GameDay Kickoff: Second-chance Saturday for two top-10 teams
— -- College football fans have been spoiled this season with one fantastic weekend after another.
Don't shrug your shoulders at Week 7 -- it's second-chance Saturday.
With top-10 matchups in the Big Ten and SEC, there's plenty at stake as No. 8 Wisconsin hosts No. 2 Ohio State (8 p.m. ET, ABC) and No. 9 Tennessee hosts No. 1 Alabama. There are parallels to be drawn between the two games, as it's a chance for both Tennessee and Wisconsin to salvage their seasons with signature wins over the conference favorites.
Here's a deeper dive into those games and what they mean to the College Football Playoff race:
No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee
For Alabama, this is the Tide's second straight road trip after beating Arkansas last week, and the second game in a season-defining stretch that also includes Texas A&M and a road trip to LSU. The Tide still has some wiggle room and can survive a loss to the Vols -- but only if they win out, as the Aggies are undefeated right now, too.
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin
This game is just as much about Ohio State and Michigan as it is about Wisconsin, because it will either cement the Buckeyes' ranking ahead of the Wolverines, or it will catapult Michigan to the top of the Big Ten. The selection committee would likely view a road win over Wisconsin more impressive than Michigan's home win over the Badgers, but that's just one snapshot of two teams that still have to play each other.
On The Bubble
Unbeaten watch
Colorado State at No. 15 Boise State: If the playoff were today, based off of the Associated Press Top 25, the Broncos would be in the Cotton Bowl as the projected highest-ranked conference champion from the Group of 5, but they have to keep it up and win the Mountain West to stay there.
NC State at No. 3 Clemson: The Wolfpack is confident after its win over Notre Dame, but momentum is about all you can take from a win in that weather. NC State will need more to upend the Tigers in Death Valley.
No. 20 West Virginia at Texas Tech: This should be a tricky trip for the Mountaineers, as ESPN's Football Power Index basically considers it a toss-up, giving WVU just a 48.9 percent chance to win.
No. 10 Nebraska at Indiana: The Hoosiers played Ohio State tough -- for a half -- last weekend, and they'll need four strong quarters to upend Tommy Armstrong and the Huskers. Armstrong leads the Big Ten with a 77.3 total QBR.
No. 24 Western Michigan at Akron: With two road wins against Big Ten opponents, the Broncos should be highly regarded by the selection committee if they can remain undefeated. ESPN's FPI projects them to win every remaining game.
Kansas at No. 11 Baylor: The Bears are the Big 12's highest ranked team and join WVU as the only undefeated teams left in the league, but they've got no margin for error because of a weak strength of schedule. The committee says it will evaluate Baylor's performances only on the field.
Superlatives
Most intriguing mascot battle: Brutus Buckeye vs. Bucky Badger. Go on, say it three times real fast. It'll drive you nuts -- no pun intended.
Upset watch: West Virginia at Texas Tech. The Mountaineers have just one win over an FBS opponent with a winning record, K-State, and they won by just one point. The Red Raiders have the third-most efficient offense in the nation, averaging 3.8 points per drive and 7.7 yards per play.
Can-miss game: Florida at LSU. Just ask the guys in the suits at both schools and the SEC. Otherwise it would have been played or rescheduled by now.
Player in the spotlight: Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett. He completed only nine passes last week in the win against Indiana, but Wisconsin's defense is built to stop the run, so if the Buckeyes are going to win on the road, they're going to have to get more out of their passing game.
Matchup to watch:?Tennessee's ground game vs. Alabama front seven. Vols running back Jalen Hurd is expected to play after missing last week with an injury, and Tennessee tailback Alvin Kamara is coming off a school-record 312 all-purpose yards on 30 touches against Texas A&M. And don't forget QB Joshua Dobbs, who has rushed for 331 yards outside the tackles this season. Alabama's defense has allowed a total of 211 rushing yards outside the tackles this season, second-fewest among Power 5 teams.
Under-the-radar game: UCLA at Washington State. The Bruins still have an 18 percent chance to win the Pac-12 South, according to ESPN's FPI, but Washington State has won three straight by a combined score of 149-55. Not bad for a "JC softball team."
Must-win game: Kansas State at Oklahoma. The Sooners are undefeated in league play but have zero margin for error after losses to Houston and Ohio State. They will face a K-State defense that kept Texas Tech out of the end zone on six straight drives.
Don't forget about: Ole Miss at Arkansas. Arkansas is projected to play the toughest remaining strength of schedule in the FBS, according to ESPN's FPI. The Rebels still have plenty to play for, but they've got to run the table -- and hope Alabama loses.