Bleacher Report's College Football Ultimate Guide to Week 10
Congratulations! You have officially made it to the most exciting, intense and unpredictable month of the college football season. Take a bow. You did it.
Now, say farewell to your social life. Say goodbye to productivity. Don't quit your job just yet, but at least build a confined sleep fort under your desk for naps. Naps are going to be important these next four weeks.
The month of November is where an already spectacular college football season reaches its apex. A combination of splendid scheduling along with a solid plateful of high-stakes intensity, each and every Saturday from this point on, is destined to take a bat to your mailbox and continue driving. That's a good thing; you need a new mailbox anyway.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The Big 12's lineup of undefeated teams will all clash, starting this Saturday. Ohio State and Michigan State are still to meet. Yes, the Jim Harbaugh-infused Wolverines will also get a crack at the Buckeyes. And the SEC and Pac-12 will do their darnedest to keep playoff resumes intact.
As for those energy-infused Group of Five headliners? Well, Memphis and Houston are less than two weeks away from touching gloves. But they have to get by this week first.
By the time December hits, few will be left standing. Chaos is imminent. Nap now so you can consume it all later.
And it all starts in Week 10, where we are guaranteed to see an undefeated team fall. Oh, and Alabama-LSU returns with purpose.
The Buffet: Previewing the Top Five Games of Week 10
5. Notre Dame at Pittsburgh (Saturday, noon ET, ABC)
It won't gobble up headlines like some of the other games on the Week 10 docket, but Notre Dame-Pittsburgh is deeply important. Sure, it might not be Big 12-ian in nature in terms of points scored, but entertainment value could be high.
The Irish seem to operate with suspense. It's who they are, at least at this point in the season. And thus far, this mantra has worked out well.
Temple gave Notre Dame its best shot, although there are some zombie tendencies about Brian Kelly's team that are admirable. Even though quarterback DeShone Kizer had his forgettable throws, he also seems to have it. Given the situation he's been thrown into, he's been exceptional.
Pittsburgh saw its four-game winning streak snapped against North Carolina in Week 9. The Panthers fell 26-19 despite having ample opportunities to change the outcome. Quarterback Nathan Peterman played decently in the loss, although the offense simply could not generate enough big plays.
This will have to change against Notre Dame. While the Pittsburgh defense is capable of slowing down a potent offense for the second consecutive week, the offense will have to do its part.
It won't be a masterpiece, but it will be fun. (Probably.)
4. Duke at North Carolina (Saturday, noon ET, ESPN2)
Let's address the elephant in the room out of the gate. Duke lost a game last week on a play that wouldn't pass at lunch recess. It lost on a play that ultimately got the ACC officials suspended less than 24 hours later.
Duke lost on, well, this:
"The decision that was made in replay was made after all the play was done on the field," Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said, speaking about this situation far more professionally than I would have. "So we're still in the same mode. Nothing has changed other than they realized they got the replay wrong."
This is going to linger; there's no question. And yet, Duke has a significant game to play in a few days. This can't linger any longer.
Duke quarterback Thomas Sirk has been excellent. He leads the team in passing—well, yeah—and also rushing. It will be on him to test a North Carolina defense that is, dare we say...good?
Under new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, the Tar Heels are suddenly functional. Chizik is currently coaching the nation's No. 15 scoring defense. For reference, North Carolina was No. 119 in this category last season. Offensively the Tar Heels might not be as supercharged as we've seen in recent years, but senior Marquise Williams can be electric.
UNC, without much fanfare, has morphed into a contender. Duke is in a position to rebound from devastation. This is an enormous one in the ACC Coastal. All broken hearts must be repaired.
3. Florida State at Clemson (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
It's the most important game the ACC will feature all year, which should sound somewhat familiar. While Clemson-Florida State might not have the same buzz as Alabama-LSU, it's not far behind. When these two teams meet, you should watch.
Clemson's magnificent rebuild on defense suddenly looks more vulnerable than it did a week ago. There's no shame in beating NC State 56-41 on the road in a classic look-ahead matchup. But given the defensive dominance early on, all those points allowed were a bit of a surprise.
Still, the offense is deadly and much more than quarterback Deshaun Watson. Running back Wayne Gallman has become a star in the ACC. While other running backs may be mentioned more, such as the primary back on the other sideline in this game, Gallman's presence his been critical.
On the topic of running backs, Florida State's Dalvin Cook might be the most explosive player in the nation. The Seminoles cruised right past Syracuse last weekend, doing so without quarterback Everett Golson or Cook. Jimbo Fisher rested his two ailing players for this very game and this very moment.
Cook won't be 100 percent for the rest of the season, but even 80 percent of his kind of talent can be diabolical. In seven games, he's averaging more than eight yards per carry and 12 yards per reception.
The health of the Seminoles' best players will be a storyline to follow before the game and certainly during it. FSU is also banged up in other areas, including the offensive line. That's not optimal.
Last year's contest turned out to be a good one. We'll see if this follows along.
2. TCU at Oklahoma State (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
It's no surprise TCU is undefeated entering Week 10 despite the handful of close calls it has had to maneuver past. It's mildly surprising Oklahoma State is undefeated at this point of the season, although this is no fluke. This team can play.
The Big 12's November spectacular starts in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Although their game against Texas Tech did not go well early, the Pokes rallied in the second half and posted a 70-spot in the win. Not bad. (Well, it's really bad if you're Texas Tech.)
While the individual offensive performances for Oklahoma State don't jump off the page the way they do with TCU, this is a deep group. And on the defensive side, Emmanuel Ogbah is an absolute monster. He jumps off every page. More people need to be talking about him.
That is not an issue with Trevone Boykin. We talk about him plenty, and for good reason. Last week, Boykin threw for 388 yards, ran for 84 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also made a move so filthy that he received a high-five from West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen.
Sometimes the only thing you can do is offer a surrender high-five:
Home field will be significant. The offense from both teams will likely be absurd. This game might take six hours, and I plan to consume every morsel. Stock up the fridge for occasions like these.
1. LSU at Alabama (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, CBS)
It has grown into one of sports' greatest yearly fixtures—doing so not with geographical bragging rights or trophies, but through meaningful moments and hitting that makes your bones weep. That seems like a lovely table-setter for a game that means a great deal to both programs and will likely feature collisions that make your television sway.
So here we are. Both Alabama and LSU are coming off byes. Both operate with a very familiar, predictable and still taxing identity: Run the football down the opponent's throat and squeeze the hope out of the other sideline.
LSU has been able to operate with this blueprint thanks in large part to running back Leonard Fournette. Just look at his season. Even the numbers don't put the talent into context. He does not stop, although that will be tested in Week 10.
| Date | Opponent | Carries | Rushing Yards | Touchdowns |
| September 12 | @ Mississippi State | 28 | 159 | 3 |
| September 19 | Auburn | 19 | 228 | 3 |
| September 26 | @ Syracuse | 26 | 244 | 2 |
| October 3 | Eastern Michigan | 26 | 233 | 3 |
| October 10 | South Carolina | 20 | 158 | 1 |
| October 17 | Florida | 31 | 180 | 2 |
| October 24 | Western Kentucky | 26 | 150 | 1 |
While Alabama may not have Fournette, it does have its own tap-out battering ram. Derrick Henry might not have the numbers of his counterpart, although he can be equally as impactful. He's also run for 379 yards in the last two games.
This is the part of an Alabama-LSU preview where the author tells you that the quarterbacks will decide the outcome. And sure, maybe Jake Coker and Brandon Harris will ultimately dictate the results. Or maybe one (or both) of the running backs will just run wild on the opposing defense and win the good ol' fashioned way—a method so predictable that no one saw it coming.
It's No. 2 in the current College Football Playoff standings versus No. 4. But it's much, much more than that.
The Game You Should Carve Out Time to Watch (Part 1)
Navy at Memphis (Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
The depth of Week 10 exists in the undercard. That's one to tell you—no, implore you—to watch Memphis play Navy. Sure, Alabama and LSU will be footballing at this time, but do carve out some time. Either that or fire up the DVR.
Memphis did not look like a Top 25 team early on against Tulane last week, although the Tigers got it together just fine. An early effort like that against Navy, however, will not fly. The Midshipmen are 6-1, and quarterback Keenan Reynolds just tied an NCAA mark when he rushed for touchdown No. 77 in his career.
Navy can push Memphis' Cinderella run to the brink or beyond. Memphis best be careful.
The Game You Should Carve Out Time to Watch (Part 2)
Cincinnati at Houston (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Again, don't just focus in on one or two games. Not with the things Tom Herman has brewing at Houston.
After shutting out Vanderbilt 34-0, the Cougars enter a critical two-game stretch with loads of momentum. However, for those who weren't watching Cincinnati take on UCF last weekend—and quite honestly, I can't blame you for that—here's what you missed from quarterback Gunner Kiel:
"Gunner Kiel is gonna spend his film session today catching up on Netflix shows. pic.twitter.com/4DBdRTocUs
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) November 1, 2015"
So, yeah. Watch this one. Oh, I should also point out that Houston and Memphis meet in Week 11. That could be enormous.
The Game That Could Break The Scoreboard
Texas Tech at West Virginia (Saturday, noon ET, Fox Sports 1)
There are a handful of games that could push upward of 100 points, although I'll take the matchup featuring the defense that has given up 133 points in its past two games and another defense that allowed 102 points the last two weeks.
If defense is your cocktail of choice, don't bother with Texas Tech-West Virginia. It will haunt you.
Both offenses can score. Both defenses can, well, allow scoring. The scoreboard might light on fire before the couches do in Morgantown.
Ranking November's Top 10 Games
We can't talk about this amazing month of football without backing it up with cold, hard evidence. Week 10 is exceptional as is, although the next four weeks are a fine, deep catalog of guaranteed weirdness.
I'd like to apologize in advance for any omissions. I could have made this list a Top 25, Top 50 or Top 100. Blame the editors for these word counts.
10. Florida State at Clemson (Saturday)
9. TCU at Oklahoma (November 21)
8. Memphis at Houston (November 14)
7. LSU at Ole Miss (November 21)
6. Oklahoma at Baylor (November 14)
5. Ohio State at Michigan (November 28)
4. Notre Dame at Stanford (November 28)
3. LSU at Alabama (Saturday)
2. Michigan State at Ohio State (November 21)
1. Baylor at TCU (November 27)
Parting Shot
The Silly Season Has Started Early, and the End Result Will be Madness
We are still three weeks away from Thanksgiving—the landmark on the calendar that typically serves as the spark plug for the hiring and firing season. But in 2015, we didn't have to wait to carve the turkey. There are already 10 FBS programs looking for new head coaches.
The latest additions to this list are Virginia Tech and Hawaii. Frank Beamer, after a wonderful career, has decided to retire after this season. Norm Chow, who could never really kick into that next gear at Hawaii, was relieved of his duties. Of course, Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill resigned last week due to concerns over his health.
By itself, it would be substantial. I mean, 10 openings, even in this climate, is a ton. These jobs alone will create a ripple effect that will have an enormous national impact, especially with high-profile programs such as USC, Miami and Virginia Tech all looking for new guidance.
But that's not even the most staggering part. The true lunacy is that we are nowhere close to being done. Firing season really hasn’t started, and the Silly Season has yet to truly open its doors for business.
It's hard to handicap just what jobs will open, although this is not the end. Will Georgia make a change at the top with Mark Richt? Could West Virginia make a change with Dana Holgorsen? What about Kevin Wilson at Indiana and Darrell Hazell at Purdue? Or Paul Rhoads at Iowa State? Or Mike London at Virginia?
Will the NFL lure a college coach or two away? What surprises are in store?
There are no guarantees in this business. But I guarantee there is much more to come. By December, there could be upward of 20 teams looking for a new leader.
The end result will be message-board madness. The servers will weep. Coaching rumors will consume the holiday season, and "sources" will be a fixture at the end of the year. And yes, agents and current head coaches searching for leverage are going to make an absolute fortune from all of this. It's inevitable.
It's going to be wild, frustrating and, of course, entertaining. Don't worry about it now. There is far too much quality football to focus on.
But don't forget about it either. It will be here soon.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
