clark by pointing to her ring finger at the end of the game. 

Reese has become, arguably, the most controversial figure in women’s basketball since then. Many of Reese’s own quotes and statements have often been at the center of controversies in the sport. 

Toward the 2025 WNBA season in September, Reese prompted backlash for comments made to a Chicago Tribune reporter, where the star called out her team for a last-place finish and 10-34 record. 

“I’m not settling for the same s— we did this year,” Reese told The Chicago Tribune. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me. I’m willing and wanting to play with the best. And however I can help to get the best here, that’s what I’m going to do this offseason. So it’s going to be very, very important this offseason to make sure we attract the best of the best because we can’t settle for what we have this year.”

“I am very vocal about what we need and what I want. I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me. But while I am here, I’m going to try to stay open-minded about what I have here and maximize that as much as I can.”

Reese later apologized for the comments, but claims the quotes were taken out of context. 

INSIDE CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE’S IMPACT ON MEN’S BASKETBALL

“I probably am frustrated [with] myself right now,” Reese said at a postgame news conference on Sept. 4. “I think the language is taken out of context. I really didn’t intentionally mean to put down my teammates, because they’ve been through this with me throughout the whole year. They’ve busted their ass, just like I’ve busted my ass. They’ve showed up for me through thick and thin, and in the locker room when nobody could see anything.

“So, I want to apologize to my teammates, which I already have about the article and how it was misconstrued about what was said. And I just have to be better with my language. Because I know it’s not the message, it’s the messenger. And understanding what I say can be taken any kind of way. So, I just have to really be better and grow from this.”

Reese was then suspended for the first half of a game later that week for “statements detrimental to the team.”

Back in May, Reese was at the center of a WNBA investigation into “hateful” comments made against her during the Sky’s season opener against Clark’s Connecticut Fever. 

Reese was asked if she was able to provide the WNBA with details about the incident. She did not offer specifics on whether she had done so, saying “that’s not a me question.” She also did not reveal what type of comments were made or any other specifics about what prompted the investigation.

However, moments earlier, in that same availability with reporters, Reese said she was receiving widespread support from across the league because of the alleged incident.

“Obviously, there’s no place in this league for that,” Reese said at that time. “I think the WNBA and our team and our organization has done a great job supporting me. … Going through this whole process, if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

Then after the investigation ended the following week, the league did not find sufficient evidence to validate the allegations. 

Reese has previously accused Clark’s fans of racism and even alleged they created AI-generated explicit images of the Sky star and sent them to her family members. 

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Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) dribbles against the Minnesota Lynx in the first quarter at Target Center.  (Brad Rempel-Imagn Images)

“I think it’s really just the fans, her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, that are really just, they ride for her, and I respect that, respectfully. But sometimes it’s very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it,” Reese said in the first episode of her podcast in early September. 

“Multiple occasions, people have made AI-images of me naked. They have sent it to my family members. My family members are like uncles, sending it to me like, ‘Are you naked on Instagram?’

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The trolls came out in Week 8 of the college football season, led by an SEC team that secured a huge victory.

No. 17 Vanderbilt defeated No. 10 LSU 31-24 on Saturday, marking its first season with multiple wins over AP top-15 opponents — the Commodores defeated No. 11 South Carolina in September.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia accounted for 246 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were on the ground. Pavia is the second Vanderbilt quarterback in the past 20 seasons with multiple rushing touchdowns against an AP top-10 opponent, according to ESPN Research.

The Commodores’ big win came with a simple troll aimed at the Tigers. They used the Cajun spelling of “go” in their postgame caption.

Geaux Dores ⚓️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/kTjhoT8AFW

— #17 Vanderbilt Football (@VandyFootball) October 18, 2025

Here are the top trolls from Week 8.

California 21, North Carolina 18

The Golden Bears notched a victory over the Tar Heels thanks to a late defensive play. At the California 13-yard line, North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez connected with Nathan Leacock for a catch and run that looked like it would result in a touchdown.

However, Cal defensive back Brent Austin punched the ball out and the Bears jumped on it to gain possession. Cal would hold on for its fifth victory of the season.

The Tar Heels’ mascot, Rameses, became the target of the Golden Bears’ troll, which concluded that this is “bear territory.”

Defended The Bay 🤝#SmartAndTough #GoBears pic.twitter.com/dai7wuoyPd

— Cal Football (@CalFootball) October 18, 2025

Georgia Tech 27, Duke 18

Georgia Tech‘s undefeated season continued after a victory over Duke to secure its first 7-0 start since 1966. Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King had 325 total yards plus a score on the ground. Blue Devils quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

Georgia Tech poked fun at Duke’s moniker, emphasizing the “hell” in “helluva win” that appeared in its caption with a devil emoji at the end.

HELLuva Win 😈#StingEm 🐝 pic.twitter.com/mowBLNs7t7

— Georgia Tech Football (@GeorgiaTechFB) October 18, 2025

UConn 38, Boston College 23

UConn is on a roll, having defeated Boston College to notch its fourth straight victory.

The Huskies’ offense put up 455 total yards, including an FBS career-high 362 from quarterback Joe Fagnano. UConn has won five of its first seven games in a season for the fourth time as an FBS program. Meanwhile, the Eagles are 0-6 vs. FBS teams this season — becoming the third ACC school in the past 15 seasons to lose each of its first six games against FBS opponents.

A husky was the main image of a graphic that implied it had eaten an eagle.

8

Business Handled. #HuskiesOverEveryone pic.twitter.com/87JGkUU6RE

— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) October 18, 2025