Now that we’ve reached Week 14, the college football games on the TV schedule today — and from here on out — mean a little more. Each top 25 game has the potential to have major consequences in the College Football Playoff picture. Will there be any surprises within the top 25 today?
Top 25 head-to-head college football games today
There are two tilts with both sides being in the top 25 for this week’s slate of the college football season.
#12 Indiana vs #16 Wisconsin — 3:30 PM ET | ABC
The Big Ten picture could get interesting. Ohio State appears to be firmly in the driver’s seat with their #4 ranking. However, they’ve already had two games canceled on them. One more cancelation and they could be in a spot where they haven’t played enough games to qualify for the conference championship. That scenario would make today’s game all the more important.
Wisconsin has only had three games this season and will not qualify, either. Still, they have a prime opportunity today to play spoiler in their game against Indiana. Indiana does have enough games to qualify, and with a win today, would be the East’s representative in the championship game, should Ohio State not qualify. A loss today wouldn’t knock Indiana out of that spot, but it would keep the Hoosiers out of any possible playoff talk.
This game should be close—perhaps the most exciting of the college football games on TV today.
Score prediction: Indiana 24, Wisconsin 27
#13 BYU vs #18 Coastal Carolina — 5:30 PM ET | ESPNU
Maybe the most intriguing top 25 college football game on TV today pits the undefeated BYU Cougars against the undefeated Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Like many throughout the college football season, this game was put together on the fly just this week. This stands to be a marquee matchup for an up-and-coming Coastal Carolina program. It may also give the Cougars the resume boost they need to be in the playoff discussion at the end of the season.
BYU is a team in desperate need of a “signature win.” Despite being undefeated and winning most of their games in impressive fashion, the playoff committee has sent a clear message that it’s not enough. BYU’s only win over a ranked opponent came two games ago, against then #21 Boise State. They won convincingly, but not enough to move up into contention. They hope a second-ranked opponent will provide the boost needed.
For Coastal Carolina’s part, this game presents the best opportunity to put their program on the map. CCU recently joined the FBS ranks, yet they have been one of the darlings of the 2020 season. A win today over a clearly better — on paper, at least — BYU team with a potential first-round QB would do wonders for the program. Not only would it provide a feather in their cap for this season, but it could also potentially vault them to a New Year’s Six bowl.
Needless to say, both teams are going to be hungry for the victory.
Score prediction: BYU 42, Coastal Carolina 28
Other top 25 games today — TV schedule
#4 Ohio State vs Michigan State — 12:00 PM ET | ABC
Score prediction: Ohio State 47, Michigan State 17
#5 Texas A&M vs Auburn — 12:00 PM ET | ESPN
Score prediction: Texas A&M 30, Auburn 24
#15 Oklahoma State vs TCU — 12:00 PM ET | ESPN2
Score prediction: Oklahoma State 27, TCU 24
Western Carolina vs #17 North Carolina — 12:00 PM ET | ACC Network
Score prediction: Western Carolina 6, North Carolina 54
Rice vs #21 Marshall — 12:00 PM ET | ESPN+
Score prediction: Rice 14, Marshall 42
Syracuse vs #2 Notre Dame — 2:30 PM ET | NBC
Score prediction: Syracuse 17, Notre Dame 45
#6 Florida vs Tennessee — 3:30 PM ET | CBS
Score prediction: Florida 45, Tennessee 10
West Virginia vs #9 Iowa State — 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
Score prediction: West Virginia 27, Iowa State 28 (The tightest score of any college football game today by my estimation).
#19 Iowa vs Illinois — 3:30 PM ET | FS1
Score prediction: Iowa 31, Illinois 17
#24 Tulsa vs Navy — 3:30 PM ET | ESPN2
Score prediction: Tulsa 31, Navy 20
Stanford vs #22 Washington — 4:00 PM ET | FOX
Score prediction: Stanford 21, Washington 31
#23 Oregon vs California — 7:00 PM ET | ESPN
Score prediction: Oregon 35, California 24
#3 Clemson vs Virginia Tech — 7:30 PM ET | ABC
Score prediction: Clemson 52, Virginia Tech 20
#1 Alabama vs LSU — 8:00 PM ET | CBS
Score prediction: Alabama 45, LSU 21
#10 Miami vs Duke — 8:00 PM ET | ACC Network
Score prediction: Miami 35, Duke 24
Baylor vs #11 Oklahoma — 8:00 PM ET | FOX
Score prediction: Baylor 24, Oklahoma 48
*The contest scheduled between Georgia and Vanderbilt got its Saturday schedule time canceled.
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