It’s Week 11, and as fans, we should be thankful there are games on the college football TV schedule today at all. It’s been a trying week across the college football landscape. Four games today featuring top 25 ranked teams were canceled in the SEC. One such game was canceled in the Big Ten. On top of that, on a more personal note, Penn State running back Journey Brown was forced to medically retire due to a heart condition.
However, despite all that, the games continue. There are still several great games on the TV schedule across college football today. The Pac-12 got their season openers out of the way last week and get to really ramp things up today. Meanwhile, a number of teams with ambitions on the College Football Playoff face potential trap games. This week could be wild, so let’s take a look at each of the college football games on the TV schedule today.
ACC college football games today — TV schedule
#9 Miami at Virginia Tech — 12:00 PM ET | ESPN
The Miami Hurricanes have bounced back from an embarrassing loss to #1 Clemson to reel off three straight victories. They’re averaging just short of 35 points per game this season behind the University of Houston transfer, D’Eriq King. Miami sits at #9 in the polls. Yet they come into today’s game as two-point underdogs against a Virginia Tech team who is unranked and just 4-3 on the season.
Something about that doesn’t seem right to me. Miami has played down to its competition recently, beating North Carolina State and Virginia by a combined eight points. However, that is not enough to think Tech pulls the upset. The game may be closer than some Hurricanes fans may like, but Miami should come out of Blacksburg victorious.
Score prediction: Miami 35, Virginia Tech 31
Wake Forest at North Carolina — 12:00 PM ET | ACC Network
Score prediction: North Carolina 42, Wake Forest 27
#2 Notre Dame at Boston College — 3:30 PM ET | ABC
Notre Dame is coming off the biggest win the school has had in recent memory. They’re sitting at #2 in the rankings and atop the ACC. With only North Carolina expected to pose a challenge, at least on paper, on their remaining schedule, the Irish seem poised to finally make an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Could that make today’s game against Boston College a trap game?
I highly doubt it. Notre Dame is cruising, and Ian Book seems to have finally learned how to play within himself. He has this team firing on all cylinders, and I don’t see any reason to believe that won’t continue with today’s game. Like many of the top 25 games today, expect a blowout. Notre Dame should win, and win big.
Score prediction: Notre Dame 38, Boston College 14
Louisville at Virginia — 3:30 PM ET | ACC Network
Score prediction: Louisville 30, Virginia 28
Florida State at North Carolina State — 7:30 PM ET | ACC Network
Score prediction: Florida State 24, NC State 38
AAC games today — TV schedule
Army at Tulane — 12:00 PM ET | ESPN+
Score prediction: Army 30, Tulane 14
South Florida at Houston — 3:30 PM ET | ESPN2
Score prediction: Houston 38, South Florida 27
#19 SMU at Tulsa — 7:00 PM ET | ESPN2
The SMU Mustangs and Shane Buechele come into today’s college football game against Tulsa as one of the nation’s most prolific offenses. They rank near the top in both points per game and passing yards per game. The team also boasts a fairly strong defense, giving up less than 30 points per game. However, most of that damage comes against a weak schedule. When the Mustangs have run up against stiff competition, results have varied.
Tulsa isn’t going to back down from the Mustangs. While they don’t have the Mustangs’ high-flying offense, they have a strong defense allowing just over 21 points per game and under 400 yards per game. This game may be closer than people think and end up being one of the more fun top 25 games today. SMU should be on upset alert for today’s game, but I think they take home the W.
Score prediction: SMU 28, Tulsa 21
Temple at Central Florida — 7:30 PM ET | ESPNU
Score prediction: Temple 10, UCF 42
Big Ten games today — TV schedule
#10 Indiana at Michigan State — 12:00 PM ET | ABC
The Big Ten is only in their fourth week of the season, but if you had told me before the season started that Indiana would be in the top 10 at any point, I would have laughed. It’s high time that I, and the rest of the nation, start taking the Hoosiers seriously. They’re undefeated on the season and roll into East Lansing to face a struggling Michigan State team.
If things break right for the Hoosiers in the coming weeks, they could easily crash the College Football Playoff party. They’re going to have to keep rolling, though, and that starts with today’s game against the Spartans. Look for Indiana to jump out to an early lead and never look back. A win in today’s game gives college football a huge showdown next weekend, as Indiana faces Ohio State. A game that could have not only Big Ten implications but national title ones as well.
Score prediction: Indiana 34, Michigan State 20
Penn State at Nebraska — 12:00 PM ET | FS1
Score prediction: Penn State 31, Nebraska 17
Illinois at Rutgers — 1:00 PM ET | Big Ten Network
Score prediction: Illinois 17, Rutgers 27
#23 Northwestern at Purdue — 5:00 PM ET | Big Ten Network
The college football TV schedule today has a combination of games that will intrigue everyone. Perhaps nowhere is that more on display than in the Northwestern versus Purdue game. On one side, you have a powerful rushing attack with Northwestern that’s averaging over 200 yards per game. On the other side, a passing attack headed by one of the Big Ten’s breakout stars, David Bell, averaging well over 300 yards per game through the air. As if that wasn’t enough, this game also features red-hot defenses, as the Boilermakers give up only 22 points per game, while the Wildcats allow a paltry 12.
Something is going to have to give in this game. Is the rushing attack going to prove triumphant, or will passing rule the day? Can a great defense smother a well-oiled offensive machine? This should be one of the best games on the TV schedule today.
Score prediction: Northwestern 21, Purdue 17
#13 Wisconsin at Michigan — 7:30 PM ET | ABC
Due to postponements and cancellations, Wisconsin has played just one game this season, where most of their Big Ten brethren have three games under their belts. However, Wisconsin is back on the college football TV schedule today with a game against Michigan. Wisconsin comes in as the 13th-ranked team in the nation, with a 45-7 drubbing of Illinois on their resume.
On the other side, Michigan comes in struggling, to say the least. After winning their season opener against #21 Minnesota in convincing fashion, the Wolverines have dropped two straight against Michigan State and Indiana. That’s not a great recipe for success with a team coming in that looked to be very strong in their only game. Just how rusty will Wisconsin be after having an extended break? Not rusty enough to be on upset alert. Harbaugh and the Wolverines, once a college football powerhouse, look poised for a three-game losing streak after today’s game.
Score prediction: Wisconsin 37, Michigan 28
Big 12 college football games today — TV schedule
TCU at West Virginia — 12:00 PM ET | FOX
Score prediction: TCU 24, West Virginia, 27
Baylor at Texas Tech — 4:00 PM ET | FS1
Score prediction: Baylor 31, Texas Tech 28
Conference USA games today — TV schedule
Middle Tennessee at #16 Marshall — 12:00 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
If you haven’t been paying attention to Marshall this season, it’s high time you start. Ranked #16 in the nation, the Herd boasts a balanced attack on offense, with both the rushing and passing elements of the offense averaging over 200 yards per game. Where Marshall is really finding success, however, is with their defense. Through six games this season, the Herd defense is allowing just 9.5 points per game.
Middle Tennessee comes in fresh off a double-overtime thriller two weeks ago against Rice after losing three of their previous four games. One of the lesser-anticipated top 25 games today, this game is a complete mismatch on paper, and I expect it’ll play out similarly on the field. Look for Marshall to score early and often and for Middle Tennessee to struggle to move the ball.
Score prediction: Marshall 32, Middle Tennessee 10
UTEP at UTSA — 3:00 PM ET | ESPN+
Score prediction: UTEP 21, UTSA 30
North Texas at UAB — 3:00 PM ET | Stadium Network
Score prediction: North Texas 28, UAB 34
Southern Miss at Western Kentucky — 3:30 PM ET | CBS Sports Network
Score prediction: Southern Miss 20, Western Kentucky 31
Mountain West games today — TV schedule
Fresno State at Utah State — 2:30 PM ET | FS2
Score prediction: Fresno State 34, Utah State 21
Hawaii at San Diego State — 4:00 PM ET | Stadium Network
Score prediction: San Diego State 28, Hawaii 24
Nevada at New Mexico — 6:30 PM ET | FS2
Score prediction: Nevada 41, New Mexico 24
UNLV at San Jose State — 10:30 PM ET | FS2
Score prediction: UNLV 24, San Jose State 45
Pac-12 games today — TV schedule
#20 USC at Arizona — 3:30 PM ET | FOX
A week after having their season opener canceled due to health and safety concerns, the Arizona Wildcats join the college football world with their game today against USC. For their part, USC gets to complete their early-season tour of Arizona this week, following a one-point victory over Arizona State last week.
Kedon Slovis and the Trojans may not have been firing on all cylinders last week, but they walked away with the win, and that’s what’s important. Now that the first game jitters are out of the way and the rust has been knocked off look for the Trojans to put together a more complete performance than what we saw last week in what should be one of the more entertaining top 25 games today.
Score prediction: USC 34, Arizona 20
Colorado at Stanford — 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
Score prediction: Stanford 41, Colorado 30
#11 Oregon at Washington State — 7:00 PM ET | FOX
The Oregon Ducks kicked off the post-Justin Herbert era in style last week, with a 35-14 victory at home over Stanford. Now the Ducks get to go on the road for the first time with their new quarterback, as a visit to Washington State looming large on today’s college football TV schedule.
Washington State is coming into today’s game with a perfect record of their own, notching a 38-28 win over Oregon State. The game today could have major college football playoff implications, as the Ducks are knocking on the door of the top 10 with several big games awaiting on the schedule. If the Cougars were to pull off the upset today, it could all but ruin any chances the conference has of a playoff berth.
Score prediction: Oregon 31, Washington State 20
Oregon State at Washington — 11:00 PM ET | FS1
Score prediction: Oregon State 28, Washington 40
SEC games today — TV schedule
Vanderbilt at Kentucky — 12:00 PM ET | SEC Network
Score prediction: Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 14
Arkansas at #6 Florida — 7:00 PM ET | ESPN
Kyle Trask and the Florida Gators are knocking on the door of the top five and are on the outside looking in of the college football playoff right now. Their chances of playoff glory aren’t over, but they’re going to need some help if they want to be one of the last four standing.
Of all the top 25 games today, this one may have the most drastic consequences if an upset were to occur. Felipe Franks and the Arkansas Razorbacks would love nothing more than to help put an end to those playoff aspirations for the Gators. Franks, a former gator, has his new team sitting at 3-3 in the conference, which includes a win over #16 Mississippi State. Florida is certainly the more high-powered offense, but they’d be wise not to overlook the Razorbacks
Score prediction: Arkansas 27, Florida 31
South Carolina at Ole Miss — 7:30 PM ET | SEC Network
Score prediction: South Carolina 31, Ole Miss 43
Sun Belt college football games today — TV schedule
South Alabama at #25 Louisiana — 2:00 PM ET | ESPN+
The “Fun Belt” had their biggest game on the college football TV schedule today canceled, leaving the conference with only one top 25 game. However, the Louisville Ragin’ Cajuns are here to prove that Coastal Carolina isn’t the only Sun Belt team the nation should be paying attention to. Behind dual-threat quarterback Levi Lewis, Louisiana comes in with a three-game win streak. They have a win over a ranked Iowa State team and a close loss to the aforementioned Coastal Carolina on their resume.
South Alabama is simply outmatched in their game today. Louisiana should cruise to a victory, leaving only two games on their schedule before a season-ending showdown versus Sun Belt royalty Appalachian State, in a game that could decide the conference should Coastal Carolina falter at some point.
Score prediction: South Alabama 13, Louisiana 31
Georgia State at Appalachian State — 2:30 PM ET | ESPN+
Score prediction: Georgia State 20, Appalachian State 38
Texas State at Georgia Southern — 3:30 PM ET | ESPN3
Score prediction: Texas State 21, Georgia Southern 30
Independents games today — TV schedule
Western Carolina at #22 Liberty — 12:00 PM ET | ESPNU
There really isn’t a whole lot to say about this game on the college football TV schedule. The Liberty Flames are for real, and their 38-35 victory last week over Virginia Tech proved it. They’re 7-0 on the season and sit just outside the top 20 overall. Malik Willis is doing it all for this team, leading in both passing yards and rushing yards while accounting for 19 total touchdowns.
Western Carolina has just three games on their schedule this season, and they couldn’t be starting their season with a tougher matchup. Liberty, in one of the less-heralded top 25 games today, should easily push their record to 8-0 as they continue their surprising climb in the polls.
Score prediction: Western Carolina 10, Liberty 51
You can follow Chris on Twitter @CSpoonerPFN and Pro Football Network @PFN365.