In the run-up to Saturday’s game at Northwestern, Penn State Coach James Franklin had his players practice without music to mimic the polite conditions at the Wildcats’ Ryan Field, which has been dubbed “The Library.” Northwestern has drawn an average of only 17,500 to two home games, a big change from the 100,000-plus who show up in Happy Valley on football Saturdays.
College football trolling remains undefeated.
All times Eastern
No. 8 USC at Colorado | ||
Clemson at Syracuse | ||
No. 22 Florida at Kentucky | ||
UAB at Tulane | ||
South Alabama at James Madison | ||
Texas A&M at Arkansas | SEC Network | |
No. 6 Penn State at Northwestern | Big Ten Network | |
Utah State at Connecticut | CBS Sports Network | |
Virginia at Boston College | CW Network | |
Arizona State at California | Pac-12 Network | |
No. 1 Georgia at Auburn | ||
No. 2 Michigan at Nebraska | ||
No. 24 Kansas at No. 3 Texas | ||
Northern Illinois at Toledo | ||
Indiana at Maryland | Big Ten Network | |
Bowling Green at Georgia Tech | ACC Network | |
Illinois at Purdue | Peacock (streaming) | |
Baylor at Central Florida | Fox Sports 1 | |
Houston at Texas Tech | Fox Sports 2 | |
South Florida at Navy | CBS Sports Network | |
No. 23 Missouri at Vanderbilt | SEC Network | |
Boise State at Memphis | ||
No. 13 LSU at No. 20 Mississippi | ||
No. 9 Oregon at Stanford | Pac-12 Network | |
Iowa State at No. 14 Oklahoma | Fox Sports 1 | |
Coastal Carolina at Georgia Southern | NFL Network | |
No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 17 Duke | ||
Michigan State at Iowa | NBC/Peacock | |
South Carolina at No. 21 Tennessee | SEC Network | |
Charlotte at SMU | ||
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech | ACC Network | |
West Virginia at TCU | ||
San Diego State at Air Force | CBS Sports Network | |
No. 12 Alabama at Mississippi State | ||
No. 7 Washington at Arizona | Pac-12 Network | |
Nevada at No. 25 Fresno State | Fox Sports 1 |
USC visits Colorado, and the Trojans can put a definite halt to the Coach Prime hype train with a big win in Boulder. USC enters with a defense that is somewhat improved from last year, when it allowed 6.5 yards per play (only seven Football Bowl Subdivision teams were worse). USC is tied for third in the country with 16 sacks — a good sign against a Buffaloes team that has allowed quarterback Shedeur Sanders to be sacked 23 times — but sloppy tackling is still a problem: Pro Football Focus ranks USC at No. 101 nationally in terms of tackling grade, and missed tackles allowed Arizona State to remain close in last weekend’s 42-28 Trojans win. … Syracuse has beaten Clemson only once in nine meetings as ACC members, but the Orange always seems to give the Tigers fits. Four of the past six meetings were decided by six points or fewer, including last year’s game at Clemson, which Syracuse led 21-10 only to give up 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. Fumbles have killed the Tigers in losses to Duke and Florida State: Clemson fumbled twice inside the Duke 12-yard line in the second half of a 28-7 season-opening loss, then had a fumble returned for a touchdown in the third quarter of last Saturday’s overtime loss to Florida State. …
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Two years ago, Kansas traveled to Texas as a 31-point underdog and exited with a 57-56 overtime victory. The game served as an introduction to Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels, who accounted for four touchdowns and this year is leading an offense that ranks fourth nationally in success rate and 10th in expected points added per play. But the Longhorns’ defense this season is much better than the 2021 model, having held three of four opponents to 10 points or fewer and ranking third in success rate. Overall, Texas might be improved from the team that clobbered Kansas last season, 55-14, when it scored on nine straight possessions after opening the game with a punt.
Mississippi is in a tricky situational spot against LSU: It’s just the sixth time since 2008 a team has had to face the Tigers and Alabama in consecutive weeks (the Rebels lost, 24-10, to the Crimson Tide last Saturday). The previous five teams that had to wade into that two-game gantlet went 1-9, and none of them won the second game. … The football version of ESPN’s “College GameDay” is setting up camp at a Duke game for the first time as the Blue Devils host Notre Dame. Fighting Irish running back Audric Estime leads the nation with 591 rushing yards (albeit in five games), and Duke’s defense gave up 213 rushing yards to Clemson in the Blue Devils’ lone game against a strong opponent this season. Pro Football Focus ranks Duke’s rushing defense as the ninth worst among Power Five teams, and its missed-tackle rate (20 percent) is third worst. If only the Fighting Irish could get all 11 guys onto the field for key defensive stands.
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