There’s obviously only one college football game that matters today. And to be clear, for some of us it’s dang near the only college football game that really matters period.
But we understand that you need to do something with those few hours prior to kick off in Jacksonville, so let’s look at what else is on the Early college football slate. There are actually some games of genuine national importance in the noon slot. Including.
No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 4 Ohio State, 12 p.m. | FOX
Big Nude Saturday brings you the game of the day among national viewers as Ohio State looks to rebound from a tough couple of weeks by ruining James Franklin’s weekend. This one really is for poll position behind Oregon in the Big Ten, which is a weird thing to say. Also weird to say, because I kind of want to see how Ohio State responds to taking their second loss of the season I think I may be rooting for a team coached by James Franklin. I think I may need a shower.
No. 5 Miami (Fla.) vs. Duke, 12 p.m. | ABC/ESPN+
I just can’t shake off the suspicion that at some points the wheels are going to come off for the Hurricanes, though I don’t know when or where. So I’m going to continue to tune in, check the radar, and wait for this system to hit some wind sheer aloft and come apart before it makes landfall in the playoffs.
No. 19 Ole Miss vs. Arkansas, 12 p.m. | ESPN
When played after dark this game perennially shoves 10 pounds of crazy into a 5 pound sack like no other. Played at high noon, it sets up as a serious mental challenge for an Ole Miss team that has already seen many of its lofty aspirations for 2024 fall by the wayside. Be careful Rebel Alliance, it’s a trap.
No. 24 Illinois vs. Minnesota, 12 p.m. | FS1
Bret Bielema’s boys look to bounce back from their first defeat of the season and stay alive in the Big Ten race, which is probably something no one has said about Illinois in November in quite some time.
No. 21 Army vs. Air Force, 12 p.m. | CBS/Paramount+
Hi! Hi! Hey! The Army keeps rolling along. Today they head west to take on the Air Force Academy with a chance to slide into the AP top 20 in the polls for the first time in a generation.
Oklahoma vs. Maine, 12 p.m. | ESPN+/SEC Network
OK, I’m not actually sure why you would be tuning into this game other than out of sheer morbid curiosity over how far Brent Venables Sooners could potentially fall in what has turned into a disappointing maiden voyage through the SEC schedule. But it is on the television, how you spend your time as your own decision, I won’t judge.
We’ll be back shortly with your World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party First Half Open Thread. Until then, remember that Gators eat boogers, and …..
Go ‘Dawgs!!!