Week 8 CFB Key Injuries

Cincinnati @ SMU

Cincinnati Injuries

• QUESTIONABLE
  • Starting QB Ben Bryant(Undisclosed)
    • Bryant got dinged up in Cincinnati’s last game vs South Florida and gave way to Evan Prater late in the 4th Quarter. While Cincy is coming off a BYE, Bryant is not 100% entering this week.
  • WR1 Tyler Scott(Ankle)
    • Leading receiver Tyler Scott did not play in Cincy’s last game vs USF and is questionable once again for SMU.
  • RB2 Corey Kiner(Hand)
    • Cincinnati’s 2nd leading rusher did not play in their last game vs UCF after rushing for over 100 yards at Tulsa the week before. While RB1 Charles McClelland has been the more effective back this year, this is still noteworthy.

Memphis @ East Carolina

Memphis Injuries

• Memphis played a 5OT game this past Saturday at East Carolina and now travel to Tulane for their 2nd straight road game with 3 starters QUESTIONABLE
  • Starting S Quindell Johnson
    • Arguably the best player on the defense that has been tabbed as a potential Day 2 pick
  • Starting LT Austin Myers
  • Starting LG Jonah Gambill

Duke @ Miami

Miami Injuries

• Miami returns home off a win at Virginia Tech with 2 offensive starters QUESTIONABLE
  • RB1 Henry Parrish Jr.
    • Parrish is still Miami’s leading rusher despite missing last week’s game. The ‘Canes RB’s rushed for just 74 yards against the Hokies last week, so Parrish’s status will remain crucial
  • Starting RG Justice Oluwaseun

Pittsburgh @ Louisville

Pitt Injuries

• WR2 Konata Mumpfield QUEST
  • The Panthers’ 2nd leading receiver remains questionable this week after missing Pitt’s last game against Virginia Tech

Louisville Injuries

• The Cardinals are coming off a BYE, but their 2 most important offensive pieces remain QUESTIONABLE this week
  • Starting QB Malik Cunningham(Concussion)
    • Cunningham was last seen on October 1st in Louisville’s shocking loss at Boston College. While Louisville made due to Brock Domann in their win over Virginia the following week, Cunningham’s dual-threat nature and 5 years of experience makes him the centerpiece of Louisville’s offense.
  • RB1 Tiyon Evans
    • Evans also missed the Virginia game and remains questionable entering this week. His backup, Jawhar Jordan, has run for just 3.8 YPC this season in comparison to Evans’ 5 YPC.

Texas @ Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State Injuries

• Starting QB Spencer Sanders played through injury last week in the Pokes’ 2OT loss to TCU. Mike Gundy refused to talk about injuries in yesterday’s press conference, but it is suspect to see Texas shoot up to a 6-point road favorite; many are speculating about Sanders’ status entering this game.
  • Sanders is a 4-year starter, and Oklahoma’s next option at QB(Mike Gundy’s son) has just 20 career attempts.

Kansas @ Baylor

Kansas Injuries

• The Jayhawks are expected to be WITHOUT 2 offensive starters once again entering their 2nd straight road game
  • QB1 Jalon Daniels
    • Daniels injured his shoulder early in October 8th’s TCU game. While he is expected to return earlier than originally expected, it is much more realistic we see Daniels back in early November. Jason Bean has done an admiral job in Daniels’ absence, but he clearly downgrades this Jayhawks offense.
  • RB2 Daniel Hishaw Jr
    • While he was playing second-fiddle Devin Neal even when healthy, the Jayhawks have yet to look the same since losing Hishaw Jr(5.9 YPC) in October 1st’s game vs Iowa State. He remains OUT indefinitely.

Baylor Injuries

• QB1 Blake Shapen
  • Shapen left last Thursday’s game at West Virginia with an apparent concussion and didn’t return. HC Dave Aranda said he would provide an update later in the week. Backup QB Kyron Drones through a critical INT late against WVU, and Shapen’s absence was a big attributor to Baylor losing that game.

West Virginia @ Texas Tech

West Virginia Injuries

• RB1 CJ Donaldson OUT
  • Donaldson left October 1st’s game with a head/neck injury and needed to be carted off the field in what was a scary scene. While Donaldson could return later in the season, it is unlikely we see him return this soon.
  • Despite being a true freshman, Donaldson immediately established himself as WVU’s best back, running for 6.9 YPC in 5 games this year. West Virginia did run the ball effectively in last week’s win over Baylor, but neither Tony Mathis nor Justin Johnson provide anywhere near the level of explosiveness that Donaldson does.

Texas Tech Injuries

• WR1 Myles Price QUEST(ankle)
  • Price missed October 8th’s Oklahoma State game with an ankle injury, but coming off a BYE Week, many are hopeful Price returns to action this week. Price leads the Red Raiders in receptions and is an integral part of Tech’s game plan to strike in the quick passing game.
• QB Donovan Smith QUEST(shoulder)
  • Tech’s primary starter attempted only 1 pass in their last game at Oklahoma State before giving way to Behren Morton. It is uncertain how Joey Maguire plans to approach his QB controversy this week with Tyler Shough still on the shelf and Morton tweaking his ankle in the 2nd Half of that OK State game

Iowa @ Ohio State

Ohio State Injuries

• WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba PROB(Hamstring)
  • “JSN” is expected to return for Ohio State after missing the Buckeyes’ last 3 games. While OSU hasn’t missed a beat in his absence, he very well may be the best WR in College Football and will provide an instant boost to Ohio State’s offense.
• RB1 and RB2 QUESTIONABLE
  • Both Treveyon Henderson and Miyan Williams come into this game less than 100%. Henderson missed October 1st’s game vs Rutgers but returned the next week for the Michigan State game; Miyan Williams missed the Buckeyes’ last game vs Michigan State. The Buckeyes really need just one of these guys available.

Northwestern @ Maryland

Northwestern Injuries

• QB1 Ryan Hilinski QUESTIONABLE(concussion)
  • Hilinski left Northwestern’s October 8th game against Wisconsin with a suspected concussion. A BYE Week helps his case to return for this one, though there didn’t seem to be a huge dropoff with Brendan Sullivan leading the way.

Maryland Injuries

• QB1 Taulia Tagovailoa QUESTIONABLE(knee)
  • Taulia had to leave last week’s game with a late knee injury, and Mike Locksley announced today he would be a game-time decision this Saturday. He left the Michigan game but was a “go” the very next week, although a knee injury presents a different set of challenges. Backup QB Billy Edwards Jr has received quality experience with Taulia leaving multiple games early.

Purdue @ Wisconsin

Purdue Injuries

• Starting S Chris Jefferson QUESTIONABLE
  • Purdue has been without Jefferson each of their past 3 games, but there is speculation he could return this week.
• WR1 Charlie Jones PROBABLE
  • Jeff Brohm revealed star WR Charlie Jones has been playing through injury in recent weeks

Wisconsin Injuries

• Starting Nickel Cedrick Dort Jr(Head)
• RB2 Chez Mellusi OUT(Wrist)
  • Braelon Allen is clearly “the guy” in Madison, but Mellusi’s injury hurts the depth at the RB position considerably.
• Starting CB Alexander Smith OUT(Hamstring)
• Starting RT Riley Mahlman OUT

Minnesota @ Penn State

Minnesota Injuries

• QB1 Tanner Morgan QUESTIONABLE(head)
  • Morgan left last week’s game at Illinois with an “upper-body injury” after a hard hit. PJ Fleck seems optimistic about Morgan’s status, but he should be treated as a true “game time decision”. Morgan is a 5th year player with an array of experience, while backup QB Athan Kaliakmanis has attempted just 11 career passes and threw 2 INT’s in relief last week

BYU @ Liberty

BYU Injuries

• Starting WR Gunner Romney QUEST
  • Romney started the season on the shelf before returning a few weeks ago; however, he didn’t play in last week’s game against Arkansas. While the Cougars do have a lot of depth at the WR position, getting Romney back would be a huge plus.

Liberty Injuries

• QB1 Kaidon Salter OUT(ankle)
  • Salter injured his ankle on October 1st after a strong start to the season. The Flames put up just 21 points vs Gardner-Webb last week and have clearly regressed since Salter went down.

Arizona State @ Stanford

Arizona State Injuries

• QB Emory Jones QUEST(concussion)
  • Jones left October 8th’s game vs Washington with an apparent concussion, but a BYE Week has people hopeful Jones will be available this week. However, with Trenton Bourguet stepping in and leading the Sun Devils to an upset win over the Huskies, it’s not a guarantee Jones immediately slots back in as QB1

Colorado @ Oregon State

Colorado Injuries

• RB1 Deion Smith QUEST
  • The Buffs’ leading rusher was carted off the field this past week in Colorado’s upset win over Cal. The injury doesn’t appear as serious as originally expected, but does Smith really suit up a week after being carted off the field in a major spectacle?

Oregon State Injuries

• QB Chance Nolan OUT(neck)
  • Nolan has been out of the lineup since his early injury on October 1st at Utah, and Johnathan Smith once again ruled him out this week. However, there has really been no dropoff with Ben Gulbranson stepping up in relief.

Ole Miss @ LSU

LSU Injuries

• Starting OL Garrett Dellinger DOUBTFUL
  • Dellinger was injured on October 8th vs Tennessee, and Brian Kelly projected he’d miss LSU’s next 2 games. LSU’s offensive line has been a source of major concern this year, but even in Dellinger’s absence, they showed major progress in last week’s win at Florida.
• 2 Key starters in the secondary remain OUT
  • Sevyn Banks
  • Major Burns