Top College Football Games in Week 13 of 2015 Season
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
While the opportunity for many teams to claim a spot in the college football playoffs is now out of reach, there are still several top games with playoff implications and teams that can play spoiler during “Rivalry Week.”
With the holiday season upon us, college football action starts early this week with six games featuring ranked teams squaring off on Friday. Three of the games are must see with No. 15 Navy traveling to Houston, No. 4 Iowa heading to Nebraska, and No. 7 Baylor taking on No. 19 TCU.
American Athletic Conference
Of the Group of Five Conferences, Navy is the last team standing with a shot at a high profile bowl after Connecticut did the unthinkable last week knocking off previously undefeated Houston 20-17. The Midshipmen (9-1, 7-0) will take on the Cougars for the right to represent the West Division in the AAC Championship Game. Connecticut could play spoiler yet again traveling this week to No. 25 Temple forcing a potential tie atop the East Division with South Florida should the Owls lose.
Atlantic Coast Conference
The ACC Championship Game is wrapped up with No. 1 Clemson set to take on No. 14 North Carolina but both teams have an opportunity to pad their regular season resume with games against South Carolina and North Carolina State respectively. The Tar Heels, in theory, are still in play for a possible playoff berth if several teams crumble and a win against Clemson is to be had, but highly unlikely.
The ACC has four non-conference games against SEC teams this week; Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Louisville vs. Kentucky, No. 1 Clemson vs. South Carolina, and No. 13 Florida State vs. No. 12 Florida. No game means more than the Seminoles vs. Gators annual showdown. Florida has a chance to leapfrog back into the playoff picture if they can close out with a win over FSU and then Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. FSU can play spoiler to Florida while giving the conference some added bragging rights on the message boards and on the recruiting trail.
Big Ten
The Big Ten does not have the out of conference schedule to help college football fans decide if the top teams are legitimate or not. Iowa has secured a spot in the Big Ten Championship game but must close out by beating Nebraska on the road to stay in the hunt for a playoff berth. Michigan State, at least for a week, has knocked Ohio State out of the immediate running for a playoff spot. OSU faces Michigan in Week 13 and Michigan State travels to Penn State. If MSU beats PSU, the Spartans are in the Big Ten Championship Game. If OSU beats Michigan and MSU falters, the Buckeyes have a chance to get right back into the thick of things.
Big 12
After standout seasons by Baylor and TCU a year ago and then the conference getting shutout of the first ever FBS playoffs, the Big 12 desperately needs No. 3 Oklahoma to knockoff No. 11 Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Rivalry game.
Should OSU upset OU, Baylor is a longshot to get into the playoffs now facing a TCU team whose value has diminished and then ending the season against a currently 4-6 Texas squad in Week 14.
Pac-12
Sadly, the biggest game coming out of the Pac-12 is not an in-conference game but a non-conference game pitting No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Stanford. The Fighting Irish have to win to stay in the hunt but are not assured anything after Championship Weekend. Notre Dame fans are praying Oklahoma, Iowa, and Michigan State all lose. If Oklahoma and Iowa or Michigan State wins out, Notre Dame will more than likely be shutout of the playoffs. At No. 9 Stanford appears to be too far out of the running to jump back into the picture, even with a win over Notre Dame, unless a blowout victory impresses the committee plus a few other dominoes fall.
The sad part of the Pac-12 lineup this week is not the games on the docket but that the South Division has been ransacked with an 8-3 UCLA team being the only ranked squad with USC, Utah, and Arizona State all falling out of the Top 25 after various stints in the rankings. Even if UCLA beats USC this week, the Bruins may not be ranked high enough for the Cardinal in the Pac-12 Championship Game should Stanford win to help propel them into the playoff picture as a two-loss conference champ.
SEC
Two smaller games of note take place this week in the SEC, Missouri goes for win number six in what could be Gary Pinkel’s last game verses Arkansas and Kentucky goes for bowl eligibility at home against Louisville. The previously mentioned ACC vs. SEC games are not as important this year as in years past sans the FSU vs. Florida game. Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State should be a high scoring fun game to watch.
On the grand stage the only game of significance is No. 2 Alabama vs. Auburn. The Iron Bowl on paper does not look like a big game, but when Auburn and Alabama line up crazy things can happen. Should Auburn do the unthinkable as a 14 point underdog, the college football playoffs would take a drastic reshaping.
The other SEC game of note but for far different reasons than for the playoff hunt is Texas A&M vs. LSU. Tigers head coach Les Miles is now coaching for his job, at least per reports. Three weeks ago LSU was the No. 2 team in the nation and running back Leonard Fournette was a clear cut Heisman Trophy Award leader. Now LSU is 7-3, out of the rankings, and facing an uncertain future in Baton Rouge. All of the drama of what could take place makes this game between unranked teams a must see for college football fans.
Must See Games
No. 4 Iowa vs. Nebraska – Friday
No. 13 Florida State vs. No. 12 Florida
No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 10 Michigan
Penn State vs. No. 5 Michigan State
No. 3 Oklahoma vs. No. 11 Oklahoma State
No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Stanford
Texas A&M vs. LSU
No. 2 Alabama vs. Auburn
If You Have the Time
No. 15 Navy vs. Houston – Friday
No. 7 Baylor vs. No. 19 TCU – Friday
Missouri vs. Arkansas – Friday
No. 14 North Carolina vs. N.C. State
Connecticut vs. No. 25 Temple
No. 22 UCLA vs. USC
No. 18 Ole Miss vs. No. 21 Mississippi State
Playoff Selection Committee Rankings Week 3 (Nov. 24, 2015)
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Oklahoma
- Iowa
- Michigan State
- Notre Dame
- Baylor
- Ohio State
- Stanford
- Michigan
- Oklahoma State
- Florida
- Florida State
- North Carolina
- Navy
- Northwestern
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- TCU
- Washington State
- Mississippi State
- UCLA
- Utah
- Toledo
- Temple
Photo credit: oudaily.com; No. 6 Baker Mayfield celebrates a touchdown for Oklahoma.