Ohio State meets a very desperate PSU team in prime time
The early season Big Ten matchup circled on everyone’s calendar lost some of its luster after the conference’s wild opening weekend, but it still could be one of the best games of the year.
Let’s dive into it. Here’s what to watch this weekend in college football:
Is desperation enough for Penn State? (No. 3 Ohio State at No. 18 Penn State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ABC): After all the talk about how Penn State presented the biggest threat to Ohio State in the Big Ten and could get into the College Football Playoff for the first time after routinely coming up short under coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions went out and lost in heartbreaking fashion to Indiana.
Michael Penix Jr.’s stretch at the goal line likely ended any hopes of Penn State becoming a national title contender, but that dream always depended on beating the Buckeyes. Well, here they are.
Big ramifications for Big 12 (Texas at No. 6 Oklahoma State, Saturday, 4 p.m., Fox): The Big 12’s playoff hopes now rest on Oklahoma State after disappointing starts for conference front-runners Texas and Oklahoma. The Cowboys will have to beat those two teams to get there, and their first challenge comes Saturday.
Some anxiety in SEC (LSU at Auburn, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS): When the revamped SEC schedules were released in August, nobody expected this matchup to be between two unranked teams. LSU lost plenty of talent from its national title team, but coach Ed Orgeron still believed his Tigers could compete for a conference title. Auburn, meanwhile, returned quarterback Bo Nix, wide receiver Seth Williams and plenty of talent on defense. So what happened? Well, LSU’s defense cratered under new coordinator Bo Pelini, while Nix failed to take a step forward as a passer after an up-and-down freshman season. It all comes to a head Saturday.
Michigan moving up (Michigan State at No. 13 Michigan, Saturday, noon, Fox): The Wolverines might have a quarterback. Joe Milton shined in his debut, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 52 yards and a score in a 49-24 win over Minnesota. Michigan dominated with a balanced rushing attack that averaged 8.3 yards on 31 carries, and Milton was efficient spreading the ball to nine receivers.
Cincinnati cruising — for now (Memphis at No. 7 Cincinnati, Saturday, noon, ESPN): The Bearcats keep rolling along, crushing SMU, 42-13, to move to 4-0. Desmond Ridder has emerged as one of the best quarterbacks not just in the Group of Five, but the entire country, averaging 7.3 yards per pass attempt and 10.9 yards per carry with 10 total touchdowns.With Memphis and Central Florida struggling, Cincinnati has a clear path to the American Athletic Conference title and maybe a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Indiana inching forward (No. 17 Indiana at Rutgers, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., BTN): There’s one major question after the Hoosiers’ stunning upset of No. 5 Penn State last weekend in Bloomington on Michael Penix Jr.’s diving 2-point conversion: What’s next?
Arkansas on the rise (Arkansas at No. 8 Texas A&M, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., SECN): The job Sam Pittman has done in his first season is worthy of Coach of the Year consideration. The Razorbacks went 4-20 over the past two seasons under Chad Morris and interim Barry Lunney Jr. and Pittman is already halfway toward that win total.
Coastal living (No. 20 Coastal Carolina at Georgia State, Saturday, noon, ESPNU): Comb through the NCAA leaders in passing efficiency and you’ll see some big names in the sport: Justin Fields, Mac Jones, Zach Wilson and Kyle Trask. Then there’s Coastal Carolina’s Grayson McCall, a dual-threat playmaker for one of the nation’s up-and-coming programs.The Chanticleers, just three years after joining the FBS, are ranked for the first time, in large part because of McCall.