Big Ten bragging rights on the line
After another upset-filled weekend, opportunity knocks for some new blood to enter the College Football Playoff mix. Here’s what to watch in Week 6, starting with a big matchup in the Big Ten:
Battle in the Big Ten: Might Saturday’s clash between No. 3 Iowa and No. 4 Penn State be an early playoff elimination game? In a conference that usually saves its top-five matchups for Ohio State vs. Michigan or championship weekend, the Nittany Lions and Hawkeyes will battle it out to see which team is the real contender for a surprise postseason berth.
This has been an underrated rivalry in recent years, with then-No. 4 Penn State needing a walk-off touchdown to escape Kinnick Stadium in 2017 and two ranked matchups the following years decided by a combined 11 points, both Penn State wins. Of course, the Hawkeyes ended two perfect Nittany Lions seasons at the end of the last decade, including an upset of No. 3 Penn State in 2008.
This year’s matchup is all about defense. Whether it’s points allowed (11.6 per game for Iowa, 12.0 for Penn State), yards per play allowed (4.11 for Iowa, 4.33 for Penn State) or defensive efficiency (Iowa ranks fourth in SP+, while Penn State is fifth), these are two of the best teams in the country at shutting down opposing offenses.
Red River redemption: The annual rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma has been dominated of late by the Sooners, who have won three straight meetings and five of the past six. That could change this weekend, with No. 6 Oklahoma looking more vulnerable than ever under coach Lincoln Riley.
Spencer Rattler is coming off his best performance of the season in a 37-31 win over Kansas State, but it’s been an up-and-down season for the quarterback many expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
The No. 21 Longhorns haven’t been perfect either, but since a 41-21 loss to Arkansas in Week 2, they’ve won three straight by an average of more than 30 points.
SEC recovery: No. 13 Arkansas vs. No. 17 Ole Miss couldn’t come at a more interesting time on the calendar. Both teams are licking their wounds after humbling losses to the SEC’s powerhouses, Georgia and Alabama, respectively. How will they respond?
It’s unfamiliar territory for the Razorbacks, who haven’t finished a season ranked in the Top 25 since 2011 — Bobby Petrino’s final year as head coach. Meanwhile, Ole Miss is enjoying its first foray in the rankings since 2016.
Things don’t get any easier next week either, with Arkansas hosting No. 18 Auburn and Ole Miss taking on a Tennessee team that just hung 62 points on Missouri. Such is life in the rugged SEC.
Chance for Wake Forest to prove itself: In 2019, the last time the Demon Deacons started 5-0, they lost five of their last eight games and tumbled out of the Top 25. But things might be different this year, with a weak ACC seemingly up for grabs.
A tough road game against Syracuse on Saturday should say plenty about how serious a Wake Forest conference championship run might be.
The Orange lost to Rutgers and couldn’t find a way to beat Florida State last week, but they knocked star quarterback Malik Willis and Liberty from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Don’t overlook Nebraska: Nobody would confuse the 3-3 Nebraska for a Big Ten contender this season, but the Cornhuskers have been quietly competent since an embarrassing season-opening loss at Illinois. After a 56-7 rout of Northwestern last week, they’ve jumped to No. 22 in overall efficiency, led by a defense that has been salty of late.
Since allowing 30 points in that loss to Illinois, the Huskers have allowed just 12.6 points per game, which would rank in the top five nationally.
Michigan looks much improved on offense thanks to a dominant running game and the steady play of quarterback Cade McNamara, but the Wolverines aren’t unstoppable.
Kentucky can play: There’s a lot to like in Lexington right now. Kentucky beat Florida at home for the first time since 1986 last Saturday and is 5-0 for the first time since 2018 and just the fourth time in the past 70 years. At No. 16 in the AP poll, the Wildcats have a chance to deliver their best season since going 10-3 and beating Penn State in the Citrus Bowl in 2018.
Up next is a wounded LSU team that just lost at home to Auburn for the first time since 1999.
Led by Penn State transfer Will Levis at quarterback, a punishing ground game and a sturdy defense, Kentucky is capable of dragging anybody into the kind of rock fight it knows it can win. Looming next week is a showdown with No. 2 Georgia.