Some weeks you might come to this list and find some underrated gems, diamonds in the rough on the college football schedule. This is not one of those weeks. This is a week for clashes of titans, marquee matchups that can’t be missed and whose outcomes will send vibrations through the entire sport.
For just the second time in the history of college football, per ESPN’s Chris Fallica, we’ll have three different matchups this weekend between undefeated teams with at least five wins.
We’re at the midpoint of the season, the point when the history of the 2022 season is beginning to be written in ink rather than pencil. We’re at the point of no return. Let’s dig in.
5
No. 20 Utah vs. No. 7 USC (8 p.m. ET on FOX)
Favorite: Utah (-3.5)
OK so last week did not go well for Utah. That’s probably putting it kindly. Utah put up a shocking, uncharacteristically bad defensive performance against UCLA, and it’s in desperate need of a rebound.
Enter the undefeated USC Trojans. I’m not sure if this is the best time to catch Utah or the worst time to catch it. There’s a lot of angry men on that Utah defense, and they’re all going to be trying to take it out on the media darlings of the West Coast this weekend.
4
No. 18 Syracuse vs. No. 15 N.C. State (3:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network)
Favorite: Syracuse (-3.5)
Not many people had this slated as a ranked-vs-ranked matchup when the season began but both teams have outperformed expectations. While Syracuse remains undefeated, N.C. State is the far more battle-tested of the two teams. Should be one of the best home atmospheres Syracuse has had in a long time.
3
No. 13 TCU vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m. ET on ABC)
Favorite: TCU (-4)
Two undefeated teams squaring off in a potential preview of the Big 12 championship game. Oklahoma State’s offense has been nothing short of spectacular all season, and TCU is coming off a huge emotional win on the road over Kansas. This one may get overshadowed during a busy afternoon time slot but make no mistake, it’s a massively consequential game in the College Football Playoff picture.
2
No. 5 Michigan vs. No. 10 Penn State (Noon ET on FOX)
Favorite: Michigan (-7)
While Ohio State continues to soak up all the national attention, Michigan and Penn State have gone about their business compiling their own undefeated records, both of which include impressive road wins. For at least this weekend, the spotlight in the Big Ten East is off the Buckeyes as these two teams fight it out to become a legitimate playoff contender.
1
Tennessee vs. Alabama (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS)
Favorite: Alabama (-7.5)
This is about as dramatic a situation as Alabama has faced during the regular season under Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide hung on for dear life against Texas A&M last week without Bryce Young, who sounds likely to return this weekend after sustaining a shoulder sprain against Arkansas. Waiting for Young and the Tide will be the most hostile of crowds: a Tennessee fanbase that has suffered through a 15-year losing streak in this rivalry and can finally smell victory.
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