While the six unbeaten teams remain from last week, #1 Ohio State, #2 Indiana, #3 Texas A&M, #8 Georgia Tech, #10 BYU, and unranked Navy, the battle for 12 college football playoff spots rages behind them.
Programs lower on the FBS food chain, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Virginia, Louisville, and Missouri are still heavily involved, while upstarts Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis lie in wait.
These are the names/games TST will be monitoring, but there are dozens of others in action. Tell us about your favorite matchups, prospects, or teams in the forum.
#9 Vanderbilt (7-1) @ #20 Texas (6-2)
9 a.m. PST on ABC
Eyes on: Vandy QB Diego Pavia (SR) is the “Dores offensive foundation, running for 507 yards and throwing for 1700 more. TE Eli Stowers (SR) is a top prospect at that position. The defense has leading tacklers S CJ Heard (SO) and ILB Bryan Longwell (JR). The pass rush is supplied by E Miles Capers (SR), while CB Martel Hight (JR) and S Randon Fontenette (JR) highlight the secondary. Texas QB Arch Manning (SO) is in the concussion protocol and questionable. The Longhorns defense has plenty of draft prospects, E’s Colin Simmons (SO) and Trey Moore (SR), ILB’s Anthony Hill (JR) and Liona Lefau (JR), S’s Jelani McDonald (JR), and Michael Taaffe (SR), and CB’s Malik Muhammad (JR) and Jaylon Guilbeau (SR).
#10 Miami (6-1) @ SMU (5-3)
9 a.m. PST on ESPN
Eyes on: The continuing rehab of Carson Beck (SR), with top prospects WR CJ Daniels (SR) and RB Mark Fletcher (JR) aiding his cause. On defense, the ‘Canes have a strong starting front, DE Ruben Bain (JR), DT David Blay (SR), DT Ahmad Moten (JR), and DE Akeem Mesidor (SR). SMU has a potent offense led by dual-threat QB Kevin Jennings (JR), but their pass defense has been an enigma. The ‘Stangs have two good prospects at S, Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmad Moses (SR), as well as four players with at least four sacks, E Cameron Robertson (JR), E Isaiah Smith (SR), DT Terry Webb (SR), and (DT) Jeffrey M’ba (SR).
Navy (7-0) @ North Texas (7-1)
9 a.m. PST on ESPN2
Eyes on: Two wide open offenses. Navy makes 477 yards per game, with QB Blake Horvath (SR) running for 853 and passing for another 1063. “Snipe Z” (WR/RB hybrid) Eli Heidenreich (SR) has 797 rushing/receiving yards. On defense the lifeguards are NG Landon Robinson (SR) and LB MarcAnthony Parker (SO). North Texas makes 496 yards per game on the strength of red shirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker’s arm, he’s thrown for 2400+ yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s thrown to 17 different receivers, led by WR’s Wyatt Young (SO), Cameron Dorner (SR), and Miles Coleman (SO).
#18 Oklahoma (6-2) @ #14 Tennessee (6-2)
4:30 P.M. on ABC
Eyes on: OU QB John Mateer (JR) tries to revive the sheen on his draft profile. Offensive line struggles have OU on the verge of being ousted from a possible playoff berth. RB Jaydn Ott (SR) was a star at Cal and big time portal transfer, he’s struggled with an ankle injury hasn’t made any noise in his final season. Vols QB Joey Aguilar’s (SR) arc is completely different, he’s rising on draftboards, throwing to a stellar cast of WR’s, Chris Brazzell (JR), Braylon Staley (FR), and Mike Mathews (SO). Add in solid TE draft prospect Mikes Kitselman (SR).
#23 USC (5-2) @ Nebraska (6-2)
4:30 p.m. PST on NBC
Eyes on: As weapons for QB Jayden Maiava, the Trojans have three high-rated pass catcher’s, WR’s Makai Lemon (JR) and Ja’kobi Lane (JR) and TE Lake McCree (SR). They also have a pair of talented RB’s, Waymond Jordan (JR) and Eli Sanders (SR). Nebraska has a handful of draft prospects, RB Emmett Johnson (JR), WR Dane Key (SR), T Elijah Pritchett (JR), and E’s Javin Wright (SR) and Dasan McCollough (SR).
#17 Cincinnati (7-1) @ #24 Utah (6-2)
7:15 PST on ESPN
Eyes on: Cincy is known for their offense, but are solid defensively, counting on DT Dontay Corleone (SR), S Xavier Williams, CB Logan Wilson (SR), and a trio of LB’s, Jake Golday (SR), Montay Weedon (SO), and Jack Dingle (SR). Utah has three top offensive line prospects RT Spencer Fano (JR), LT Caleb Lomu (SO), and C Jaren Kump (SR). Dual threat QB Devon Dampier (JR) has thrown for 1375 yards and ran for 477.
Other games with interesting prospects
Duke (4-3) @ Clemson (3-4) 9 a.m. PST on ACC Network
Eyes on: Duke QB Darian Mensah (SO), RT Brian Parker (JR), and CB Chandler Rivers (SR). Clemson started the year with a number of prospects, how much does the off year hold them back? QB Cade Klubnick (SR), WR Antonio Williams (JR), T Blake Miller (SR), DT Peter Woods (JR), E TJ Parker (JR), and CB Aveion Terrell (JR) were all top prospects.
Rutgers (4-4) @ Illinois (5-3) 9 a.m. PST on NBC
Eyes on: Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis (SR) and WR’s Ian Strong (JR) and DT Sheffield (SR) deserve a look. Mid-rung Illinois has a handful of possibilities, QB Luke Altmyer (SR), T’s JC Davis (SR) and Melvin Priestly (SR), and TE Tanner Arkin (SR). On defense, E Gabe Jacas (SR) and CB/S Xavier Scott (SR) get good reviews.
Arizona State (5-3) @ Iowa State (5-3) 10 a.m. PST on TNT
Eyes on: With ASU QB Sam Leavitt (SO) out, the other Sun Devils playmakers need to step up, RB Raleek Brown (JR), TE Chamon Metayer (SR), and WR Jordan Tyson (JR). Iowa State has some big boys at TE, Gabe Burkle (JR) and Ben Brahmer (JR), as well as DT Domonique Orange (SR).
#5 Georgia (6-1) @ Florida (3-4) 12:30 p.m. PST on ABC
Eyes on: Georgia’s defense has draft prospects at every level. DT’s Christen Miller (JR) and Jordam Hall (JR). LB’s CJ Allen (JR) and Raylen Wilson (JR), S Joenel Aguero (JR), and CB Daylen Everette (SR). Can the Gator’s talent be revived under an interim coach? WR J.Michael Sturdivant (SR), C Jake Slaughter (SR), G Knijeah Harris (JR), T Austin Barber (SR), DT Caleb Banks (SR) and DE Tyreak Sapp (SR) all started the year as top prospects.
#13 Texas Tech (7-1) @ Kansas State (4-4) 12:30 p.m. PST on FOX
Eyes on: TTU has a ferocious defense led by E’s David Bailey (SR) and Romello Height (SR), DT’s Lee Hunter (SR) and Skyler Gill-Howard (SR) (now injured), ILB Jacob Rodriguez (SR), S Cole Wisniewski (SR), and CB Brice Pollock (JR). Kansas State moves behind dual threat QB Avery Johnson (JR), WR Jayce Brown (JR) and C Sam Hecht (SR).
Virginia (7-1) @ Cal (5-3) 12:45 p.m. PST on ESPN2
Eyes on: The Cavaliers have one of the nation’s top offenses behind QB Chandler Morris (SR), RB J’Mari Taylor (SR), and WR Jahmal Edrine (SR). The UVA line is anchored by C Brady Wilson (76), G Noah Josey (SR) and LT McKale Boley (SR).
Wyoming (4-4) @ San Diego State (6-1) 4 p.m. PST on CBSSN
Eyes on: Wyoming TE John Michael Gyllenborg (SR) has struggled with injuries, but is a mid-round prospect, while G Caden Barnett (SR) is a late-round sleeper. SDSU has two early/mid prospects, CB Chris Johnson (SR) has been mocked to the Rams and E Trey White (JR) shows juice as a pass rusher.
