It’s an odd thing, having a top-four matchup feel like it should be an undercard, but such is the nature of college football right now, with Ohio State down a loss, Clemson at some rest stop miles from the action with smoke shooting out of every part of the engine, the Pac-12 doing Pac-12 things, and Alabama and Georgia licking the meat off of every last bone before sucking out the marrow. The main attraction this weekend is, of course, Penn State/Iowa, but then again…is it? Oklahoma plays Texas, after all. Arkansas vs. Mississippi might have a competitive claim against Iowa City-centric weekend previews.
By the end of the year, correct, this might not seem like the world’s biggest game. But for this weekend, Penn State/Iowa’s important. Let’s talk about it, the other big one, what contenders and factors are up to, and thirteen more pieces of college football fun:
The Big Ones
Penn State @ Iowa – 4:00 PM EDT; FOX
We’ve been talking about contenders (teams it’s reasonable to think will make the College Football Playoff) and we’ve been talking about factors (teams it’s reasonable to think could make the College Football Playoff). Penn State and Iowa fall into the latter bucket. The path is there, but it’s a treacherous path, and for each, it goes through the other tomorrow.
There’s an element here where the stakes may be overblown: Iowa can still win the Big Ten West with this loss. Penn State can still win the Big Ten East with this loss. For each, though, the needle to be threaded would become quite small should they drop to 5-1, as it would effectively eliminate the path where either could lose to Ohio State, win the rest of their games, and still have a punching chance of making the field.
So, yes, there are stakes here. There are major stakes. But part of that may just be timing.
Oklahoma vs. Texas – 12:00 PM EDT; ABC
The Cotton Bowl, and the real one—not Jerry World. It’s the Red River Shootout, and it matters this year, as Texas tries to climb up into being a factor while Oklahoma tries to stay a contender. The Sooners haven’t looked great, but they haven’t lost, while the Longhorns have played good-looking football at times but only done so against suspect competition. Is Casey Thompson the difference? A mirage? Something in between? We’ll see. The winner takes control of the Big 12 race.
The Other Contenders and Factors
Among contenders, Alabama and Georgia are on the road as two-or-three score favorites, the former visiting Texas A&M (8:00 PM EDT on CBS), the latter playing Auburn on the Plains (3:30 PM EDT on CBS). Each could lose. Each probably won’t.
The other contender in action—Ohio State—hosts Maryland (12:00 PM EDT on FOX) as a three-touchdown favorite. Oregon, who still has a clear shot and may be the Pac-12 favorite, is idle.
Among factors, we’ll talk about Michigan and BYU in the next section, but Cincinnati hosts Temple tonight (7:00 PM EDT on ESPN) as a 30-point favorite.
Thirteen Fun Ones
Michigan @ Nebraska – 7:30 PM EDT; ABC
Michigan’s only favored by a field goal here, with Nebraska just inches here and there from being a top-ten team right now.
Ok, yes, to be fair, it’s been a ton of instances of inches here and there, but at the same time…Nebraska’s played better than most 3-3 teams. They get Michigan, Ohio State, and Iowa all at home from here out. They might not make a bowl. They also might make a whole lot of noise.
Boise State @ BYU – 3:30 PM EDT; ABC
Another factor who’s a single-digit favorite: The Cougars meet their closest current match out west in an afternoon clash of legitimate import. It’s unclear if BYU has a Playoff path, but if they do, it likely relies upon a convincing win here.
Arkansas @ Mississippi – 12:00 PM EDT; ESPN
Penn State/Iowa, but with a loss each.
Arkansas lost to Georgia. Mississippi lost to Alabama. Hard to fault them for that. SEC West deputy status awaits the winner.
Michigan State @ Rutgers – 12:00 PM EDT; BTN
LSU @ Kentucky – 7:30 PM EDT; SECN
Wake Forest @ Syracuse – 3:30 PM EDT; ESPN2
Undefeated teams we aren’t taking seriously all try to be taken a little more seriously. If they win? Mmm, maybe a little. I don’t know. Probably not, actually.
Stanford @ Arizona State – Tonight (Friday), 10:30 PM EDT; ESPN
I mentioned this in today’s bets, but Arizona State might be the real Pac-12 favorite. They’re one we should maybe be listing as a factor right now, and perhaps even a contender? That might be too far.
Notre Dame @ Virginia Tech – 7:30 PM EDT; ACCN
Enter Sandman at night, the Coastal’s wide open, Virginia Tech’s capable of winning it, which could make this important looking back.
For Notre Dame, it’s about bouncing back, and if they don’t, it could really hurt Cincinnati down the line.
Southern Illinois @ South Dakota State – 3:00 PM EDT; ESPN+
Northern Iowa @ North Dakota State – 2:00 PM EDT; ESPN+
North Dakota @ South Dakota – 3:00 PM EDT; ESPN+
A trio of MVFC games, where SIU’s only lost to Kansas State, Northern Iowa’s only lost to Iowa State, South Dakota and North Dakota are in the heat of the playoff chase, and SDSU and NDSU haven’t lost.
Villanova @ James Madison – 2:00 PM EDT
Top-of-the-CAA showdown in Harrisonburg.
Yale @ Dartmouth – 1:30 PM EDT
Yale tries to enter the Ivy League title chase.
Viewing Schedule
It’s straightforward during the day tomorrow: Red River Shootout, then Penn State/Iowa. For primetime? I’d say Michigan/Nebraska, but if Bama gets in some trouble or one of ND/VT-LSU/UK is coming down to the wire, have the remote on hand.
