After a wild week of top-25 matchups across college football, this weekend’s slate is quieter but still carries major playoff implications for teams tied to Texas, Mississippi, Utah and Colorado.
Only two games this week feature ranked opponents facing off, a sharp drop from last week’s run of marquee matchups. The first is a showdown between Ole Miss and Texas.
Ole Miss enters the game ranked 7th in the country with a 5-1 record and a 3-1 mark in SEC play. Their only loss came against Florida, and they beat Missouri last week. A loss to Texas would likely knock the Rebels down the rankings, but they would still have a path to playoff contention.
Texas is in a far more precarious spot. A loss would drop the Longhorns out of the rankings entirely and end their playoff hopes for the season. It would mark the second consecutive disappointing season for the program, which now needs to win out to have any shot at the postseason.
The other ranked matchup pits Houston against Utah in a Big 12 battle between two of the conference’s stronger teams this season, with the winner gaining real traction toward a College Football Playoff berth.
Houston sits at 6-1 and 14th in the national rankings. Their only loss came against Texas Tech, by just two points, and they have since reeled off four straight wins. Now they travel on the road looking to keep that streak alive.
Utah is undefeated at 6-0 and ranked 10th nationally. The Utes haven’t faced much tough competition so far this season, so this matchup could serve as their first real test. Last week brought their closest game yet, a 27-24 road win over a struggling Colorado team.
For readers looking to follow the action with some added incentive, Fanatics Sportsbook is offering new users a promotion tied to this week’s games: bet $20 on today’s NCAAF slate using promo code FOXNEWS350 and receive $350 in FanCash. As with all sportsbook offers, odds are subject to change.
