Penn State, USC headline top October games

The first thing we can say about September is that it belonged to Clemson and Alabama, which dominated the Football Bowl Subdivision so thoroughly as to leave many already talking about Part III in the cross-conference rivalry.

We’ll see how that plays out. But it’s probably a little early to ink the Tigers and Crimson Tide into the College Football Playoff — approximately two months early.

While the pair have taken a clear lead in the polls, it’s in October that the clear front-runners separate themselves from the pack. October is loaded with key games across every major conference, including two involv- ing Clemson and Alabama.

With the new month underway, this week’s top-10 list looks at the biggest games in October. Which matchups will define the middle month of the regular season? (All rankings are per this week’s Amway Coaches Poll.)

1. No. 7 Michigan at No. 4 Penn State, Oct. 21

This matchup gets higher billing than Penn State’s date a week later with Ohio State since a loss would lessen at least somewhat the impact of the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes. For now, it’s the lone pairing of two unbeaten teams ranked in the top 10 of the Amway Coaches Poll.

2. No. 4 Penn State at No. 9 Ohio State, Oct. 28

As noted, this would have a huge impact on the Big Ten and national scene should Penn State get past Michigan. A sweep of both would put Penn State into the conference title game. An Ohio State win will give the rivalry game with Michigan even deeper meaning than usual.

3. No. 15 Southern California at No. 22 Notre Dame, Oct. 21

Don’t forget that Notre Dame will enter this Saturday vs. 1-4 North Carolina with one loss, by a single point at home to undefeated Georgia, and would take a huge leap in the Playoff race by knocking off Sam Darnold and the Trojans.

4. No. 1 Alabama at Texas A&M, Oct. 7

Nick Saban said this week that A&M is the strongest team Alabama has faced all season “from a holistic standpoint.” I’m not sure what that means. But I’m going to take Saban’s word on it.

5. Georgia Tech at No. 2 Clemson, Oct. 28

The Tigers’ biggest test of October comes at home against Georgia Tech, which has con- tinued to chew up the clock and opposing defenses with its unstoppable running game.

6. No. 23 West Virginia at No. 10 TCU, Oct. 7

The biggest game of the month in the Big 12 — Oklahoma and Oklahoma State play Nov. 4 — will give the winner another potential tiebreaker as the top two teams jostle for position before the end of November. Neither TCU nor WVU got anywhere close to the recognition they deserved after solid Septembers.

7. No. 18 Utah at No. 15 Southern California, Oct. 14

I doubt that USC will look ahead of Utah to think about Notre Dame, seeing that the Utes have won two of three in the series and played the Trojans tight since joining the Pac-12.

Florida is still very much alive in the push for a third Southeastern Conference East Division title in a row. Georgia looked much better in September. The neutral-site matchup will again have a division crown on the line.

9. No. 11 Washington State at Oregon, Oct. 7

Washington State moved up five spots to No. 11 in the coaches poll after knocking off USC. Better yet, the Cougars have won two in a row against Oregon. But the Ducks are obviously improved under Willie Taggart, meaning WSU can’t afford to take a step back beginning Saturday.

10. No. 12 Miami (Fla.) at Florida State, Oct. 7

If Miami can’t beat FSU in these circumstances — even on the road — you have to wonder if the Hurricanes are ever going to regain their stride in this rivalry.