CC-BYU could end up as 1 of the best games of the year
A late change to the schedule might have given us the best matchup of the college football season. Here’s what to watch in Week 14:
A cause for celebration (No. 13 BYU at No. 18 Coastal Carolina, Saturday, 5:30 p.m., ESPNU)
Disregard the College Football Playoff, the Group of Five and buzzwords like “strength of schedule” for just a moment. Let’s just sit back and enjoy what happened here. Coastal Carolina, needing to find a new opponent after Liberty was forced to suspend its season because of COVID-19 concerns, called up BYU, which had an open date this weekend. The Cougars have played all season with the mantra “any team, any time, any place,” so of course they jumped at the opportunity to face a fellow undefeated team.
This game won’t alter the playoff picture or draw massive television viewers. Don’t worry about the rankings, or what the playoff committee thinks.
Just enjoy what could be one of the best games of the year.
Is Ohio State in trouble? (No. 4 Ohio State at Michigan State, Saturday, noon, ABC)
It’s mid-December, and the Buckeyes are only 4-0. They had to cancel games against Maryland and Illinois because of COVID-19 concerns at those schools, and were in jeopardy of missing a third.
It’s likely that the committee will consider Ohio State one of the four best teams if it remains undefeated and doesn’t show many signs of weakness, like it did in nearly blowing a huge lead against the Hoosiers. But a slip-up, perhaps against an unpredictable Michigan State team this Saturday, could seal the Buckeyes’ playoff fate.
What a difference a year makes (No. 1 Alabama at LSU, Saturday, 8 p.m., CBS):
This matchup delivered perhaps the game of the year in 2019, a 46-41 shootout won by Joe Burrow and the Tigers over Tua Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide. Both quarterbacks are now throwing passes in the NFL; the difference is who’s filled their big shoes. Tagovailoa’s replacement, Mac Jones, is a Heisman Trophy candidate piloting the best offense in the country, while Myles Brennan, T.J. Finley and Co. have struggled to move the ball consistently. The rivalry could produce a surprise.
Book building his case (Syracuse at No. 2 Notre Dame, Saturday, 2:30 p.m., NBC):
The Fighting Irish should have no trouble against the Orange, who have been one of the worst teams in the country this season, ranking 116th in efficiency. It’s a nice opportunity for quarterback Ian Book to pad his stats for a potential Heisman Trophy campaign.
The heavy-underdog Orange have lost seven straight and another setback would be their first one-win season since 2005 when they went 1-10 under Greg Robinson. The last Syracuse victory over the Irish was 24-23 in South Bend during 2008 season.
Plenty to play for in Big Ten (No. 12 Indiana at No. 16 Wisconsin, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC):
Neither team will likely have a chance to compete for a Big Ten title, but there’s still plenty on the line. The Hoosiers could add another signature win to a season full of them, while the Badgers are looking to finish strong and build momentum for 2021 after having three games canceled. Indiana quarterback Jack Tuttle has big shoes to fill after Michael Penix Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury against Maryland. Wisconsin’s secondary must adjust on the fly heading into its most difficult matchup of the season.