College football game day thread

While the six unbeaten teams remain from last week, #1 Ohio State, #2 Indiana, #3 Texas A&M, #8 Georgia Tech, #10 BYU, and unranked Navy, the battle for 12 college football playoff spots rages behind them. Programs lower on the FBS food chain, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Virginia, Louisville, and Missouri are still heavily involved, while upstarts Cincinnati, Houston, Memphis lie in wait.

These are the names/games TST will be monitoring, but there are dozens of others in action. Tell us about your favorite matchups, prospects, or teams in the forum.

#9 Vanderbilt (7-1) @ #20 Texas (6-2)

9 a.m. PST on ABC

Eyes on: Vandy QB Diego Pavia (SR) is the “Dores offensive foundation, running for 507 yards and throwing for 1700 more. TE Eli Stowers (SR) is a top prospect at that position. The defense has leading tacklers S CJ Heard (SO) and ILB Bryan Longwell (JR). The pass rush is supplied by E Miles Capers (SR), while CB Martel Hight (JR) and S Randon Fontenette (JR) highlight the secondary. Texas QB Arch Manning (SO) is in the concussion protocol and questionable. The Longhorns defense has plenty of draft prospects, E’s Colin Simmons (SO) and Trey Moore (SR), ILB’s Anthony Hill (JR) and Liona Lefau (JR), S’s Jelani McDonald (JR), and Michael Taaffe (SR), and CB’s Malik Muhammad (JR) and Jaylon Guilbeau (SR).

#10 Miami (6-1) @ SMU (5-3)

9 a.m. PST on ESPN

Eyes on: The continuing rehab of Carson Beck (SR), with top prospects WR CJ Daniels (SR) and RB Mark Fletcher (JR) aiding his cause. On defense, the ‘Canes have a strong starting front, DE Ruben Bain (JR), DT David Blay (SR), DT Ahmad Moten (JR), and DE Akeem Mesidor (SR). SMU has a potent offense led by dual-threat QB Kevin Jennings (JR), but their pass defense has been an enigma. The ‘Stangs have two good prospects at S, Isaiah Nwokobia and Ahmad Moses (SR), as well as four players with at least four sacks, E Cameron Robertson (JR), E Isaiah Smith (SR), DT Terry Webb (SR), and (DT) Jeffrey M’ba (SR).

Navy (7-0) @ North Texas (7-1)

9 a.m. PST on ESPN2

Eyes on: Two wide open offenses. Navy makes 477 yards per game, with QB Blake Horvath (SR) running for 853 and passing for another 1063. “Snipe Z” (WR/RB hybrid) Eli Heidenreich (SR) has 797 rushing/receiving yards. On defense the lifeguards are NG Landon Robinson (SR) and LB MarcAnthony Parker (SO). North Texas makes 496 yards per game on the strength of red shirt freshman QB Drew Mestemaker’s arm, he’s thrown for 2400+ yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s thrown to 17 different receivers, led by WR’s Wyatt Young (SO), Cameron Dorner (SR), and Miles Coleman (SO).

#18 Oklahoma (6-2) @ #14 Tennessee (6-2)

4:30 P.M. on ABC

Eyes on: OU QB John Mateer (JR) tries to revive the sheen on his draft profile. Offensive line struggles have OU on the verge of being ousted from a possible playoff berth. RB...