Georgia State (0-4) at No. 1 Alabama (4-0)
Alabama should get ample opportunities to play some backups before facing five consecutive Southeastern Conference opponents. Georgia State has never defeated a No. 1 team in any sport.
No. 2 Oregon (4-0) at Colorado (2-1, 0-1)
The Ducks head to Folsom Field with a streak of 16 straight wins in an opponents’ stadium, the longest mark in the nation. The Buffaloes play at home for the first time in three weeks after a devastating flood hit the area and led to the postponement of the game on Sept. 14 against Fresno State. The stadium suffered no damage.
No. 3 Clemson (4-0) at Syracuse (2-2, 0-0)
Clemson is chasing a national championship behind star quarterback Tajh Boyd. A loss to Syracuse in the Orange’s ACC debut would derail those dreams. Syracuse is looking for a win over a top-five team in its first big home ACC game.
No. 4 Ohio State (5-0) at No. 16 Northwestern (4-0)
With 17 straight wins, Ohio State is trying to keep the longest active streak in the nation going and strengthen its position in the national championship race. The Buckeyes are coming off a 31-24 win over Wisconsin. Northwestern is looking to prove it can beat the best in the Big Ten, the next step for a program that’s established itself as a consistent winner.
No. 15 Washington (4-0) at No. 5 Stanford (4-0)
The winner will gain the edge in the Pac-12 North standings, set up an even bigger matchup against No. 2 Oregon and keep its undefeated season alive.
No. 6 Georgia (3-1) at Tennessee (3-2)
Georgia has made it through a brutal September schedule with a 3-1 record and a No. 6 ranking, but a second loss would likely wreck the Bulldogs’ national championship hopes. Tennessee is seeking its first victory over a Top 25 team since a 31-13 triumph over No. 21 South Carolina on Oct. 31, 2009.
The Volunteers have lost 18 straight games against ranked opponents and are 1-24 against the Top 25 since 2008.
No. 7 Louisville (4-0) at Temple (0-4)
Not much. A five-TD favorite, Louisville would naturally like to avoid ending up on the losing end of one of the biggest upsets of the season. Can it happen? Well, in Louisville’s last trip to Lincoln Financial Field, the Cardinals beat the Owls 62-0. And last year? Teddy Bridgewater tied a career-high with five touchdown passes in a 45-17 romp. Temple is looking for its first win under coach Matt Ruhle.
No. 10 LSU (4-1) at Mississippi State (2-2)
LSU is trying to rebound from a disappointing 44-41 loss to Georgia last weekend. The Tigers are much improved offensively, but gave up nearly 500 total yards against Georgia. Mississippi State is trying to beat LSU for the first time since 1999.
TCU (2-2) at No. 11 Oklahoma (4-0)
After a rousing win at Notre Dame, Oklahoma swings back into conference action looking to stake a claim as the early Big 12 favorite — especially after early stumbles by TCU and Oklahoma State in conference games — and move to 5-0 for the third time in four seasons. A win by TCU would propel the Horned Frogs back into the conference contention.
Kentucky (1-3) at No. 13 South Carolina (3-1)
South Carolina is trying to remain in the chase for the SEC Eastern Division title, although its chances took a hit with Georgia’s victory over LSU last Saturday. The Gamecocks will need the Bulldogs to lose twice while not stumbling to have a realistic shot at playing for the league title. Kentucky hopes to give first-year coach Mark Stoops his first SEC victory.
Georgia Tech (3-1) at No. 14 Miami (4-0)
Miami has won four straight in the series, and extending that would probably cement the Hurricanes as the early favorite in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division race. Georgia Tech probably needs a win to remain a viable contender in the Coastal; should the Yellow Jackets fall on Saturday, not only would they have two ACC losses, but they would be to division rivals, with Virginia Tech the first of those.
West Virginia (3-2) at No. 17 Baylor (3-0)
A chance for Baylor, which leads the nation with 69.7 points a game, to avenge that wild 70-63 loss at West Virginia last season in the league’s highest-scoring game ever. The Bears head into their Big 12 opener with seven wins in a row, the league’s longest winning streak. West Virginia is the only team that has already played two Big 12 games. The Mountaineers have alternated wins and losses so far, and are coming off a surprising 30-21 win over then-No. 11 Oklahoma State.Arkansas (3-2) at No. 18 Florida (3-1)
Florida plays its third consecutive Southeastern Conference game against a team the Gators have a lengthy winning streak against. Florida has won eight in a row against Arkansas, winning every meeting since 1982. The Gators already extended streaks against Tennessee (nine) and Kentucky (27).
Minnesota (4-1) at No. 19 Michigan (4-0)
Michigan desperately wants to end its Big Ten title drought that dates to 2004, and can’t afford to open conference play by getting upset against Minnesota.
No. 20 Texas Tech (4-0) at Kansas (2-1)
Texas Tech is looking to start 5-0 for the first time since 2008, when the Red Raiders rose to No. 2 in the nation after knocking off top-ranked Texas. The Jayhawks are playing their Big 12 opener and seeking to stop a six-game skid against Texas Tech.
Kansas State (2-2) at No. 21 Oklahoma State (3-1)
Oklahoma State stumbled in its first Big 12 matchup last week, getting upset 30-21 by West Virginia and tumbling 10 spots in the AP poll. Kansas State, the defending conference champion which lost multiple key seniors, is coming off a bye week and hopes to avoid going 0-2 in Big 12 play after falling 31-21 at Texas on Sept. 21.
No. 22 Arizona State (3-1) vs. Notre Dame (3-2)
Arizona State could become the first team to beat Southern California and Notre Dame in consecutive weeks and solidify its position as a BCS bowl contender. A loss all but eliminates the Irish from BCS bowl consideration and sends them into a midseason bye week on a two-game losing streak.
No. 23 Fresno State (4-0) at Idaho (1-4)
Fresno State is looking to improve on its best start since 2001, and this is its nonconference game. The Bulldogs are in Top 25 for the first time since 2008, and seek to remain there. Idaho looking to retain momentum from its win over Temple in coach Paul Petrino’s first season.
No. 24 Mississippi (3-1) at Auburn (3-1, 1-1)
Both teams are trying to remain in position to finish in the upper half of the loaded SEC West and take another step forward for the programs. Auburn could top last year’s win total with a victory.
By Wire sources