Previewing Week 14 of the NCAA Football Schedule
The College Football Playoff picture is becoming a bit clearer as the season winds down. It seems like just yesterday that the season was getting underway and now we’re less than a month out from the beginning of the first-ever 12-team playoff.
The end of college football’s regular season also means it’s rivalry weekend. College football rivalries are some of the best in all of sports, with some matchups going back nearly a century. Not every rivalry matchup will have an impact on the postseason, but there are plenty that do. We’ve got you covered with the NCAA Football Week 14 matchup that you need to get yourself ready for College Football’s annual rivalry weekend.
Michigan Wolverines (6-5) @ (2) Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1)
Noon ET | Fox | Buckeyes -21
Ohio State fans who have been critical of coach Ryan Day’s inability to knock off the Wolverines may run out of ammunition this weekend. The Wolverines, in their first season without Jim Harbaugh as head coach, have struggled to a 6-5 record and are completely out of the College Football Playoff picture. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are just a week removed from knocking off fifth-ranked Indiana.
If Ohio State wins this matchup with rival Michigan, it will punch its ticket to the Big 10 Championship Game. Ohio State would earn the right to face off against top-ranked Oregon, which would present the Buckeyes with an opportunity to avenge their only loss of the season. Should Ohio State lose, either Indiana or Penn State would have the chance to face Oregon, as both of those schools can thank OSU for their only losses this season.
As 21-point home favorites, it seems unlikely that Ohio State is going to drop this one, especially with so much on the line. Michigan’s defense may make it tough for Ohio State to move the ball early, but ultimately, the Buckeyes’ offense is just too deep, especially at the skill positions, for Michigan and its anemic offense to keep up.
(3) Texas Longhorns (10-1) @ (20) Texas A&M Aggies (8-3)
7:30 PM ET | ABC | Longhorns -5.5
There is plenty on the line in the battle for the Lone Star State. The last time Texas and Texas A&M played this rivalry game, Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) kicked a game-winner that put the Longhorns on top. The following season, the Aggies moved to the SEC, and it looked like the rivalry was dead. Now, Texas is in the SEC and this rivalry is back.
The potential playoff implications in this one are a bit one-sided. With the madness that was unleashed in Week 13, it seems unlikely that Texas (10-1) will miss the postseason, even if they drop this one against the Aggies. However, Texas A&M has to have a win here to keep its playoff hopes alive under first-year head coach Mike Elko. Those playoff hopes took a hit last week with a quadruple overtime loss to Auburn. However, a win in this game puts TAMU in the SEC Championship game, giving them a shot at an automatic postseason bid.
It looks like Texas QB Quinn Ewers is going to play this weekend after injuring his ankle against Kentucky. If Texas has all of its playmakers, it has the offensive advantage over a TAMU team that’s missing its lead running back. This one’s going to be a fight, but if A&M can find enough of a rushing game to control the clock, the Aggies can keep their dreams alive.
(5) Notre Dame (10-1) @ USC Trojans (6-5)
3:30 PM ET | CBS | Fighting Irish -7.5
There are going to be some two-loss teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff, but a loss here could prevent the Fighting Irish from being one of them. On the surface, that seems unthinkable, but Notre Dame has an upset loss to Northern Illinois on its resume, no conference title game to earn a spot into, and a loss to another unranked team could push the Irish out of the picture completely.
For what it’s worth, the Trojans haven’t had the season they were expecting. The team has struggled mightily since joining the Big 12 and has limped to five losses. However, none of those losses have been blowouts. Every Trojan loss this season has been by one possession and three of their five losses have come by three points or less.
Ultimately, this one probably goes to the Irish who can lock themselves into the postseason. USC is putting up only 29 points per game and hasn’t scored more than 28 since October 25. Meanwhile, the Irish have one of the best defenses in the nation, giving up only 11.6 points per game. It’s going to take a near miracle for the Trojans to pull the upset here, but if they’re fueled by the chance to knock their rival out of postseason contention, it could happen.
(24) Kansas State Wildcats (8-3) @ (18) Iowa State Cyclones (9-2)
7:30 PM ET | Fox | Cyclones -2.5
It looked like Iowa State was going to be left out of the Big 12 title picture, but things took a major turn in favor of the Cyclones last week when Colorado fell to Kansas and BYU lost to Arizona State. Now, the Cyclones control their own destiny when it comes to making their second appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game. Standing in the Cyclones' way is the Kansas State Wildcats, who at 8-3 are ranked in the top 25.
This game, dubbed “Farmageddon,” has potential implications for both sides, though the path for Kansas State is a bit different. The Wildcats will know by kickoff if they’re playing for a spot in the Big 12 titles game, as they need a lot of help to get in. Iowa State is playing for the chance to face off with Arizona State for a shot at the Big 12 title and a playoff berth.
This game will likely come down to the Cyclones’ receiving duo of Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, who have been the most productive pair of receivers in the nation this season. The two have combined with 138 receptions and more than 2,000 yards on the season. No other Iowa State receiver has more than 16 receptions on the season. Iowa State is a slim favorite in this one, but if Kansas State comes in knowing they have nothing to gain, the Cyclones may have an easier time punching their ticket to the Big 12 Championship than the spread indicates.
(8) Tennessee Volunteers (9-2) @ Vanderbilt Commodores (6-5)
Noon ET | ABC | Volunteers -10.5
Tennessee fans did the unthinkable last week when footage surfaced of Big Orange Nation doing Florida’s signature gator chomp in Neyland Stadium. This was their response to Florida upsetting Ole Miss, which kept Tennessee’s playoff hopes alive. In most seasons, this game wouldn’t be worth discussing, but this hasn’t been most seasons, at least not for the Commodores. Vanderbilt already knocked off Alabama this season, and a win over Tennessee would mark the first time Vandy has beaten both schools since 1984.
Vanderbilt has no chance at the CFP, but the school is bowl-eligible and can improve its position with a win over in-state rival Tennessee. Tennessee has much more on the line, as a win in Nashville will put them in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
This game will likely be decided in the trenches, even if the box score doesn’t show it. Tennessee’s defensive front is ferocious this season, and Vanderbilt’s offensive line is the team’s biggest weakness. While this game probably won’t be the blowout that it’s been in the past, you should probably expect the Vols to pick up the win and cruise into the postseason.
(6) Miami Hurricanes (10-1) @ Syracuse Orange (8-3)
3:30 PM ET | ESPN | Hurricanes -10.5
The formula for Miami is simple. If the Hurricanes win in Syracuse on Saturday, they’ll be in the ACC Championship game and will have a solid chance at making the College Football Playoff no matter how that game goes. Behind Cam Ward, who is projected to go in the early part of the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Hurricanes have put together a great season, and head into this conference game with only one loss on their record.
The Orange, who have locked themselves into a bowl game already, aren’t going to make the playoffs, but they can play the spoiler against a long-term rival. Outside of his nightmare game against Pittsburgh, Syracuse QB Kyle McCord (formerly of Ohio State) has looked great this season. This Orange offense may be the most expensive that Miami has run into this season. Both teams can score, but Miami’s defense gives the Canes the edge in this one.