The air is getting colder, the calendar has turned to November and the final month of the college football regular season is finally upon us.
As we turn our attention to Week 10, there are quite a few intriguing games on the slate. But as devoted college football fans know, there are a lot of games on Saturdays and only so many screens to watch them.
That’s where we come in. Looking at the slate of games in Week 10, we’ve come up with the matchups you should be devoting the bulk of your attention to in each time slot.
Starting with a major Big Noon Saturday matchup, here are the games you can’t miss in Week 10. All time windows are listed in ET.
Noon Window
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Main Course: Penn State at Ohio State (FOX)
When the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes meet up, it’s almost always a high-profile matchup. This year’s game is no exception, and unlike past years, it’s actually Ohio State that enters this game facing some pressure.
The Buckeyes lost their first and only real test of the season to this point on the road against Oregon, and they narrowly avoided an upset last week against Nebraska. Penn State is undefeated to start the season, but this will be its toughest test yet and will be made even tougher given the status of quarterback Drew Allar, who is a game-time decision after suffering a leg injury last week but is expected to play.
The winner of this one will gain an inside track to the Big Ten title game, and an Ohio State loss would seriously jeopardize its playoff hopes in a season with high expectations for coach Ryan Day.
Second Screen Material: Duke at Miami (ABC), Ole Miss at Arkansas (ESPN)
The Hurricanes look to remain unbeaten in a home nooner against a Duke team that has struggled offensively but could pose a threat on defense in Manny Diaz’s return to Miami in a potential revenge game. Meanwhile, the Rebels look to avoid another upset loss as they hit the road to face a potentially dangerous Arkansas team.
3:30 p.m. Window
Syndication: The Register Guard
Main Course: Oregon at Michigan (CBS)
This is, admittedly, not the best 3:30 slate. But the best game of the bunch is likely the matchup in Ann Arbor between the defending national champions and the No. 1 team in the nation.
The Wolverines have taken a tremendous step back from last season, particularly on offense, but they made at least some progress on that side of the ball last week with Davis Warren back under center. The Ducks have been the most impressive team in the country to this point, but this matchup across the country against a tough defense could prove to be a bit tricky.
Second Screen Material: Florida vs. Georgia (ABC), Texas Tech at Iowa State (ESPN)
Georgia is looking for its fourth win in a row against the Gators, and it will have the opportunity to do so against a true freshman quarterback making just his third start in DJ Lagway. However, Lagway has impressed in limited action and seems to elevate the offense, which has made gradual improvement in lockstep with a defense that has also gotten quite a bit better since Week 1. Elsewhere, a Cyclones team that has a habit of playing with its food faces a Red Raiders team that has been up and down but has proven to be dangerous, particularly on offense.
Primetime Window
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Main Course: Pitt at SMU (8 p.m., ACC Network)
A matchup that none of us likely had circled heading into the year, Saturday night’s matchup in Dallas carries very real implications not just for a potentially chaotic ACC title race but also for the league’s likelihood of gaining an at-large spot.
The Panthers enter this one undefeated on the year as one of the nation’s biggest surprises coming off a 3-9 campaign, while the Mustangs have impressed in their first season as part of a power conference. They’re unbeaten in ACC play with the only loss on the season coming against undefeated BYU.
Second Screen Material: Louisville at Clemson (7:30 p.m., ESPN), Texas A&M at South Carolina (7:30 p.m., ABC)
A couple of conference contenders are looking to prove themselves Saturday night against semi-tricky opponents. Louisville is 5-3 but has played close games against Miami and Notre Dame, and the Cardinals seem to have the offense to possibly keep things close against a red-hot Clemson team. In Columbia, Texas A&M looks to keep momentum on its side and remain perfect in SEC play against a Gamecocks team with an elite defensive front but issues on offense.