College Football Gameday Guide: A Storied Showdown, SEC Battles, A ‘Hot’ Spotlight Item, & A ‘Killer’ Tradition Highlight Week 8 at Cosm

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Your complete guide to Week 8 of the College Football season at Cosm, from detailing dramatic games to a storied showdown in Ann Arbor - plus a spicy sandwich and a 'Killer' tradition.

This is the Cosm College Football Gameday Guide. Each week, we're bringing together everything gameday at Cosm. You'll find previews of the weekend's matchups, a food spotlight to keep you fueled up while you cheer on your favorite teams at Cosm, and a deep dive into one of the many College Football traditions that remind us what makes this sport unique. For even more info on upcoming games, including presale access to the biggest College Football games at Cosm, sign up here.

College Football Season at Cosm continues with another pair of close games and all the drama in The Dome.

Saturday started with Ohio State out for revenge, and revenge is what they got. After a nullified go-ahead touchdown, the Buckeyes held on to defeat Indiana 19-15 and deliver the Hoosiers their first home loss in three seasons.

Snapping a 22-game winning streak is no easy feat, and the Buckeyes paid the price losing quarterback Julian Sayin early in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes QB ended the game on the sidelines with his arm in a sling, and he will be out for several weeks.

The late-game drama didn't end there. It continued in Provo for Saturday night's clash between Notre Dame and BYU. The Fighting Irish left Utah feeling robbed of one final chance to win. But after Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw an incomplete pass in the end zone with time running out, Big 12 officials ruled the game had ended.

Replays suggested otherwise, showing the ball hit the ground with one second remaining. Instead of giving Notre Dame another play, BYU claimed the 28-24 victory, with the Big 12 admitting their error after it was too late.

In Week 8, Cosm looks to host another Big Ten battle. Only this time, we're transporting fans to "The Big House" in Ann Arbor.

This Week In College Football at Cosm

#6 Indiana (6-1) vs. Michigan (4-2) at Cosm Los Angeles & Cosm Detroit

Last Meeting: Michigan 15-20 Indiana (2024)

Last week, No. 6 Indiana experienced a disappointing loss that brought their 22-game winning streak to a screeching halt. Heading into this week, they'll be looking to bounce back against unranked Michigan in Ann Arbor.

To make matters worse, the Hoosiers haven't won a game in "The Big House" in nearly 60 years. Indiana has its opportunity to rewrite the narrative on Saturday.

After all, the Hoosiers' solid defensive line has done the team justice so far, limiting points and essentially anchoring their previous winning streak. That defense will be a tough test for the Wolverines and their offensive line, which has struggled to play consistently.

But coming off a 21-18 win against Penn State, the Wolverines' confidence, combined with home-field advantage, could be what sends Indiana on its first two-game losing streak in the Curt Cignetti era.

Texas A&M (4-3) vs. #13 Alabama (5-2) at Cosm Atlanta and Cosm Dallas

Last Meeting: Alabama 26-20 Texas A&M (2023)

For two teams that had big ambitions coming into this season, it's time to right the ship.

Texas A&M shut out Citadel 41-0, but it won't distract from a disappointing start to the season, with three losses thus far. With their season on the brink, the Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa to take on an Alabama team reeling from two straight losses.

Saturday's contest may come down to which version of each team shows up at kickoff. Will we see the A&M team that made quick work of lesser competition or the one that crumbled against ranked opponents LSU and Missouri?

For the Crimson Tide, a close defeat to Georgia is nothing to be ashamed of, but following it up with a loss to Tennessee has their College Football Playoff aspirations slipping away. Alabama's offense has sputtered lately. Head coach Kalen DeBoer is putting his hopes on quarterback Keelon Russell to find his early-season form and lead the Tide to victory once again.

Either way, this is a season-defining moment for both these SEC foes.

#7 Ole Miss (5-1) vs. #19 Texas (4-2)

Ole Miss vs Texas at Cosm

Last Meeting: Texas 23 - 44 Ole Miss (2013)

What a difference two weeks makes. Texas was undefeated and atop the AP College Football rankings, and now they're staring down a potential third straight loss.

Not the best time to face an Ole Miss team that has already knocked off two ranked teams this season: LSU and Missouri.

Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is having another stellar season. Meanwhile, Texas quarterback Arch Manning has faltered in the back-to-back losses.

The Longhorns' season hangs in the balance here. Lose and they're most likely out of the College Football Playoff conversation. Win and they have a schedule that could easily catapult them into the Top 10. While for Ole Miss, another victory against a ranked opponent, and on the road, would set them up nicely for a huge matchup against Georgia in two week with the top spot in the conference on the line.

Tailgate Spotlight

Motor City Hot Chicken (Cosm Detroit)

College Football gamedays at Cosm aren't complete without a savory sandwich to spice up the weekend.

Our Motor City Hot Chicken is buttermilk-brined fried chicken seasoned with Cosm hot spice, topped with creamy slaw on a frita bun, and served with a side of pickles and fries.

Available at Cosm Detroit, this Motor City staple sandwich is built for Saturdays in Michigan.

Learn A New Tradition

Mr. Brightside at The Big House

It's gameday at the University of Michigan.

At every home game in Ann Arbor, fans flood Michigan Stadium to watch their Wolverines take on the week's opponent. Fight songs are expected, and from kickoff to halftime, the energy in the stadium is palpable.

But there's nothing quite like a catchy 2000s hit song to get the 'Big House' rocking, and that's "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers.

Granted, it is a song about jealousy and paranoia that has absolutely nothing to do with football. But instead of fighting it, Michigan embraced it.

Kurt Wisenbaugh, former director of game presentation for the Michigan athletic department, introduced the song in 2016 to give the fans something to sing along to. It wasn't meant to be any different from "Don't Stop Believin'" or "Sweet Caroline," songs that typically brought the house down.

Except it is different.

When the song plays, the crowd's energy shifts. Everything goes dim before fans light up the stadium with their phone flashlights. Over 100,000 fans in the largest stadium in the United States prepare to belt the chorus at the top of their lungs.

That's enough to make this relatively new tradition an instant classic. Now, fans eagerly wait to hear the iconic guitar riff introduce the song, which typically doesn't arrive until the end of the third quarter.

But it's just the price you pay when you're at the 'Big House' for gameday.