The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season were unveiled on Tuesday, and Week 10 could scramble them in a hurry. The schedule features nearly 60 games across Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with several matchups between ranked teams giving the weekend a postseason feel well before the playoff field is set.
Saturday's action opens at noon ET with a rare high-stakes edition of the Holy War, as No. 3 Utah hosts No. 9 BYU. It is only the fifth time both programs have been ranked entering the rivalry game, and the first time both schools have been in the top 10 of the AP poll. The Utes are favored by 5.5 points at home, with an over/under of 47.5.
The primetime headliner at 7:30 p.m. ET sends No. 1 Miami to No. 11 Notre Dame. The teams met in Week 1 of last season, and the result carried enormous weight: the Hurricanes reached the College Football Playoff largely on the strength of that win, while the Fighting Irish were left out. Both teams appear more secure in their playoff standing this time, but the seeding implications are clear. Notre Dame is a 7.5-point home favorite, with an over/under of 55.5.
The SEC alone accounts for four ranked matchups. No. 14 LSU hosts No. 5 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET in Baton Rouge, with both two-loss teams coming off bye weeks and the Tigers favored by 5.5 and an over/under of 52.5. At 7:30 p.m., No. 10 Ole Miss hosts No. 2 Georgia, a 3-point road favorite with an over/under of 56.5, in a game featuring Trinidad Chambliss and Gunner Stockton, billed as arguably the two most dynamic quarterbacks in the conference. Both programs responded to losses last week with dominant wins over significant rivals.
Elsewhere in the SEC, No. 13 Tennessee hosts No. 6 Kentucky at 6:15 p.m. ET. Both teams are coming off byes; Tennessee suffered a crushing loss to South Carolina before the break, while Kentucky had won six games in a row. The Volunteers have won five straight head-to-head and hold an 85-26-9 edge in the all-time series, and they are favored by 6.5 with an over/under of 50.5. At noon, No. 18 Missouri hosts No. 7 Texas. The Longhorns rebounded from back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida by beating Ole Miss and dominating Mississippi State, while Missouri is unbeaten at home and coming off a rout of Arkansas. Texas is favored by 3 on the road, with an over/under of 43.5.
In the Big Ten, No. 8 UCLA visits Minnesota at noon sitting alone atop the conference standings at 8-0 overall and 5-0 in league play. There has been no discernible drop-off with Ty Dieffenbach in the lineup after Nico Iamaleava was lost for the season, and Bob Chesney has quickly turned the Bruins into title contenders. Minnesota is coming off a devastating overtime loss to the defending national champions. UCLA is favored by 6.5, with an over/under of 39.5. Later, No. 12 Ohio State hosts Oregon at 3:30 p.m. ET in a game that once looked like a possible conference title or playoff preview. The Ducks now carry three losses, and the Buckeyes are adjusting with Julian Sayin out for the year. Ohio State is favored by 7, with an over/under of 52.5.
The week begins Thursday night with UTSA visiting FAU at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Roadrunners are 7-1 and 4-0 in AAC play, with a plausible playoff path if they win out, while the Owls are 5-3 and unbeaten at home. UTSA is favored by 7 on the road. Friday's slate includes Nebraska at Illinois, with both teams at 5-3 but trending in opposite directions: Bret Bielema's squad has won three straight while Matt Rhule's team has lost three in a row, though the Cornhuskers are favored by 4.5. Also Friday, Nevada visits New Mexico, whose only loss was a 14-6 defeat at Oklahoma and whose defense has not allowed more than 18 points in a game all season. Nevada was shut out by UCLA last week but has won six of the last eight in the series. New Mexico is favored by 10. In the late window, No. 22 Arizona hosts TCU after Noah Fifita's 417 passing yards were not enough in a road loss to Texas Tech last week. The Wildcats are favored by 9.5.
Saturday closes with No. 15 Texas Tech hosting West Virginia at 9:15 p.m. ET. With no BYU or Utah on its schedule, the Red Raiders' resume depends on reaching and winning the Big 12 Championship Game, making style points valuable down the stretch. West Virginia is a respectable 5-3 but begins a brutal run of three ranked opponents in four weeks. Texas Tech is favored by 17.5 at home, with an over/under of 63.5.
