CO L L EG E F O OT B A L L TO D AY
No. 9 Indiana (4-0, 4-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Ohio State (3-0, 3-0), 9 a.m., Ch. 5/69:
A top-10 matchup featuring the conference’s overwhelming favorite against its best early season story. The Hoosiers have already snapped a 24-game losing streak against Michigan and now look to break a 25-game skid against the Buckeyes. Not many folks think they can do it: Ohio State is a three-TD favorite. Indiana is led by QB Michael Penix, the Big Ten leader in passing yards (1,070), and WR Ty Fryfogle, who has 100 or more receiving yards in three of the four games (including 200 last week vs. Michigan State). Ohio State QB Justin Fields has completed nearly 87 percent of his passes through three games with 11 TDs and zero interceptions.
Appalachian State (6-1, 4-0 Sun Belt) at No. 15 Coastal Carolina (7-0, 5-0), 9 a.m., ESPN2: How good are the Chanticleers? Today will be a good indication. The Mountaineers have won 19 straight games against Sun Belt teams not named Georgia Southern. Coastal has lost all six previous meetings with the Mountaineers, including all three since moving to the FBS and joining the Sun Belt. Coastal QB Grayson McCall has 1,393 yards passing, 16 TD passes and one interception. Mountaineers QB Zac Thomas has led his team to five straight victories, throwing for 1,283 yards with 12 TDs and five interceptions. His 29-4 mark as a starter is second in the FBS among active QBs behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (31-1).
No. 10 Wisconsin (2-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 19 Northwestern (4-0, 4-0), 12:30 p.m., Ch. 10: The other unlikely Big Ten showdown today matches the conference’s two best defenses, although the Badgers have only played twice after a COVID-19 outbreak shut them down for two weeks. They opened with a 45-7 home romp over Illinois and last week they pounded Michigan 49-11 in Ann Arbor. One more cancellation — whether they have another outbreak or an opponent does — and the Badgers won’t hit the Big Ten’s six-game threshold to be eligible to play for the title in Indianapolis on Dec. 19. The Wildcats are looking to go 5-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since 1996. A win would be their first over a top-10 team since they beat No. 9 Nebraska in 2011.
No. 7 Cincinnati (7-0, 5-0 AAC) at Central Florida (5-2, 4-2), 12:30 p.m., ESPN:
The Bearcats remain the highest-rated Group of Five team but face their toughest challenge to date. The Knights are averaging 619.1 yards and 44 points per game, while the Bearcats have limited opponents to averages of 300.9 yards and 12.4 points. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder has thrown for 1,483 yards, 14 TDs and six interceptions and is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 469 yards and nine TDs. UCF’s Dillon Gabriel is averaging a nationleading 396 yards per game passing and has thrown for 23 TDs and just two interceptions. The Knights have a powerful running game (222.3 yards per game) as well.
No. 14 Oklahoma State (5-1, 4-1 Big 12) at No. 18 Oklahoma (5-2, 4-2), 4:30 p.m., Ch. 10:
The Bedlam series is historically lopsided with the Sooners leading 81-18-7, and under coach Mike Gundy, the Cowboys are 2-13. The Sooners, led by Big 12 passing leader Spencer Rattler, enter on a four-game winning streak, having scored 62 points in each of their last two games — albeit against Texas Tech and Kansas. Cowboys RB Chuba Hubbard, who rushed for 2,094 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, has just 581 yards and five scores in six games this year with a young line in front of him.
No. 20 USC (2-0, 2-0 Pac-12) at Utah (0-0), 7:30 p.m., ESPN:
Yes, it’s Nov. 21 and Utah is playing its football season opener. The defending Pac-12 South champions might have been hoping for bad weather against their SoCal visitors, but while the game-time temperature will be about 35 degrees, there is no rain or snow or even much wind in the forecast. The Trojans have lost three straight in Salt Lake City and haven’t started 3-0 in the Pac-12 since 2006. QB Kedon Slovis hasn’t always looked sharp in USC’s two close wins, but he ranks sixth in the nation in yards passing per game (353) and completion percentage (71.4).