Picture in Big Ten about to get clearer
No. 6 Michigan (7-0) at No. 8 Michigan State (7-0)
Noon Saturday, FOX
The battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy has extra special meaning with both teams undefeated for the first time since 2010. The winner of this one gets an advantage in the East Division standings and moves one step closer to a Big Ten championship and a possible spot in the College Football Playoff. Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker III (997 yards) and Michigan’s Blake Corum (729 yards) lead the conference in rushing. Michigan’s defense under firstyear coordinator Mike Macdonald ranks among the best in the country, with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson leading the league in sacks (6.0).
No. 1 Georgia (7-0) vs. Florida (4-3)
3:30 p.m. Saturday, CBS
The World’s Largest Cocktail Party returns to Jacksonville with Georgia clearly in the driver’s seat in the SEC race. The Bulldogs enter their meeting with Florida featuring the most dominant defense in the country, allowing only 6.6 points and 208 yards per game. The last time a team allowed less than 10 points and 210 yards was 2011 (Alabama). The Crimson Tide went on to finish 12-1 and claim the national championship. This is the first time Florida enters this game unranked since 2017 and the Gators risk losing four games for the second consecutive season.
No. 10 Ole Miss (6-1) at No. 18 Auburn (5-2) 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN
Since losing to then-No. 1 Alabama, Ole Miss has won three straight and is in the top 10 for the first time since 2015. Auburn’s hopes of making a run at an SEC title hinge on beating the Rebels for the sixth straight time. Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral remains a fixture in the race for the Heisman Trophy with the junior ranked among the top 10 nationally in total offense (341 yards per game), passing efficiency (168.2) and points responsible for (146).
No. 20 Penn State (5-2) at No. 5 Ohio State (6-1)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC
Ohio State has won five straight following its 35-28 loss to Oregon, outscoring their opponents 272-64 during that stretch. The Buckeyes have the Big Ten’s best offense led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, who’s passed for 1,996 yards with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions. Penn State is coming off a devastating loss to Illinois in a record nine overtimes last week that all but ended the Nittany Lions’ chances of its first Big Ten title since 2016. PSU has lost two straight and the offense has been a shell of itself after quarterback Sean Clifford went down with an injury against Iowa.
North Carolina (4-3) at No. 11 Notre Dame (6-1)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, NBC
Any hopes of Notre Dame making it to the College Football Playoff for a second straight season rests on the Fighting Irish finishing undefeated the rest of the way. North Carolina is the only team on Notre Dame’s remaining schedule with a winning record and represents the biggest challenge so far. It’s been an up and down season for the Tar Heels, whose three losses are to teams with a combined record of 9-12. Quarterback Sam Howell is one of five quarterbacks in the ACC with at least 20 total touchdowns (23).
Other Top 25 games of note
No. 9 Iowa (6-1) at Wisconsin (4-3): The 36 ½ points total from the bookmakers is the lowest on the schedule this week by four points. This game should be played in the snow for the full #B1G effect.
No. 12 Kentucky (6-1) at Mississippi State (4-3): Mike Leach’s Bulldogs have thrown the most passes in the SEC (404); the Wildcats have thrown the second-fewest (184). No. 19 SMU (7-0) at Houston (6-1): The No. 2 defense in the AAC (Houston) faces off vs. the No. 2 offense (SMU).
— Associated Press