There are only three weeks left in college football’s regular season, and the playoff race is heating up. Here are some important games outside of Texas and the Big 12 Conference on the schedule this Saturday.
No. 3 Michigan (9-0, 6-0 in Big Ten) at No.10 Penn State (8-1, 5-1), 11 a.m. CT, Fox
The undefeated Wolverines travel to a hostile atmosphere in Happy Valley amid a high-profile cheating scandal. Michigan has moved through its schedule with ease, while Penn State’s youth has shown against elite opponents. Can the Nittany Lions’ defense keep it in the game enough to pull off a win?
***
No.18 Utah (7-2, 4-2 in PAC-12) at No.5 Washington (9-0,6-0), 2:30 p.m. CT, Fox
Utah has stayed afloat in the PAC-12 despite its depth being tested all season. A win for the Utes this weekend would shake things up in the conference title race. Meanwhile, Washington is looking to strengthen its case for the College Football Playoff behind its dynamic offense after a few close calls over the last month.
***
No.13 Tennessee (7-2, 3-2 in SEC) at No.14 Missouri (7-2,3-2), 2:30 p.m. CT, CBS
The winner of this game takes sole possession of second place in the SEC East. Neither will surpass Georgia, but both will be in a good position for a quality bowl game. Tennessee may not be as good as it was last season, but the Volunteers are still a good team. Missouri has become one of the great stories in college football this season and pushed No.2 Georgia to the brink last week.
***
No.9 Ole Miss (8-1, 5-1 in SEC) at No.2 Georgia (9-0, 6-0), 6 p.m. CT, ESPN
Ole Miss’ only loss came against No.8 Alabama after an uncharacteristically stagnant offensive outing. Since then, Ole Miss has won five in a row, and Georgia is the most challenging of its remaining opponents. The Rebels have an outside shot at the College Football Playoff if they can win out, but a New Year’s Six Bowl is more likely. Meanwhile, Georgia can boost its resume by beating a top-12 opponent for the second week in a row.
