The biggest college football game of the weekend is taking place in a baseball stadium.
No. 3 Notre Dame (No. 3 College Football Playoff ) will put its unbeaten record on the line when it faces No. 12 Syracuse (No. 12 CFP) at Yankee Stadium.
Both teams have a history at the new Yankee Stadium. Notre Dame beat Army in 2010 and knocked off Rutgers in the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl. Syracuse beat Kansas State in the 2010 Pinstripe Bowl and defeated West Virginia in the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl.
The only other matchups between ranked teams have No. 11 Central Florida (No. 11 CFP) hosting No. 19 Cincinnati (No. 24 CFP) and No. 18 Iowa State (No. 16 CFP) visiting No. 13 Texas (No. 15 CFP). Many Southeastern Conference teams are taking a break from league play, as No. 1 Alabama (No. 1 CFP) hosts The Citadel and No. 5 Georgia (No. 5 CFP) hosts Massachusetts.
Here are some things to know heading into Week 12 of the college football season.
BEST GAME
Notre Dame vs. Syracuse at New York
Who could have guessed at the start of the season that this matchup at Yankee Stadium would shape up as one of Notre Dame’s toughest challenges in its bid for a playoff berth?
In a year when some of the more prominent programs on Notre Dame’s schedule have endured disappointing seasons, Syracuse has emerged as one of the nation’s bigger surprises.
Syracuse’s fast-paced offense with quarterback Eric Dungey should test Notre Dame’s pass rush. Notre Dame also must hope quarterback Ian Book is sharp in his anticipated return after missing a game with an upper-body injury.
If Syracuse pulls the upset, Notre Dame could long regret the decision to move this game from South Bend to the Bronx.
HEISMAN WATCH
McKenzie Milton, UCF
While Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has all but etched his name on the Heisman Trophy, there’s plenty of mystery regarding who will join him in New York. This week represents Milton’s big chance to show he merits an invitation.
Milton and the Knights have feasted on overmatched foes for much of the season, but they face one of their toughest challenges Saturday when they host Cincinnati.
With the ESPN “College GameDay” crew heading to UCF this week, Milton will have a national stage to show how he’s improved as he tries leading the Knights to a second straight unbeaten season. Milton has thrown 21 touchdown passes with five interceptions. He also has eight touchdown runs.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0-3: The nonconference record of Big Ten West Division champion Northwestern . The 24th-ranked Wildcats (No. 22 CFP) are the first Power Five team to win a division title while going winless in nonconference play.
3: Every team in the Pac-12 South Division has at least three conference losses.
15: No. 6 Oklahoma (No. 6 CFP) has won 15 consecutive November games heading into its Saturday home game with Kansas. The Sooners haven’t lost in November since falling 48-14 to Baylor on Nov. 8, 2014.
17: No. 20 Kentucky (No. 17 CFP) hasn’t scored more than 17 points in a game since September.
25: Alabama is seeking a school-record 25th consecutive home victory when it hosts The Citadel. Alabama won 24 straight home games from 1971-74.
UNDER THE RADAR
UAB at Texas A&M
UAB’s rise has been one of college football’s best stories this season.
UAB shut down its program in a cost-cutting measure after the 2014 season. The Blazers reversed the decision six months later amid a public outcry but didn’t play any games in 2015 or 2016.
Now the Blazers are 8-1 and have a shot to reach the Conference USA championship game. First they will leave conference play and test themselves against a Power Five opponent.
Texas A&M is a 17-point favorite but has a habit of late-season fades, something that first-year coach Jimbo Fisher is trying to change. UAB averages 3.8 sacks per game to lead all Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
HOT SEAT WATCH
Mike MacIntyre, Colorado
Colorado won its first five games this season and was ranked as high as 19th.
Much has changed since.
The Buffaloes have followed up that 5-0 start with five straight losses and now are simply trying to become bowl eligible amid reports suggesting MacIntyre’s job is in jeopardy. Colorado athletic director Rick George issued a statement Monday saying that “I have made no decisions regarding the future of the football program.”
Colorado hosts No. 21 Utah (No. 19 CFP) on Saturday before closing the regular season at California.
MacIntyre owns a 30-43 record in six seasons at Colorado, including a Pac-12 championship game appearance two years ago.
