College Football Week 13 preview: Season comes to the home stretch
Games take place on Friday and Saturday
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Two of the best Thanksgiving weekend traditions are still intact: NFL on Thursday and college football on Friday. College football will have a handful of ranked teams in action on Friday afternoon while a bunch more are playing Saturday.
There will be a lot of jostling for position for the top spots in the next College Football Playoff rankings. The first ranking was released earlier in the week with Alabama sitting on top. The Crimson Tide will be looking for revenge after last year’s Iron Bowl loss.
There were also seven games canceled or postponed, six of which involved ranked teams, over positive coronavirus tests. USC-Colorado was postponed on Thursday and Ohio State-Illinois was postponed Friday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Here are the games on tap for this week. The number next to the school’s name indicates their Associated Press ranking.
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(20) TEXAS VS. (15) IOWA STATE
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) throws a touchdown pass in overtime of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Iowa State will try to stay in contention for a big bowl game as they take on Texas. Breece Hall has led the Cyclones with 1,169 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger is trying to increase his touchdown total. He has 22 touchdown passes on the season.
DATE: Nov. 27
TIME (EST): Noon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ABC
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(25) NORTH CAROLINA VS. (2) NOTRE DAME
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly leads the team out of the tunnel for an NCAA college football game against Clemson on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
This is Notre Dame’s first game as the No. 2 team in the nation. Fresh off a bye week, Ian Book and company will look to tamp down the high-powered UNC offense. Sam Howell has 2,631 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes.
DATE: Nov. 27
TIME (EST): 3:30 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ABC
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OREGON STATE VS. (9) OREGON
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Running back Travis Dye #26 of the Oregon Ducks runs with the ball as defensive back David Morris #24 and defensive back Jaydon Grant #3 of the Oregon State Beavers give chase during the first half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 30, 2019 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
The Oregon-Oregon State rival is renewed on Friday night. It’s the first game since the rivalry changed names over the summer from the Civil War. Oregon and Tyler Shough are in contention for a College Football Playoff spot but will likely have to remain undefeated to even have a shot.
DATE: Nov. 27
TIME (EST): 7:30 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ESPN
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(6) FLORIDA VS. KENTUCKY
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (11) passes against Vanderbilt in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Kyle Trask will hope to continue his dominance in football this season and make an even stronger case for the Heisman Trophy. He has a nation-leading 31 touchdown passes this season.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): Noon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ESPN
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(12) INDIANA VS. MARYLAND
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throws during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Indiana wasn’t set too far back in the latest AP rankings after a tough loss to Ohio State. Michael Penix Jr. will hope to stay in contention for a major bowl game with a win over Maryland.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): Noon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ESPN
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(21) OKLAHOMA STATE VS. TEXAS TECH
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders (3) throws a pass during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Oklahoma State lost Bedlam and nixed any chance of getting into a major bowl game. The Cowboys will hope to bounce back against Alan Bowman and the Red Raiders.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): Noon
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: FOX
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TEXAS STATE VS. (16) COASTAL CAROLINA
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall (10) is hugged by a member of the coaching staff during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Appalachian State, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Conway, S.C. Coastal Carolina won 34-23. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Coastal Carolina is having a dream season so far. The Chanticleers will look to remain undefeated with a win over Texas State.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 3 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ESPN Plus
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LOUISIANA MONROE VS. (23) LOUISIANA
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker Ferrod Gardner (7) enters the field with Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Billy Napier before an NCAA college football game against South Alabama in Lafayette, La., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Louisiana may not be in the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings but a win would still keep them alive for a good bowl game. The Ragin Cajuns have a matchup against UL Monroe.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 3 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: ESPN3
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(1) ALABAMA VS. (22) AUBURN
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) scrambles during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Iron Bowl and the day after Thanksgiving is a perfect way to wrap up the holiday festivities. Alabama lost by three to Auburn last year and bounced them from College Football Playoff contention. Nick Saban will not coach this game after a second positive coronavirus test.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 3:30 p.m.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WATCH: CBS
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(4) CLEMSON VS. PITTSBURGH
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) runs the ball as Notre Dame defensive lineman Kurt Hinish (41) attempts to tackle during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in South Bend, Ind. (Matt Cashore/Pool Photo via AP)
Clemson will play Pittsburgh after having their game against Florida State postponed in the eleventh hour last week. The Tigers will hope to remain in contention for a playoff spot with a win.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 3:30 p.m.
WATCH: ESPN
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MICHIGAN STATE VS. (11) NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern players celebrate after they defeated Wisconsin 17-7 in an NCAA college football game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Northwestern is one of those teams that started late and is lurking on the outside of the College Football Playoff. The Wildcats play Michigan State – which is looking for an upset.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 3:30 p.m.
WATCH: ESPN2
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(5) TEXAS A&M VS. LSU
Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond (11) passes down field against Florida during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M and Kellen Mond are on the outside looking in when it comes to the College Football Playoff. A win over LSU would boost their resume a bit.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 7 p.m.
WATCH: ESPN
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SOUTH CAROLINA VS. (13) GEORGIA
Georgia quarterback JT Daniels looks for a play call from the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia got a big game from J.T. Daniels last week. The Bulldogs, even though they have two losses, are hoping to somehow manage and make a case for the Playoff. South Carolina stands in their way.
DATE: Nov. 28
TIME (EST): 7:30 p.m.
WATCH: SEC