Based on preseason rankings, there could be as many as seven games between ranked opponents on Nov. 1.
Ohio State hosts Penn State in a potential No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on Nov. 1.
The famous Cocktail party between Florida and Georgia could have SEC title race implications.
Nov. 1 is a long way off, but that doesn’t mean college football fans shouldn’t get excited about it, even with the season not yet officially underway.
There are plenty of juicy tidbits on the Week 1 schedule to whet our appetites, but if we project ahead a bit to Week 10, that Saturday promises to be the biggest of the entire campaign. Based upon preseason rankings in the US LBM Coaches Poll, there could potentially be as many as seven games between ranked opponents on the first day of November.
Obviously, a lot can and will change between now and then in the rankings, so some of these blockbuster clashes might not pan out. But there should nevertheless be a healthy menu of matchups with playoff implications, and that’s even with Alabama and LSU having that week off prior to their head-to-head showdown on the following Saturday.
So since we’re still waiting to see actual football, here’s a quick look at what might be in store on Nov. 1.
No. 3 Penn State at No. 2 Ohio State
It’s not out of the question that this could become the second No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup of the season in Ohio Stadium. The likelihood increases if the Buckeyes upend preseason No. 1 Texas in Week 1 and the Nittany Lions handle Oregon in late September. But even if one or both of these teams takes an ‘L’ prior to this encounter, it will almost certainly have Big Ten championship and College Football Playoff implications.
No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 17 Florida
The Cocktail Party is always an anticipated affair, even though the pendulum has swung the Bulldogs’ way in recent years. The Gators have a treacherous gauntlet of four ranked opponents to deal with even before this date in Jacksonville, but they could still have a number before their name if they manage at least a split of those contests. Georgia could also face up to three ranked SEC foes before the annual showdown with Florida, but there will be no shortage of interest in this rivalry regardless of records.
No. 10 Miami (Fla.) at No. 16 SMU
Whether these preseason poll positions hold up, this contest should figure prominently in the ACC race. The Hurricanes have a difficult non-conference schedule to negotiate first with games against Notre Dame and Florida, while the Mustangs have the small matter of a mid-October visit to Clemson on their itinerary.
No. 13 South Carolina at No. 15 Mississippi
There’s a lot of optimism about the prospectus for both the Gamecocks and Rebels with them slotting ahead of several other SEC teams in poll. It’s safe to say that if both of these teams are still in the poll ahead of this matchup, they’ll have earned their places. Each will have dates with LSU and Oklahoma, and additionally the Rebels must visit Georgia and the Gamecocks play host to Alabama.
Oklahoma at No. 18 Tennessee
There’s considerable disparity between the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP rankings for these SEC hopefuls, and the degree of difficulty on their respective schedules makes it arguably the iffiest of the possible ranked matchups on this list. The Sooners were the team closest to making the Top 25 in the coaches poll and were No. 18 in the media rankings. Their road is difficult. Oklahoma in addition to the dates mentioned above, must also get through a non-conference tilt with Michigan as well as Red River rival Texas. The Volunteers have both Georgia and Alabama on their dance card before hosting the Sooners.
No. 11 Arizona State at No. 21 Iowa State
The Big 12 lacks the SEC’s depth of ranked candidates but is just as volatile. The Sun Devils are the most likely of the group to still be ranked come November due to their elevated starting position, but a road date with a possibly revitalized Utah squad is just one of the hurdles they must clear prior to this trip to Ames. The Cyclones for their part will have faced rivals Kansas State and Iowa well before the leaves change color, but they could work their way back into the poll even if they don’t escape the early portion of their schedule unscathed.
No. 24 Texas Tech at No. 20 Kansas State
This is another pairing of teams whose fortunes could have taken vastly different turns by the time they meet in the Little Apple. The Wildcats begin with that aforementioned clash with Iowa State in Ireland, and this contest with the Red Raiders will be immediately preceded by a short trip to Sunflower State rival Kansas. The Red Raiders’ early slate looks more manageable, but a mid-October trip to Arizona State could determine their poll spot.