College football weekend
Key Playoff impact games; TV games
When all is said and done, Week 3 will likely be little more than a blip when the College Football Playoff participants are chosen. Some contenders are playing on the road, some for the first time this season, but they’ll still for the most part be heavy favorites.
No. 1 Clemson at Syracuse (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC): During the Tigers’ recent period of dominance in the ACC, Syracuse has provided them the stiffest competition. The Orange beat Clemson at the Carrier Dome two seasons ago and nearly did so again in Death Valley last year, and don’t think the Clemson players haven’t heard about it. Most observers figured this would again be the Tigers’ toughest league test, particularly with Clemson coming off its showdown with Texas A&M. But the Orange might not be up to scratch after giving up 63 points at Maryland a week ago. By the admittedly lofty standard he set during last year’s championship run, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence hasn’t been his sharpest over the first two games. But with all the weapons he has around him, like RBs Travis Etienne and Lyn-J Dixon and WRs Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, he could be ready for a breakout performance. Orange DT Josh Black and DE Kendall Coleman will have to generate enough pressure to protect the back seven that was a step behind Maryland all day last time out. Syracuse QB Tommy DeVito will need to help out his defense by taking care of the ball.
No. 6 Ohio State at Indiana (Saturday, noon ET, Fox): The Buckeyes claimed the Big Ten crown each of the last two seasons. But in both cases their Playoff aspirations were derailed by one road clunker, at Iowa in 2017 and at Purdue last year. They’d do well, therefore, to take this date with the Hoosiers seriously as they kick off their conference slate. That said, Ohio State has certainly looked the part of the conference’s lead dog. The offense is explosive and efficient with QB Justin Fields and RB J.K. Dobbins setting the tone. LB Reakwon Jones and the Indiana defense must keep the big gainers to a minimum. Hoosiers freshman QB Michael Penix Jr. has been effective in his first two collegiate starts, but IU coach Tom Allen said his availability won’t be known until game time due to an undisclosed health issue. Junior Peyton Ramsey can handle working with the first unit.