4-Down Territory: Big Games, SEC Cupcakes, HUGE FCS Rivalries Worth Watching & PSU/Nebraska

The SEC slate is filled with cupcakes this week. So, look beyond your FBS horizons and perhaps check out 3 big-time FCS rivalry games that not only represent the latest edition of these rivalries but also the conference championships of their respective leagues.

1^st Down: SEC's Grab Bag: There are a couple of worthy games among the slate non-conference scrimmages……Arkansas (2-8) at #17 Texas (7-3) 3:30 ABC: This is a week where the Longhorns hope to clean up the dropped passes and the 4^th-quarter mistakes that cost them a chance to beat Georgia. Their playoff hopes hinge on a strong showing this weekend and an upset of Texas A&M next week…….#20 Tennessee (7-3) at Florida (3-7) 7:30 ABC: The Gators had Georgia & Ole Miss on the ropes and beat Texas. Tennessee has the nation’s #2 scoring offense and total offense, but the Gators defense has already faced some stern tests and acquitted themselves nicely……#22 Missouri (7-3) at #8 Oklahoma (8-2) 12:00 ABC: The OU defense handled the Alabama offense last week, partly because the Tide had become pass-heavy and one-dimensional. Missouri’s offense is far more balanced than Alabama’s and boasts the nation’s leading rusher Ahmad Hardy. But that balance has waned since QB Matt Zollers took over when Beau Pribula got hurt. Figuring out the OU scheme will be a tall task for the Tigers’ freshman QB…..Kentucky (5-5) at #14 Vanderbilt (8-2) 3:30 ESPN: Kentucky is riding a 3-game win streak that includes a 10-3 win over Auburn and a 38-7 win over Florida. The defense has rebounded but will that be enough to upset Vanderbilt? In the most cynical of ways, teams hoping to poach Vandy Coach Clark Lea should be rooting for the Wildcats. A loss here drops them from playoff contention and may free him up for a potential move sooner than later…...Charlotte (1-9) at #4 Georgia (9-1) 11:45 SEC Network: A tune up before the season finale versus Georgia Tech…..Eastern Illinois (3-8) at #10 Alabama (8-2) 2:00 ESPN+: To be fair Alabama did schedule non-conference games at Florida State and against Wisconsin…..Samford (1-10) at #3 Texas A&M (10-0) 12:00 SEC+: After an epic comeback this should be a walk in the park…..Not Playing this week #6 Ole Miss, Mississippi State

2^nd Down: ACC, AAC, Sun Belt & Mountain West—The Hunger Games: Only 2 of these conference champions will be guaranteed a playoff spot……There are 4 one-loss teams in the AAC; Tulane, North Texas, Navy and East Carolina. Tulane has a win over ECU, UNT has a win over Navy. None of them play each other the next two weeks so there could be some complex tie-breaking system, or maybe it’s rock, paper, scissors…..#24 Tulane (8-2) at Temple (5-5) 3:35 ESPNU: Tulane’s non-conference resume is bolstered by wins over Northwestern and Duke. But for that to matter they need to take care of their business…..North Texas (9-1) at Rice (5-5) 7:30 ESPNU: The UNT case would be helped if Washington State can beat JMU, essentially knocking the Dukes out of contention and also bolstering their 59-10 win over the Cougars earlier this year…..East Carolina (7-3) at UTSA (5-5) 3:30 ESPN+: UTSA is perfectly capable of getting the upset. They went to USF and rolled up a lopsided win. ECU would do well to attack the Roadrunners defense early to get points on the board against a team that has had trouble stopping teams this year…Washington State (5-5) at JMU (9-1) 1:00 ESPN+: The Cougars have been almost as well traveled as the WSU flag that has shown up in the crowd at every ESPN College Game Day set. They have already played at Ole Miss and at UVA which is just over thirty minutes over the mountain from JMU via U.S. Route 33. WSU’s defense gave up 59 points in back-to-back losses to UNT & Washington. Since then, they’ve yielded just 69 points in 6 games and held Ole Miss to 24 and UVA to 22 in narrow losses. JMU likes to run the ball so look for them to try to establish the run early in the game…..San Jose State (3-7) at San Diego State (8-2) 10:30 FS1: SDSU can win the Mountain West, but they will need a ton of help to climb their way into the playoff…..#13 Miami (8-2) at Virginia Tech (3-7) 12:00 ESPN: The Hurricane team that dominated NC State last week is an example of how good this team can be. They need to win this one & have Pitt beat Georgia Tech to set up a chance to get into the ACC title game……Pitt (7-3) at #16 Georgia Tech (9-1) 7:00 ESPN: Pitt’s defense had trouble stopping the run against Notre Dame and here comes a Tech team that likes to be physical and leads the nation in total offense. On offense, Pitt will need to return to the form that made them one of the top passing teams in the country……Louisville (7-3) at SMU (7-3) 12:00 ESPN2: A Louisville win would mean the Mustangs would need a boatload of help to return to the ACC title game. The Cardinals have lost two straight close games. The Clemson loss was marred by foolish late-game penalties that led to QB Miller Moss calling out the culture of the program. They certainly cannot afford to give away penalties and yards to SMU. The Mustangs’ QB Ken Jennings lit up Miami and BC for almost 700 yards passing the past two weeks......Relevant Teams Not Playing: #19 Virginia (9-2), Navy (8-2),

3^rd Down: The Big 12 & Big Ten, Independents: In the Big XII BYU and Texas Tech control their own fate. But if they stumble it gets complicated…..TCU (6-4) at #23 Houston (8-2) 4:00 FOX: TCU is coming off a big loss to BYU. Houston needs to win this and get help from a couple of teams to have a shot at the Big XII title game…..#11 BYU at Cincinnati (7-3) 8:00 FOX: Cincinnati has lost two straight. Because of that they are part of a 4-team pack that have 2 Big 12 losses. In last week’s blowout win over TCU, BYU looked as sharp as they have all year on offense. If that continues, they should win this one…… Kansas State (5-5) at #12 Utah (8-2) 4:00 ESPN2: Like Cincinnati, Utah needs help. For the past several years, Utah’s best teams have focused on two things; running the ball on offense and playing great defense. This year they’re doing just that ranking 2^nd nationally in the run game & winning in time of possession (24^th nationally). That keeps their opponents off the field and off the scoreboard which partly explains why they rank 10^th in scoring defense……#25 Arizona State (7-3) at Colorado (3-7) 8:00 ESPN2: With 2 conference losses, the Sun Devils need help to win the Big XII and hold the tie-breaker over Texas Tech......Rutgers (5-5) at #1 Ohio State 12:00 FOX: The Rutgers offense has a trio of talented receivers, one of the nation’s top running backs, a veteran o-line and a good QB. Against this Ohio State defense they will need to play at their peak. On defense, Rutgers has been one of the best defenses in the Big Ten the past few years. This year they are struggling and that is not a place you want to be when facing OSU’s explosive offense. With Michigan one week away, look for OSU to continue their efforts from last week’s win over UCLA to build run game confidence going into next week’s game against………#18 Michigan (8-2) at Maryland (4-6) 4:00 Big Ten Network: Maryland has run into tough luck in some close games. Freshman QB Malik Washington is a threat throwing and running. Dual-threat combination QBs were a problem for the Wolverine defense earlier this year, but they handled that threat against Washington’s Demond Williams. Maryland has enough skill players on offense to pull an upset after Michigan has had one-score wins against Purdue and needed a game-winning field goal with second left to beat Northwestern. Watch to see how this game starts, traditionally, slow starts by the Terps have led to lopsided losses……#15 USC (8-2) at #7 Oregon (9-1) 3:30 CBS: The Trojans essentially are already in a "playoff" now. Win out and they are likely in, a loss here and they are out. This is a battle between two of the best QBs in the Big Ten, and in the country. Oregon’s Dante Moore and USC Jayden Maiava are #4 and #8 in the country in pass efficiency. In fact, 6 of the top 11 rated QBs in the country are in the Big Ten. And they’ve done that in a league that has 6 of the top 12 pass defenses in the country. Beyond the QBs, these teams have physical run games that give them the balance that provides and offensive advantage. That starts with the play up front. Keep an eye to see which team can win on the line of scrimmage. One of the wildcards will be Oregon TE Kenyon Saddiq who returned from injury last week to be a dominant force with 8 catches for 96 yards and a TD. Also expect the Autzen Stadium noise to be a factor……..#21 Illinois (7-3) at Wisconsin (3-7) 7:30 Big Ten Network: The Illini look to get an early lead and then clamp down defensively on a Badger team that has struggled to find a balance offense all year…….Syracuse (3-7) at #9 Notre Dame (8-2) 3:30 NBC: It’s pretty clear for Notre Dame, win the next two and they are in the playoff. Irish RB Jeremiyah Love is making a late run as a dark horse Heisman Candidate but given seemingly underwhelming games against Syracuse and Stanford he will likely rack up yardage with little buzz to jump the other contenders……Not Playing: #5 Texas Tech (10-1), UConn (8-3), #2 Indiana (11-0), Purdue (2-9)

4^th Down: Real Rivalries with High Stakes: When you get tired of all the NIL/ Transfer portal and revenue sharing talk, dig a little deeper and find some FCS football to watch this weekend. There are three rivalry games that stand out this weekend with winner-take-all conference title ramifications……#10 Harvard (9-0/ 6-0) at #25 Yale (7-2/5-1) 12:00 ESPNU: This marks the 150^th anniversary of the first game between these two schools. This will be the 141^st game between to two of them. It is a bitter rivalry and this year the winner becomes Ivy League Champions and earns the league automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs. The Harvard defense had been stout all year until a barnburner 45-43 over Penn last week that required a last-second field goal. If they can force the reliable Yale QB Dante Reno into a couple of turnovers like Princeton did last week it could be 10-0 for the Harvard Crimson……#4 Lehigh (11-0/6-0) at #24 Lafayette (8-3/6-0) 12:00 ESPN+: No two teams have played each other in college football more than Lehigh and Lafayette. This marks the 161^st game in a rivalry that dates back to 1884. The schools are minutes from each other and familiarity (and proximity) certainly breeds contempt. Both teams are undefeated in league play and once again an automatic playoff spot is up for grabs. Lehigh is riding a 16-game regular season winning streak including a 38-14 win over Lafayette last year…….#3 Montana State (9-2/7-0) at #2 Montana (11-0/7-0) 2:00 ESPN+; Also known as The Brawl of The Wild (for marketing purposes) the Grizz/Cat (or Cat/Grizz) game splits the citizens of Montana each year. For those that love a great in-state rivalry (and admittedly I miss the season finale Penn State/Pitt games of my youth) this is must-see TV this weekend. The winner gets the Great Divide Trophy which weighs more that 300 pounds. They also win the Big Sky Conference and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA. Montana QB Keali'i Ah Yat has thrown for 2,900+ yards and 24 TDs. He leads a balanced offense that is 3^rd nationally in scoring. That unit includes RB Elki Gillman a bruising 200+ pound RB and a deep and talented WR corps. Montana’s x-factor is a +11 turnover margin led by a secondary that has snagged 18 INTs. The Montana State Bobcats roll into Missoula with a balanced offense of their own. QB Justin Lamson is a threat passing (2100+ yards) and running (500+ yards) and has done all of this while throwing just 2 INTs all year. His last INT was on September 20^th. Montana State’s WR corps is not only a threat, but they boast the best names of any 3 WRs in the country: Taco Dowler, Dane Steel and Jabez Woods. Gotta think there is an NIL deal somewhere for Taco. But he’d probably gladly settle for a win in the Brawl of the Wild.

Big Ten Corner: Michigan State (3-7) at Iowa (6-4) 3:30 FS1: The Spartans gave up a lot of rushing yards to Penn State and had trouble protecting the QB. Those are things that the Hawkeyes love to do, run the ball and make plays in the opponent’s backfield…..Minnesota (6-4) at Northwestern (5-5) Wrigley Field 12:00 Big Ten Network: After a close loss to Michigan in Wrigley Field last week, Northwestern hopes to get bowl eligible with a win over the Gophers……Washington (7-3) at UCLA (3-7) 10:30 NBC: A late-night matchup on NBC is worth staying up for to see another of the Big Ten’s bright young QBs in UW's Demond Williams.

Penn State Corner: Nebraska (7-3) at Penn State (4-6) 7:00 NBC: Nebraska is 2 plays away in games against USC and Michigan from entering this game with a 9-1 record and finding themselves in the playoff hunt. Instead, they are 7-3 and are an underdog against Penn State. Nebraska is coming off a bye week which gives them extra time to get their freshman QB ready, and extra time to put a complex plan in place for Penn State's new QB.

Before the season started this looked to be a matchup of 2 established QBs. Now several weeks later injuries have changed the complexion of this game. Ethan Grunkemeyer has now started the last 4 games for Penn State. He faces an experienced Nebraska secondary that will show multiple looks and blitzes. It is one of the best pass defenses in the country. At times versus Michigan State Grunkemeyer held the ball because they were having trouble getting receivers open downfield. The NU secondary will replicate that approach with a more experienced group. The weakness for Nebraska has been defending the run. Nebraska is undersized upfront and relies on movement and secondary run support to defend the run. The teams that had the most success running the ball had the threat of a QB run game. Will Penn State utilize that part of their offense? Either way, expect Penn State, after their most effective day running the ball last week, to get after it on the ground.

On offense Nebraska QB TJ Lateef makes just his 2nd start. He is more mobile in the QB run game than Dylan Raiola was before he got hurt. And he gets help from RB Emmett Johnson who ranks in the top 5 Nationally in rushing. Johnson has also caught 36 passes for another 300 yards and 3 TDs. In Lateef's first start against UCLA, Nebraska was not shy attacking all parts of the field. Penn State thrived last week defensively by bringing 5-man pressures to disrupt MSU, a team with a far less mobile QB and an unsettled o-line. The Cornhusker o-line has a combined 141 starts and has been more and more cohesive as the season has gone on. The WRs and TE are dangerous downfield and on crossing routes.

Special teams may also factor in this game in a big way. Penn state leads the country with 5 blocked kicks while Nebraska ranks 6th. The return game could be a wildcard here. The Huskers are 2nd nationally with an average of over 30 yards per kick return and 18th in punt returns at over 12 yards per clip. With two solid defensive units going against inexperienced QBs, grabbing hidden yards on special teams will certainly be a focus for both teams.

Series History: Nebraska Head Coach Matt Rhule and PSU interim Head Coach Terry Smith both played for Joe Paterno and this game marks the first FBS matchup of head coaches who played for Paterno. Several players from that era became head coaches, Paul Pasqualoni at Syracuse, Dick Anderson at Rutgers, Al Golden at Temple and Miami and Matt Rhule are among the guys who became Head Coaches, but they never met on game day.

From 1979 through 1982 Penn State and Nebraska played a 4-game home and home series. While every Penn Stater of a certain age remembers the 1982 Penn State win over the Huskers, the win in Lincoln in 1981 was also important. That season Penn State scored two Big-8 road wins against Nebraska and #9 Missouri. Those wins solidified QB Todd Blackledge’s hold on the starting QB job leading to a #3 finish in 1981 and the National Title in 1982. In that 1981 win in Lincoln Penn State’s kicker Brian Franco kicked 5 field goals and Curt Warner had 238 yards rushing which was a record for any Nebraska opponent at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. If Penn State’s Kaytron Allen can replicate an effort like that, Penn State should win and Allen will become PDU’s all-time leading rusher. Blackledge will be on the call for NBC Sports on Saturday night. And for those who can never get enough of the 1982 win.........