Week 10 CFB: Playoff & Conference Showdowns

College football’s Week 10 is poised to deliver a definitive playoff elimination gauntlet, with the SEC taking center stage for several high-stakes matchups. National championship aspirations will be solidified or shattered across the country, making Saturday, November 4th, a pivotal date on the calendar.

The most anticipated clash unfolds in Tuscaloosa at 7:45 PM ET, as the No. 14 LSU Tigers (6-2, 4-1 SEC) journey into Bryant-Denny Stadium to face the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC). Broadcast on ESPN, this annual rivalry often determines the fate of the SEC West, and 2023 is no exception. The winner will seize firm control of the division, holding the inside track to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. For the loser, a second conference loss will effectively extinguish any realistic hope of reaching the College Football Playoff. LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, a burgeoning Heisman Trophy candidate, will lead a potent offense against a resurgent Alabama defense anchored by its dominant front, while Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe looks to continue his impressive mid-season growth.

Earlier in the day, the SEC East race could be dramatically altered when the No. 12 Missouri Tigers (7-1, 3-1 SEC) visit the undefeated No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (8-0, 5-0 SEC) at Sanford Stadium in Athens. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 PM ET on CBS. For Mizzou, enjoying a surprise season under coach Eli Drinkwitz, this is a monumental opportunity to shake up the division and keep their own long-shot playoff hopes flickering. Georgia, pursuing an unprecedented third consecutive national championship, aims to extend its remarkable winning streak and maintain its grip on the top spot.

Out in the Big 12, a storied rivalry is expected to play its final chapter. The “Bedlam” game between No. 9 Oklahoma (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) and No. 22 Oklahoma State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) kicks off at 3:30 PM ET in Stillwater’s Boone Pickens Stadium on ABC. With Oklahoma’s impending move to the SEC, this could mark the last regular-season meeting for the foreseeable future. Both teams are locked in a fierce battle for conference title contention, making this edition particularly poignant and impactful. Oklahoma State’s dynamic running back Ollie Gordon II has been a breakout star, leading the Cowboys’ resurgence after a slow start.

Also in the Big 12, the No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) visit the No. 7 Texas Longhorns (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) at Noon ET on FOX from Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. With both teams holding identical conference records, this contest carries significant implications for the Big 12 championship race, as the winner gains a crucial edge.

On the West Coast, the No. 24 USC Trojans (7-2, 5-1 Pac-12) host the undefeated No. 5 Washington Huskies (8-0, 5-0 Pac-12) in a critical Pac-12 clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Set for 7:30 PM ET on ABC, this game pits two Heisman-caliber quarterbacks against each other: USC’s Caleb Williams and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. For USC, reeling from recent defensive struggles, a home win is essential to keep their Pac-12 Championship Game aspirations alive and salvage their playoff dreams. Washington, meanwhile, seeks to maintain its perfect record and strengthen its College Football Playoff resume.

Elsewhere, the No. 4 Florida State Seminoles (8-0, 6-0 ACC) aim to keep their playoff train rolling as they travel to Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh to take on the Pitt Panthers (2-6, 1-3 ACC) at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. Florida State, led by quarterback Jordan Travis, looks to avoid a potential trap game against a struggling Pitt squad and maintain its dominant run atop the ACC.

Finally, the Miami Hurricanes (6-2, 2-2 ACC) are desperate to rebound from a tough, last-second loss as they hit the road to face the NC State Wolfpack (4-3, 1-2 ACC) in Raleigh. The game at Carter-Finley Stadium kicks off at Noon ET on the ACC Network, with Miami looking to regain momentum and solidify bowl eligibility.

Week 10 promises to be a dramatic and pivotal weekend, where the paths to conference championships and the College Football Playoff will become much clearer.