HOUSTON – Conference races are beginning to take shape across college football, and several coaches on the Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Watch List find themselves squarely in the national spotlight entering this weekend.
Here’s what we’re watching this weekend:
No. 14/16 Houston (6-1, 3-1 Big 12) at No. 10/9 Utah (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) [ESPN]
One of the weekend’s most intriguing watch list matchups comes in Salt Lake City, where two undefeated Big 12 contenders collide under the lights. With conference championship implications at stake, either Morgan Scalley or Willie Fritz will add a significant résumé-building victory Saturday night. Houston is 5-0 all-time against Utah, and with both teams looking to strengthen their case for a playoff berth, the key matchup to watch will be the play of Houston’s stellar quarterback, Conner Weigman, against the tough Utah defense.
No. 8/5 Texas Tech (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) at Cincinnati (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) [FS1]
Joey McGuire’s Red Raiders continue one of the nation’s most solid starts, entering the weekend undefeated at 6-0. The Red Raiders travel to Cincinnati looking to preserve their place atop the Big 12 race and continue building a playoff-caliber résumé. With a win, Texas Tech would notch its fifth 7-0 start in program history and the first since 2013.
Michigan State (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) at No. 9/10 UCLA (6-0, 4-0 Big Ten) [CBS]
In his first season in Westwood, Bob Chesney has UCLA among the nation’s unbeaten teams. The Bruins play host to a Michigan State team looking for its first Big Ten victory after a 24-21 setback against Northwestern. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out for the season with a knee injury, so Chesney turned to Ty Dieffenbach against Wisconsin. It is UCLA’s defense, however, that has led the way for the Bruins this year – UCLA’s 16.2 points per game allowed ranks 11th nationally. Michigan State will have to disrupt UCLA’s offense while outperforming the field against the Bruins’ stingy defense to pick up its first Big Ten win.
Pittsburgh (5-2, 2-2 ACC) at No. 1/1 Miami (6-0, 4-0 ACC) [ESPN/Disney+]
After seeing consensus No. 1 teams fall to unranked teams in both of the last two weeks, coach Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes find themselves in an unenviable position this weekend – sitting atop both national polls and facing an unranked opponent. After a 5-0 start, the Panthers have dropped their last two contests since losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel, and face a fearsome pass rush this weekend. The two teams will likely be battling through the air for supremacy as Miami and Pittsburgh boast the nation’s two best rush defenses.
No. 2/3 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) at UCF (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) [FOX]
Kalani Sitake‘s Cougars rose to No. 2 in the AP Poll and No. 3 in the Coaches Poll following their victory over Notre Dame. BYU remains undefeated at 6-0 and heads to Orlando seeking another step toward a potential conference championship and playoff berth. The Cougars are the only team in the nation to start the past three seasons with a perfect 6-0 record, and of the remaining undefeated P4 teams – BYU has the best strength of schedule. While UCF has struggled to catch its footing on offense, BYU has boasted one of the nation’s best defenses, holding P4 teams to just 15 points per game.
No. 6/6 Indiana (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) at Michigan (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) [FOX]
Despite suffering its first loss of the season last weekend, Indiana remains firmly in the national conversation. Curt Cignetti‘s Hoosiers travel to Ann Arbor ranked sixth in both polls and looking to rebound against a Michigan squad that recently knocked off Penn State. The Hoosiers have had not to respond after many losses during Cignetti’s tenure, and Saturday’s matchup has the makings of a trap game. With Michigan’s offense struggling to find an identity, the Wolverines turned to freshman Tommy Carr under center. Carr sparked the Michigan offense to 21 second-half points and a win over Penn State. While Carr hasn’t officially been named the starter for Saturday’s game, the Hoosiers’ defense will have to prepare for decidedly different looks depending on who takes the snaps for the Wolverines.
No. 11/11 Tennessee (6-1, 3-1 SEC) at South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) [ESPN/Disney+]
Fresh off a victory over Alabama, Josh Heupel‘s Volunteers continue SEC play with a road trip to Columbia. Tennessee stands 6-1 with every remaining SEC contest carrying playoff implications. The Gamecocks are coming off a bye and have already upset one ranked team earlier this season, and two of South Carolina’s three SEC losses were by one possession. While Tennessee’s defense has been dominant, South Carolina brings the SEC’s top rushing offense to a game where the unranked Gamecocks are favored to win.
Texas A&M (4-3, 1-3 SEC) at No. 13/13 Alabama (5-2, 3-2 SEC) [ABC]
Kalen DeBoer‘s Crimson Tide are attempting to regroup after last week’s loss to Tennessee. A victory over Texas A&M would provide a critical boost in a crowded SEC race. A loss would be the Crimson Tide’s third straight – a mark that the Crimson Tide have not seen since 2007, the end of Nick Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa. Alabama’s offense will look to bounce back after a difficult game at Tennessee against a Texas A&M defense that is among the best in the SEC.
California (3-4. 2-2 ACC) at No. 23/20 SMU (5-1, 3-1 ACC) [CW]
Rhett Lashlee continues to establish SMU as an ACC contender. A win over California in would keep SMU firmly positioned near the top of the conference standings. The Mustangs likely have last year’s 38-35 loss at Cal firmly in their mind and will look to avoid another letdown this weekend. The SMU defense will pose a challenge for a Cal offense that is still searching for an identity – the Mustangs have allowed only one quarterback this season to throw for over 200 yards.
Rutgers (2-4, 1-2 Big Ten) at Northwestern (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) [Peacock]
David Braun has Northwestern back in the national rankings after a 5-1 start. The Wildcats host Rutgers at Ryan Field seeking to strengthen their standing in the Big Ten while maintaining their place inside both Top 25 polls. The Wildcats have flown largely under the radar in the Big Ten thus far this year, but a win over Rutgers Saturday will move the Wildcats to 3-1 in conference play entering a tough stretch of games against Oregon, Iowa, Ohio State, and Minnesota – with only the game against Iowa at home.
Air Force (5-1, 3-1 Mountain West) at Wyoming (4-3, 3-1 Mountain West) [CW]
Air Force continues to receive votes in the national polls and remains firmly in the Mountain West race. Troy Calhoun‘s Falcons head to Laramie looking to improve on a 5-1 start and move one step closer toward conference championship contention. The Falcons have had their share of struggles in Laramie, having lost five straight games at War Memorial Stadium. The last Air Force win at Wyoming came back during the 2012 season, but both teams are playing well. In what might be one of the most delicious bits of irony in all of sports, Air Force’s bread and butter is its ground game – the Falcons rank second nationally in rushing offense, and to make things worse for their opponents, Air Force has not fumbled this season through 431 offensive plays.
No. 21/22 Boise State (5-1, 2-0 Pac 12) at Washington State (1-6, 0-3 Pac 12) [USA]
Spencer Danielson’s Broncos remain one of the highest-ranked Group of Six contenders and continues to position itself for postseason consideration. A win for the Broncos would be the first road victory over Washington State in program history. Boise State is coming off a bye but brings a five-game win streak into this weekend’s matchup, will find its secondary tested by Washington State’s new quarterback, Branden Ganashamoorthy.
No. 7/7 Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) at No. 19/18 Texas (4-2, 1-2 SEC) [ABC]
One of the weekend’s marquee matchups takes place in Austin, where Pete Golding‘s Rebels look to strengthen their College Football Playoff résumé against a Texas squad looking to rebound from consecutive conference losses. Ole Miss brings one of the SEC’s most explosive offenses into Austin, while Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns face mounting pressure as the race for postseason positioning enters the second half of the season. Texas has had a Jekyll and Hyde season offensively – while the Longhorns have averaged 30 points per game this year, Texas has not scored more than 24 against a power opponent. Without Colin Simmons, the Longhorns’ already steep challenge of containing Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss becomes even steeper.
Vanderbilt (3-4, 0-4 SEC) at No. 12/12 Kentucky (6-1, 4-1 SEC) [SEC Network]
A year ago, few would have predicted Kentucky entering late October as a legitimate SEC contender, but first-year head coach Will Stein has the Wildcats firmly in the league title conversation. Kentucky returns home after grinding out a road win over Oklahoma and now faces a Vanderbilt team desperate to keep its bowl hopes alive. The Wildcats have won six of their last seven contests and have been particularly effective on defense, allowing just 19.4 points per game. Vanderbilt’s offense has shown flashes, but Kentucky’s ability to control the line of scrimmage could be the deciding factor.
No. 15/14 Iowa (5-1, 3-1 Big Ten) at Minnesota (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) [BTN]
The annual battle for Floyd of Rosedale carries additional significance this season as Kirk Ferentz‘s Hawkeyes enter the weekend ranked and firmly in the Big Ten race. Iowa brings one of the conference’s best defenses into Minneapolis and faces a Minnesota team that has already proven capable of making life difficult for ranked opponents. The Hawkeyes have won four straight and continue to rely on disciplined defensive play and a methodical offensive approach as they position themselves for a strong finish.
Colorado (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) at Oklahoma State (4-2, 2-1 Big 12) [FS1]
The first year in Stillwater for new Cowboys’ head coach Eric Morris has gone exceptionally well thus far, and Oklahoma State has an opportunity to solidify its position in the Big 12 race against a Colorado team that has lost eight consecutive conference games. Oklahoma State has consistently put points on the board this season, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker generating Heisman Trophy buzz after leading an offense averaging over 500 yards per game.
North Dakota State (6-1, 3-1 Mountain West) at New Mexico (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) [The CW]
One of the most intriguing Group of Six matchups of the weekend takes place in Albuquerque, where Jason Eck‘s surprising Lobos host Tim Polasek‘s first-year FBS Bison squad. It’s a matchup of the nation’s top two scoring defenses that could well determine a potential playoff berth. A win by New Mexico puts the Lobos in a strong position – a win by the Bison makes the race to the Mountain West title anyone’s to win. One critical question – at least to this quthor – will be the impact on ticket sales of new UNM staffer Jeff Tickets, who looks mighty familiar.
James Madison (7-0, 4-0 Sun Belt) at Appalachian State (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) [ESPN2]
Few teams have been more consistent than undefeated James Madison. Billy Napier‘s Dukes put their perfect record on the line Thursday night against an Appalachian State squad that remains one of the Sun Belt’s toughest opponents. James Madison has won every game this season by double digits and enters the weekend as one of only a handful of unbeaten teams remaining in FBS. A victory in Boone would further strengthen the Dukes’ standing among the nation’s top Group of Six programs.
No. 16/15 USC (6-1, 4-1 Big Ten) at Wisconsin (4-2, 2-2 Big Ten) [NBC]
The Trojans hit the road for one of the Big Ten’s more challenging environments as Lincoln Riley takes USC to Madison. The Trojans have won six of their first seven games and remain firmly positioned in the conference championship race, but Wisconsin has historically been difficult to beat at Camp Randall Stadium. USC’s offense will be tested by a physical Badger defense that specializes in limiting explosive plays, making efficiency and ball security crucial for the Trojans.
OTHER THINGS WE’RE WATCHING…
- DAKOTADOME CLASH – No. 6/8 North Dakota heads to Vermillion for a matchup with No. 8/6 South Dakota on Saturday, in a top-10 FCS clash that will air on ESPN+.
- FROM THE MITTEN – Top-ranked Ferris State has established itself as a bona fide dynasty in Division II and has not missed a step since Trinidad Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss – the Bulldogs will play host to No. 12 Michigan Tech in a GLIAC matchup this weekend at Top Taggart Field.
- YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND – A pair of nationally-ranked NAIA teams will do battle in the Sunflower State on Saturday, as Southwestern travels to Wichita to face Friends. To quote the late, great Gorilla Monsoon – this matchup is an example of the irresistible force meeting the immovable object, as Friends’ 63.4 points and 444.1 rushing yards both lead the NAIA; while Southwestern allows just 68.9 rushing yards per game.
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