Visits: 1
Nov. 3: No. 6 West Virginia (5-0) vs. No. 9 Texas (5-1). The Big 12 rematches its two best contenders in its conference title game. But teams without a date against the titans Georgia, Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State (6-0) or No. 1 Alabama (6-0) probably cannot survive so much as one late-season loss.
Nov. 3: No. 1 Alabama (6-0) vs. No. 13 Louisiana State (5-1). Yes, these two. It is slightly incredible to think that, as Alabama’s head coach, Nick Saban had a losing record against Louisiana State — 2-3 — before the 2011 national championship game. Including the Crimson Tide’s 21-0 win there, Alabama has won the last seven. As insurance against another juggernaut Georgia team, Alabama should really try for an undefeated regular season.
Nov. 10: No. 8 Penn State (4-1) vs. No. 15 Wisconsin (5-1). The Nittany Lions’ postseason prospects are contingent on running the table as impressively as possible after last month’s near win against Ohio State. Particularly if the Badgers win at Michigan this Saturday, their trip to Madison will be crucial.
Nov. 17: No. 25 Cincinnati (6-0) vs. No. 10 Central Florida (5-0). Last season, Central Florida notoriously declared itself “national champion” after going 12-0 and then defeating Auburn in the Peach Bowl. But if this season the Knights want people outside the Orlando-Kissimmee metropolitan area to agree, they will need luck, probably a Notre Dame loss, the playoff committee’s dispensation and, most of all, no losses. Along with the following week’s game at No. 23 South Florida (5-0), this will be their toughest test.
Nov. 23: No. 7 Washington (5-1) vs. Washington State (5-1). After Stanford’s second loss, the final chance for the Pacific-12 not to be locked out of the playoff for a second consecutive year — and three of five — is for the Huskies to win all their remaining games. This very much includes the post-Thanksgiving Apple Cup, which this season is in Pullman against Coach Mike Leach’s curiously unranked Cougars.
Dec. 1 (potentially): No. 1 Alabama (6-0) vs. No. 2 Georgia (6-0) How consequential will this SEC conference championship game be? It’s a potential rematch of last season’s national title game (in the same Atlanta stadium to boot), featuring the current top-two teams.
Actually, if both the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide enter December undefeated, their game may matter not very much — they may both be shoo-ins. But if it features a clear favorite and a clear underdog, and the favorite wins, that could make room for one more spot in the final bracket — a spot that undefeated Notre Dame, undefeated Central Florida or the Big 12 champion would be glad to have for itself.