1 – No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State
This is the game of the year, and Ohio State’s best chance to solidify its hold on the playoffs. The hype truly has been a thing to behold. These are two historic programs that haven’t been this good at the same time in years. There’s just one problem: Michigan starting QB Wilton Speight may not play. Coach Jim Harbaugh is playing his typical mind games, saying the Richmond native is “day-to-day.” But shoulder injuries are no joke, and neither is how lousy Michigan’s offense has been without him. Ohio State is playing at home with a healthy QB and an even healthier amount of confidence in the offense. The ratings for this game will be high everywhere, but perhaps nowhere higher than in central Pennsylvania. An Ohio State win would mean Penn State can reach the Big 10 title game by beating Michigan State. Noon, WVEC
2 – No. 16 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama
Here’s a fun thought experiment: What would Alabama have to do to miss the playoffs? Given their undisputed status as the top-ranked team, would losses today and next week in the SEC title game be enough to keep the Tide out of the field? Would anything? Suspending half the team? Like many thought experiments, though, this one is a waste of time. The Tide are huge favorites for a reason. Auburn’s statistics look almost as good as Alabama’s, with the exception of those three losses and a lucky win against lowly Vanderbilt. But if Auburn can’t run the ball, it can’t win. And Alabama doesn’t let anybody run the ball. The Tide’s offense has no such limitations. 3:30 p.m., WTKR
3.– No. 21 Utah at No. 9 Colorado
The Pac-12 may not get a team in the playoff, but no one can say it’s hasn’t been exciting. This is the second game in two days that will determine a division title. Colorado would advance with a win, which makes USC the most unlikely group of Utah fans in the world. Many teams have staged unexpected resurrections in 2016, but Colorado’s is the most impressive. The Buffalos won only one Pac-12 game last year and have lost only one this year. They do it the old-fashioned way: They have the best rushing attack and the best defense in the conference. 7:30 p.m., WVBT
4 – No. 13 Florida at No. 15 Florida State
For the last few years, this has been a “rivalry” in the same sense that fire and dry wood have a rivalry. Florida State has won the last three and five of the last six. The Gators are heading to the SEC title game, but don’t go thinking they’re actually all that good. The offense hasn’t scored more than 10 points in a month. The “D” must continue its otherwordly play to have a chance, which is a tall order. FSU averages 36 points and about 500 yards; even half that could be enough. 8 p.m., WVEC
5 – Notre Dame at No. 12 USC
This doesn’t look like much of a game on paper, but Saturday’s events in Los Angeles are all about subtext. Notre Dame is imploding on the field and off (the Irish’s list of problems now includes an academic scandal.) We’re going to find out how motivated Notre Dame players are to fight for the job of coach Brian Kelly, because it’s on the line now. Meanwhile, it’s hard to overstate how much USC has improved since the season-opening humiliation at the hands of Alabama. Two months ago, USC coach Clay Helton was the one all the pundits expected to be fired. Now he’s a legitimate candidate for coach of the year, and it all started when he let super-freshman QB Sam Darnold take the reins. 3:30 p.m., WVEC
ALSO ON THE AIR
FRIDAY
Houston at Memphis, noon, WVEC
N.C. State at North Carolina, noon, ESPN
Northern Illinois at Kent State, noon, CBSSN
Arkansas at Missouri, 2:30 p.m., WTKR
Nebraska at Iowa, 3:30 p.m., WVEC
Boise State at Air Force, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN
Washington at Washington State, 3:30 p.m., WVBT
TCU at Texas, 3:30 p.m., FS1
Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS
Toledo at W. Michigan, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Baylor vs. Texas Tech, 6 p.m., ESPN
Cincinnati at Tulsa, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2
Arizona State at Arizona, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
SATURDAY
Illinois at Northwestern, noon, BTN
Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville, noon, ESPN
Rutgers at Maryland, noon, ESPNEWS
Purdue at Indiana, noon, ESPNU
Kansas at Kansas State, noon, FS1
Georgia Tech at Georgia, noon, SEC
Syracuse at Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., WGNT
Boston College at West Virginia, 3 p.m., CSN
FIU at Old Dominion, 3:30 p.m., 94.1FM
Navy at SMU, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 102.1FM
Michigan St. at No. 8 Penn St. 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Minnesota at No. 5 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., BTN
San Jose State at Fresno State, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN
Duke at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 19 West Virginia at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., FS1
Mississippi State at Mississippi, 3:30 p.m., SEC
Tulane at UConn, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS
Grambling vs. Southern, 5 p.m., NBCSN
W. Kentucky at Marshall, 7 p.m., ESPNU
UCLA at California, 7 p.m. ESPN2
No. 24 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., SEC
South Carolina at No. 4 Clemson, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Colorado State at San Diego State, 9 p.m., CBSSN
Utah State at BYU, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU
Wyoming at New Mexico, 10:15 p.m., ESPN2
?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com
