The final Saturday of October is shaping up to be a consequential day of action filled with potential upsets as several highly ranked teams with conference title and College Football Playoff aspirations try to navigate tricky spots. By day’s end, the postseason picture figures to be at least somewhat clearer.
Every window features examples of highly ranked teams as significant betting favorites against foes who will be looking to secure seismic upsets.
No. 12 Notre Dame tangles with No. 24 Navy in the early window in a rivalry game with huge implications for both. At the same time, No. 4 Ohio State is hosting Nebraska as the Buckeyes play their first game since taking a loss at Oregon two weeks ago. A top-20 Big Ten battle on CBS highlights the afternoon slot as No. 1 Oregon hosts No. 20 Illinois. At the same time, No. 5 Texas is on the road at No. 25 Vanderbilt. The Longhorns are an 18.5-point betting favorite, according to FanDuel as they to get back on track following a humbling home defeat against Georgia.
Later, No. 6 Miami hosts Florida State as a three-touchdown favorite, and No. 3 Penn State will be on the road against a Wisconsin team that’s been showing signs of improvement. Chaos is bound to strike somewhere.
As Week 9 action arrives, here’s a viewer’s guide to help you navigate through all of Saturday’s games.
All times Eastern
The best games
No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy — noon on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): This game carries massive College Football Playoff implications. If Navy wins, then it legitimizes the Midshipmen’s case to be the Group of Five’s representative in the CFP. In the process, they would inflict a likely fatal blow on the Fighting Irish’s playoff hopes. Navy has torpedoed everything in its path so far. Is Notre Dame the next victim?
No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon — 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free), Paramount+ with Showtime: Illinois has already taken down three ranked teams this season. Now, it will try to slay the sport’s king as the Fighting Illini head west to take on the top-ranked Ducks. It’s just the fourth meeting between these programs and the first since 1995. Oregon handled business without issue at Purdue last week after rising to No. 1. This should be a tougher test. The Ducks are 21.5-point betting favorites, according to FanDuel.
No. 21 Missouri at No. 15 Alabama — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): Alabama has dropped two of its past three games since taking down Georgia on Sept. 28. The Crimson Tide are unaccustomed to such struggles and will be playing in front of an anxious fan base as they welcome Missouri to town. This is a must-win for the Tigers, who need to add some meat to their resume while navigating what appears to be the SEC’s easiest schedule.
No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt — 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free): Can lightning strike twice in a month at under-construction FirstBank Stadium? If Vanderbilt is able to take down both Alabama and Texas in October, then Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia deserves to be immediately enshrined with a statue. The Longhorns were exposed by Georgia last week and will have to be sharper to avoid becoming Vandy’s next victim.
No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M — 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): Both teams were written off after Week 1 losses but have clawed their way back into the SEC race and CFP picture. These teams have been alternating victories in their series with the home team holding serve in every game since an LSU win at Kyle Field in 2016. The Aggies hope that trend continues after their 42-30 loss at LSU last season.
No. 3 Penn State at Wisconsin — 7:30 p.m. on NBC, fuboTV (try for free): Wisconsin has outscored its last three opponents by 101 points since taking back-to-back losses against Alabama and USC in September. But those wins each came against lower-tier Big Ten teams. Now comes a test of the Badgers’ progress as they host Penn State. The Nittany Lions are one of 10 remaining undefeated FBS teams and can’t get caught looking ahead to next week’s showdown with Ohio State.
Best of the rest
- Nebraska at No. 4 Ohio State — noon on Fox, fuboTV (try for free)
- Oklahoma at No. 18 Ole Miss — noon on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- Washington at No. 13 Indiana — noon on Big Ten Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Buffalo at Ohio — noon on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- No. 11 BYU at UCF — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- Rice at UConn — 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- Florida State at No. 6 Miami — 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- Utah State at Wyoming — 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- Kansas at No. 16 Kansas State — 8 p.m. on ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 22 SMU at Duke — 8 p.m. on ACC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Washington State at San Diego State — 10:30 p.m. p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)