November has arrived, and for a cluster of ranked college football teams, that means the margin for error is basically gone. Saturday’s slate is loaded with games that can reshape the playoff picture, and several contenders are staring at a simple reality: win, and stay in the conversation; lose, and start sliding toward the pretender pile.
The biggest pressure point may be in Salt Lake City, where the Holy War carries major Big 12 and playoff weight. Whoever comes out on top takes the inside track to first place in the league, thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker, and also earns a serious boost from the College Football Playoff selection committee.
BYU is ranked ninth and Utah third, and the Cougars already have one marquee win on the board with Notre Dame. But they also carry the baggage of that surprise loss at unranked UCF a couple weeks ago, which gives Utah a little more room to breathe despite the stakes.
The Utes are undefeated, and BYU has more to lose in this one.
Another heavyweight test lands in Baton Rouge, where Alabama’s ranking tells you everything about how the committee views the Tide. They’re No.
- LSU is No. 14 and sitting outside the bracket entering the weekend, but a win over Alabama would be the kind of resume shot that changes the conversation fast.
Lane Kiffin would get a huge boost if he can pull it off, especially with home field, a solid dual threat quarterback, and a defense that ranks second in college football in total defensive success rate. If LSU can slow down a Crimson Tide offense that can strike vertically, the committee would have to take a hard second look at where Alabama belongs.
Ohio State is in a different kind of scramble. An injury-driven quarterback change and a second loss have pushed the Buckeyes to the outside looking in, and they’re currently the first team out of the playoff bracket.
The task now is figuring out how to move the ball with Luke Fahey under center. Waiting for them is Oregon, a team that missed badly on its preseason expectations and has three losses, but did get a lift from beating ranked Northwestern last weekend.
The Ducks may not be where they hoped to be, but they’re trending with a little more confidence.
Kentucky has quietly turned into one of the more interesting teams in the SEC race. Under first-year coach Will Stein, the Wildcats are sitting in first place in the conference standings and are projected as the No. 6 playoff seed.
But the next stretch is where that momentum gets tested. They head to Tennessee, and the Vols are still a puzzle after smothering Alabama but also failing to stop South Carolina.
Kentucky’s path after that doesn’t offer much relief either, with Florida at home, Missouri on the road, and Louisville waiting at the end. There’s not much room to absorb a misstep.
Georgia also enters the weekend tied for first in the SEC after handling rival Florida last week, but the Bulldogs still have questions to answer. The concern centers on the vertical passing game, which didn’t fully settle things against the Gators even though Georgia defended well and ran the ball effectively.
That issue gets a tougher examination in a road game against Ole Miss. The Rebels will test that same area too, and they have the passing game to do it, with Trinidad Chambliss leading a top 20 national passing offense.
Ole Miss already has two losses, so a third would be a serious blow in a crowded SEC playoff race.
Then there’s Miami, where an injury has changed the feel of the matchup before kickoff. Malachi Toney, the Hurricanes’ uber-productive wide receiver, will not play after suffering an ankle injury in practice while preparing for the game.
That’s a major development for Miami’s aerial attack against a solid Notre Dame pass defense, especially with the home team looking for the kind of data that can help its case with the selection committee. Notre Dame is ranked No. 11, seven spots below the AP poll, a clear sign the committee isn’t sold on the Irish’s schedule so far.
They already have a loss at BYU, and another defeat would be disastrous. A win over the No. 1 team in the country, though, would keep Notre Dame firmly in the top dozen.
In Other News...
Lane Kiffins Alabama Problem Just Got Bigger In The Playoff
Lane Kiffins history against Alabama has become part of the backdrop every time he lines up across from the Crimson Tide, and it is impossible to ignore again with LSU set for a playoff matchup against No. 5 Alabama. As a head coach, Kiffin is 0-5 against Alabama, a run that has followed him through stops at different programs and kept this rivalry from ever feeling routine when his name is on the opposite sideline.
Now the stakes are even higher, with No. 14 LSU entering as the favorite and the result carrying real weight for both Kiffin and Alabamas coaching staff. For Kiffin, it is another chance to change a storyline that has followed him for years. For Alabama, it is the kind of game that can sharpen the scrutiny on every decision if the Tide do not handle business in the playoff setting. [Read more 🡒]
Saban Sees One Alabama Problem That Could Decide LSU Trip
Nick Saban knows exactly what tends to decide trips to Baton Rouge, and he pointed to the same place Alabama has been vulnerable lately: the quarterback position. As the Crimson Tide get ready for LSU, Saban focused on Keelon Russells recent issues with turnovers and sacks, while also noting that Alabamas outlook improves with the return of key injured players and a steadier overall lineup.
The challenge now is less about talent than about how Alabama handles the noise and pressure inside Tiger Stadium. Saban stressed the need for mental toughness, maturity and consistency against an LSU defense that can make every mistake feel bigger, and the Tide will have to resist the kind of risky plays that can quickly tilt a road game in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Is Already Stirring Drama Before Alabama's LSU Test
Lane Kiffin is already adding a little edge to Alabamas trip to Baton Rouge, and not just because LSU is waiting on the other sideline. With the Crimson Tide and Tigers set for a late-afternoon kickoff, Kiffin suggested the SEC put the game in daylight to blunt the usual punch of Tiger Stadium, where LSU tends to feed off its night-game atmosphere.
He also made clear the size of the challenge Alabama presents, calling the Crimson Tide the most talented team LSU has seen this season. So even before the first snap, the stage is set for a test that carries the usual SEC weight and a little extra noise, with kickoff slated for 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET. [Read more 🡒]