We're into Week 10 with some Group of Five action going on. Liberty dropped another game, this time at home to a hot Jacksonville State team, winners of 5 in a row, and sit tied atop Conference USA along with Western Kentucky. Sam Houston State's 9-3 win over Louisiana Tech has them a game back in the conference.
There is no After Dark this week. Not Friday. Not Saturday. Zero. Does anyone know why? It can't be because of the World Series schedule, because ESPN wouldn't care about that. I can't remember a time when we didn't have any. Not even a 9pm EDT start. And it's the final days of EDT before the descent into darkness that makes the month of March so glorious.
We do have a Friday schedule, highlighted by #15 Boise State, firmly in control for the G5 berth in the Expanded College Football Playoff. They have an 8pm EDT/6pm MDT start on FS1 on the smurf turf against 3-4 San Diego State. Probably not fair to say they can afford a loss, as Washington State - on a bye - is 7-1 and in the rankings, and likely to be favored in their remaining games.
Everyone here knows what the game of the week is - another AP Top 5 matchup at noon on Saturday, and probably the biggest game left in the regular season. Big Noon Kickoff and College GameDay are not only both on the scene in Happy Valley, but in close quarters based on the map. #4 Ohio State is going into the Nittany Lions den, against undefeated #3 Penn State. There's an effort being made to set an all-time Beaver Stadium record, not sure if being a day game qualifies as a White Out, but you KNOW James Franklin, he needs EVERYONE - students, lettermen, alumni, fans worldwide, and most importantly: the faculty. Every teacher. Every professor. Every TA. The Dean (I don't know if he counts) Word is the Nittany Lions had not just a great week of practice, but perhaps even a better week in the classroom to get those kids ready. I think they logged a few extra office hours. Anything to turn those B+'s into A's. Ohio State has to escape late against a game Nebraska team last week over at the Shoe. Penn State won up at Wisconsin, where Beau Pribula replaced an injured Drew Allar in the second half. Right now, it seems unknown who gets the start, but Pribula did his part to turn a halftime deficit to a 28-13 win. His number was called, and he was ready, he was probably the better quarterback in the game. Ohio State has won 7 in a row in the series, this has been one of the A-hurdles Penn State just can't get over, not since a 24-21 win in 2016 - the Block Six game. First time they've met as a top 5 matchup since a 38-7 Ohio State win in 1996. Ohio State has been subject to slow starts - that's not going to work here as Penn State has only given up 30 second half points this season. Ryan Day has never beaten a team that is 7-0 or better. Penn State has not lost a game on November 2 since 1935 (10-0). The line has ticked down a half-point in the last day, but it's Ohio State who is currently a 3-point favorite, but an Ohio State loss almost definitely takes them out of the Big Ten Championship Game, as Oregon and Penn State don't play each other. Ohio State's schedule has been brutal. Although they're an underdog, no more excuses for James Franklin. Winning this game doesn't make them a blue blood, but losing it definitely doesn't.
Nothing else is holding a candle to that, but ABC is going to have #5 Miami hosting 6-2 Duke, who lost last week in overtime to SMU despite winning the turnover battle 6-0. Miami played Florida State last week, so that meant their defense had a better game than we've seen from them. Here there are favored by 20, few believers in Duke.
#19 Ole Miss shook off a first half challenge from Oklahoma last week, but there might be too many SEC teams ahead of them to get back into the mix for the SECCG. They play Arkansas, who we know is playing everyone tough. ESPN takes the game at noon.
#24 Illinois is evidently on upset alert, at home, after getting boat raced by Oregon last week 38-9. They play Minnesota who is up to 5-3 and looking to get into the rankings with a win. FS1 takes the game.
On CBS, #21 Army got their win against East Carolina last week. At 7-0, they play 1-6 Air Force.
The later afternoon slate has our top 2 ranked teams in the AP, and identical 14.5-point lines. First, also on CBS, #1 Oregon makes the trip east to play unranked Michigan at the Big House. A game that looked much more attractive like 6 week ago. Last week, Michigan was taken to the end by Michigan State, and then taken further than that with a post-game ruckus. Michigan has also since seen their 7th year senior QB Jack Tuttle retire after suffering a concussion and deciding a shoulder injury never healed. Jack Warren is back as the starter.
We also have a very low-energy Cocktail Party this year, that Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be attending. #2 Georgia is the home team against 4-3 Florida. Both teams had the week off after their best games of the season. Florida took care of Kentucky 48-20, and of course Georgia got the huge win at Texas (on their bye this week). The two teams have come to a deal to have their 2026 game in Atlanta and 2027 game in Tampa as stadium renovations go on in Jacksonville. Georgia has won 6 of 7 in the series.
Big game in the Big 12 on ESPN. Last time we saw #11 Iowa State, they had to pull one out of the fire at home against UCF, which not only cost them a few spots in the rankings, but saw BYU (bye) jump them. 5-3 Texas Tech had to hold off a late rally from TCU, who did not go for 2 in their of the their 4th quarter touchdowns in a 35-34 Texas Tech win. ISU -13.5
#17 Kansas State is still hot on their ass, they also escaped last week against Kansas 29-27. Their game against Houston is on Fox, and are awaiting one of Iowa State or BYU to drop. KSU -13
Peacock has #13 Indiana, who pulled away last week against Washington. They're -8 to Michigan State, who is at home, had that emotional game against the Wolverines last week. Indiana appears to be on the outer edge of the Expanded College Football Playoff, but they do still have to play in Columbus later this season, which will go a long way toward determining how serious they are.
In Prime Time, the ABC spotlight is in South Carolina, who hosts #10 Texas A&M, off their runaway win against LSU last week, coming away as the SEC's only undefeated team, despite three others ahead of them in the rankings. TAMU went on a 31-6 run after Marcel Reed took over for Conner Weigman. The Aggies are 2.5-point favorites, so this might be a tough one in a comedown game.
Someone asked last week by #11 Clemson is so high in the rankings given their schedule. Valid question. But they've been pasting the teams on their schedule after the one they took against Georgia. They host 5-3 Louisville as 10-point favorites, as their schedule ramps up.
Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC has a pair of unranked 5-3 teams: Wisconsin @ Iowa. I'm not sure if there is any weight here, neither team appears to have higher aspirations this season, but NBC has it in their contract to air this game, so it will be on.
I mentioned Kentucky has had a tough defense, but it's come a bit unraveled after giving up to 48 to Florida, and 24 to a shitty Auburn offense, and are only 3-5. They will get a chance to shock #7 Tennessee and the 17.5-point spread. The Vols had a week off to work on their offense and try and find the explosion they had to start the season. But maybe we have to consider they're playing better teams that Chattanooga, NC State and Kent State. 7:45 start on SEC Network.
The network schedule squeeze worked out for ACC Network, they get the only other ranked matchup of the week - #18 Pitt @ #20 SMU. Pitt is still undefeated and SMU only has 1 loss, but this is probably the hardest game of the season so far for either team. The line goes decidedly to the home team - SMU -7.5.
As I said, no After Dark, for some reason. Maybe the Committee for the Expanded College Football Playoff needs the extra few hours to meet and make their first rankings. The eyes of the world will assuredly be tuned into 2 hours of instant analysis on Tuesday night.
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