The gluttony begins early this November with Saturday’s all-you-can-gorge-yourself buffet of faculty soccer. We haven’t had a season-defining slate of video games but, however that’s solely as a result of it was all backlogged for Nov. 4. There are 5 top-25 matchups, and a litany of consequential video games on high of that, so clear your schedule and digestive tract, as a result of there’s a complete helluva lot of soccer and chili cheese fries incoming.
I’ll simply go by chronological order as a result of it’s simpler, and can illustrate all the explanations to tempo your self this weekend.
No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas
Final season’s Huge 12 champs are again within the high 25, and get an opportunity to ship Longhorn devoted spiraling into despair one final time. Texas QB Quinn Ewers remains to be sidelined with a shoulder harm, so backup Maalik Murphy will make his second begin.
Every week in the past, UT dealt with its midseason bowl recreation in opposition to BYU with ease, and up to date historical past is just not favorable to the Wildcats, however by no means underestimate Steve Sarkisian’s potential to play to the opponent.
Texas A&M at No. 10 Ole Miss
Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies aren’t superb, they usually’ll look to show that once more in The Grove. The explanation I’m highlighting this recreation is as a result of it’ll be enjoyable watching both of those coaches lose. Lane Kiffin’s group hasn’t performed anybody aside from Alabama, and the Rebels would love to enter Georgia subsequent week after a resume-strengthening displaying.
If Ole Miss can put it on Fisher, A&M will drop to 5-4 with a bevy of offended boosters nervously chattering concerning the path of this system with their largest, most hated rival set to return to their lives for the 2024 season.
No. 15 Notre Dame at Clemson
The schadenfreude continues within the early window as each outcomes ought to present levity. Dabo Swinney spent the week screaming at callers on Tiger Speak, and in the event that they fall beneath .500 this late within the season, they’re going to wish some heady producers to display all of the vitriol awaiting Swinney the following time the telephone traces open.
For the Irish, they’re nonetheless searching for a path out of ruining Sam Hartman’s swan music, and a intestine punch in opposition to the QB’s previous ACC rival feels extra probably than a School Soccer Playoff miracle.
No. 12 Missouri at No. 2 Georgia
God assist any program taking part in a motivated Georgia. The reigning back-to-back champs opened up because the No. 2 workforce within the CFP rankings, and that needs to be greater than sufficient bulletin board materials for Kirby Good. Mizzou’s solely loss this season got here in opposition to LSU in a shootout, and if they will get into the 30s — I do know, it’s a tricky ask — this recreation ought to go 4 quarters.
School soccer followers hold ready for UGA to get examined by a workforce able to hanging with them, however every time Carson Beck takes one other step. He did it in opposition to Kentucky, after which once more versus Florida however that point with out Brock Bowers. The Tigers have put up factors all yr, and for the sake of selection, let’s hope that pattern continues Saturday.
No. 9 Oklahoma at No. 22 Oklahoma State
The ultimate in-conference assembly between these two in-state rivals goes to get ugly, and I’m not speaking a couple of lopsided contest. No matter occurs — good recreation, or blowout — Okie State followers shall be so venomous it’ll leak out of the TV display. Mike Gundy goes to offer Brent Venables the iciest postgame handshake on file, or straight-up slap him, with no in-between.
Huge 12 titles and CFP berths shall be secondary within the 118th iteration of Bedlam, and when you get pleasure from sports activities hatred in its purest type, this can be a can’t-miss matchup. Severely, Sooner followers debating attending this historic affair ought to say goodbye to their family members and take out a life insurance coverage coverage earlier than stepping foot into Boone Pickens Stadium.
No. 5 Washington at No. 20 USC
The Trojans have been relegated to spoiler, and that ought to frighten the Huskies. It’s laborious to play unfastened when your season is one slip-up away from happening the drain, and Michael Penix is studying what Caleb Williams found out a yr in the past.
The Huskies adopted their large victory over Oregon with a few shut wins over Pac-12 cellar dwellers Stanford and Arizona State, and may’t afford to fiddle with the Trojans. U-Dub must get out in entrance early, and deflate the Colosseum crowd, or threat a shootout with probably the most terrifying quarterback in school soccer.
No. 14 LSU at No. 8 Alabama
Types make fights, and Nick Saban higher hope Jalen Milroe’s jab is working, as a result of Jayden Daniels and LSU will rating factors. The Tide offense has solely topped greater than 30 factors on one SEC opponent (Mississippi State), and can’t depend on defensive scores to bail them out in opposition to a workforce as gifted as LSU.
Sure, Brian Kelly will inevitably value the Tigers factors, or an additional possession, however this ’Bama protection isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it unit like so many previous Saban teams. Whereas the LSU protection is by far leakier, limiting massive performs will go a good distance in opposition to an Alabama workforce that depends on them.
No. 16 Oregon State at Colorado, or No. 24 UCLA at Arizona
For those who’re nonetheless aware for Pac-12 After Darkish motion, each late begins characteristic intriguing matchups with a little bit to lots on the road. Oregon State and UCLA are attempting to maintain their Pac-12 title recreation hopes alive, whereas Colorado and Arizona are eyeing bowl berths.
The Wildcats solely want yet one more win to earn eligibility whereas Deion Sanders’ squad wants two to finish their turnaround. With just one Pac-12 win this season, the Buffs have 4 probabilities in opposition to colleges forward of them within the standings to keep away from an unceremonious exit from the convention.
