The Week 7 college football schedule is ripe for upset potential with seven ranked teams going on the road (or to a neutral site) to play lower-ranked or unranked opponents.
There’s bound to be some significant shakeup in the national polls after the weekend, along with some more clarity on the key conference races.
It’s an ideal Saturday to break out an extra television screen (or more) or head to the local sports bar because these are five games any college football fan won’t want to miss.
No. 7 Indiana (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 3 Oregon (5-0, 2-0)
3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS
This is one of the best games on the entire Big Ten season schedule.
Some may remain skeptical of what Indiana continues to do under second-year coach Curt Cignetti. Following their unexpected 11-2 finish and run to the College Football Playoff last year, the Hoosiers are off to a 5-0 start this fall. That included a 63-10 demolishing of an Illinois team ranked in the top 10 at the time.
Now, the they get a prime opportunity to address their doubters in a daunting road test at Oregon.
The Ducks have lost just once since the start of last season — to Ohio State in the playoffs. Meanwhile, they have the longest active home winning streak in the FBS at 18 games and are 22-1 at home under coach Dan Lanning.
The matchup also features two of the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy in Oregon quarterback Dante Moore (1,210 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, one interception) and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (1,208 yards, 16 touchdowns, one interception).
Oregon is a 7.5-point favorite at home.
No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) at No. 14 Missouri (5-0, 1-0)
12 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC
Since shaking off a season-opening loss to Florida State, Alabama has looked very much like … well, Alabama again.
A win at Georgia followed by a 30-14 home win over a ranked Vanderbilt team has the Crimson Tide on a four-game winning streak heading into yet another SEC challenge.
Missouri has been a program on the rise under Eliah Drinkwitz, going 11-2 and 10-3 the last two seasons and starting this one 5-0. The Tigers have the third-ranked rushing attack in the country, averaging 292 yards per game on the ground with Ahmad Hardy leading the way (730 rushing yards and nine TDs on 7.1 yards per carry).
But the Tigers haven’t faced a team like Alabama yet. Their biggest wins have come over Kansas and South Carolina. Alabama is a 2.5-point favorite on the road.
Texas (3-2, 0-1 SEC) vs. No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0)
3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC (played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas)
Yes, this has been a rough start to things for Texas, which opened the season ranked No. 1 nationally and now is out of the AP top 25 entirely after its ugly loss at Florida last week. But that is exactly what makes this edition of the Red River Shootout so intriguing.
The Longhorns’ season is on the line in a lot of ways — if they want to revive any thought of a return to the College Football Playoff, that is.
Meanwhile, the Arch Manning subplot is compelling theater on its own. Is it really possible that the preseason Heisman favorite and former five-star recruit is a bust? Manning has been shaky in both of Texas’ big games (and at times in between), looking uncomfortable in the pocket, sailing open receivers and throwing five picks so far. Will he bounce back and play to his perceived potential with the scrutiny intensifying?
As for Oklahoma, star quarterback John Mateer has been upgraded to probable and is expected to make his return from a broken bone in his throwing hand that only cost him one game (with a well-timed bye week).
The Sooners are 5-0 with a win over a ranked Michigan team last month, but the back half of their schedule is one of the toughest in the country (at South Carolina, vs. No. 4 Ole Miss, at No. 12 Tennessee, at No. 8 Alabama, vs. No. 14 Missouri and vs. No. 11 LSU). So this is a win they need.
Texas is a 1.5-point favorite as of Friday night.
No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) at No. 17 Illinois (5-1, 2-1)
12 p.m. ET on FOX
The top-ranked Buckeyes are coming off a bye and facing their toughest test since the opener vs. Texas, but which Illinois team are they going to see?
The one that was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country earlier this season and that beat USC at home and rolled over Purdue while putting up back-to-back 500-yard games? Or the one that lost 63-10 to Indiana?
The Buckeyes have arguably been the best defensive team in the country, ranking first nationally in points allowed (5 per game) and third in total defense (215.8 YPG allowed), but the Fighting Illini are rolling with veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer (1,573 passing yards, 12 TDs, 0 INTs) playing the best football of his career.
Ohio State is a 14.5-point favorite.
No. 15 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at USC (4-1, 2-1)
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on NBC
The Trojans are coming off a bye and looking to make a statement nationally.
Their only loss came 34-32 against Illinois on the road while down two starting offensive linemen and their best defensive back, and while left tackle Elijah Paige remains a game-time decision (while center Kilian O’Connor remains out) the Trojans have had two weeks to get ready to host the Wolverines.
USC let the game slip away last year in Ann Arbor the last time these teams met, blowing a late lead to lose 27-24 in a game that seemed to send the season in a different direction for the Trojans after a strong start. This game could prove just as pivotal if the Trojans are to take a big step forward after two down seasons.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s only loss came at Oklahoma in freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first road start. Underwood wasn’t his best that game, but the former five-star prospect has been pretty darn good for the Wolverines overall while giving them a passing attack they sorely lacked last year. And Justice Haynes, an Alabama transfer, has been one of the best running backs in the country with 654 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 7.7 yards per carry.
The Trojans are 2.5-point favorites at home.