Oct. 12. It’s a date that has been marked on calendars all offseason. It’s a date that college football fans have hoped their friends haven’t scheduled their weddings for. It’s a date with an epic slate of college football games.
With three ranked vs. ranked matchups, 13 other ranked teams in action and Heisman contenders playing after midnight, Oct. 12 is shaping up to be a can’t-miss Saturday. Here’s one thing to know about every game that features a ranked team.
Ranked vs. Ranked games
No. 1 Texas at No. 18 Oklahoma
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond (7) leads the team onto the field before the Texas Longhorns take on Mississippi State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
The only times a team ranked No. 1 in the country lost in the Red River Rivalry were when Oklahoma lost in 1963 and 2008.
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oregon Ducks runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon.
In every matchup between the two programs in the 21st century, either Ohio State or Oregon has been a top-10 team.
No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU
For all the hype around Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss’ 17 red zone rushing touchdowns are the third-most in the country.
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Games with ranked teams
South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama
In the game following Alabama’s three other losses to unranked opponents as a No. 1 team, the Crimson Tide won 38-0 (1962), 28-7 (1980) and 49-9 (2021).
Latest rankings: Alabama falls, Big Ten teams stack top four of Week 7’s AP poll
No. 10 Clemson at Wake Forest
Clemson’s offense averages 48.5 points across its four-game win streak since losing in the season opener to Georgia.
No. 21 Missouri at UMass
Since moving to the FBS in 2012, UMass is 0-11 against ranked opponents.
No. 4 Penn State at Southern California
USC head coach Lincoln Riley is only 5-7 in his last 12 games and has lost eight of 12 games against ranked opponents since taking the job with the Trojans in 2022.
Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame
Beaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after a touchdown in the first half against the Miami (OH) Redhawks at Notre Dame Stadium on September 21, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana.
Stanford and Notre Dame have played during the regular season for the Legends Trophy every year since 1997 except 2020’s COVID season.
California at No. 22 Pittsburgh
Pitt hasn’t started a season 6-0 since 1982… when Dan Marino was starting at quarterback.
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Purdue at No. 23 Illinois
Purdue is looking to beat Illinois for the fifth straight time. It would tie the longest streak for the Boilermakers in the history of the rivalry. Purdue won five straight from 2004-2009.
Arizona at No. 14 BYU
BYU is only converting 29.5% of its third downs, the 10th-worst percentage in the FBS.
Mississippi State at No. 5 Georgia
Carson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up prior to the game against the Clemson Tigers in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Carson Beck hasn’t thrown a touchdown in the first quarter this season. He’s only thrown one touchdown in the first half — and that was with 17 seconds remaining.
Florida at No. 8 Tennessee
Tennessee has the second-best offense in yardage in the SEC. Florida has the second-worst defense in yardage in the conference.
No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia
Iowa State has the top-scoring defense, passing defense and total defense in the Big 12.
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No. 18 Kansas State at Colorado
Kansas State has allowed a wide receiver to gain at least 128 receiving yards in all but one of their FBS games. Heisman trophy contender Travis Hunter has had over 100 receiving yards in four games this season.
No. 17 Boise State at Hawai’i
Running back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos hypes the crowd during the first half against the Utah State Aggies at Albertsons Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Boise, Idaho.
Ashton Jeanty didn’t play in the second half against Utah State or Portland State, and he still is on pace with Barry Sanders’ legendary 1988 Heisman-winning season.
