2023-2024 cbhsports College Football 10/7 Preview

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AP Top 6
1.Georgia 5-0 (2-0) SEC This week: Kentucky (7 PM ET, ESPN)
2.Michigan 5-0 (2-0) Big Ten This week: @ Minnesota (7:30 PM ET, NBC)
3.Texas 5-0 (2-0) Big 12 This week: Oklahoma (Dallas) (12 PM ET, ABC)
4.Ohio State 4-0 (1-0) Big Ten This week: Maryland (12 PM ET, FOX)
5.Florida State 4-0 (2-0) ACC This week: Virginia Tech (3:30 PM ET, ABC)
6.Penn State 5-0 (2-0) Big Ten This week: Off

Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:

Risers
13.Washington State 4-0 (1-0) Pac-12 Week 5: #15 (Off)
15.Oregon State 4-1 (1-1) Pac-12 Week 5: #19 (Defeated 10.Utah, 21-7)
16.Ole Miss 4-1 (1-1) SEC Week 5: #20 (Defeated 13.LSU, 55-49)

Fallers
18.Utah 4-1 (1-1) Pac-12 Week 5: #10 (Lost to 19.Oregon State, 21-7)
19.Duke 4-1 (1-0) ACC Week 5: #17 (Lost to 11.Notre Dame, 21-14)
23.LSU 3-2 (2-1) SEC Week 5: #13 (Lost to 20.Ole Miss, 55-49)

Dropped Out
Florida 3-2 (1-1) SEC Week 5: #22 (Lost to Kentucky, 33-14)
Kansas 4-1 (1-1) Big 12 Week 5: #24 (Lost to 3.Texas, 40-14)

New
20.Kentucky 5-0 (2-0) SEC Week 5: NR (Defeated 22.Florida, 33-14)
25.Louisville 5-0 (2-0) ACC Week 5: NR (Defeated NC State, 13-10)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of AP Poll)
23.LSU (3-2) @ 21.Missouri (5-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)
Can LSU’s defense bounce back after giving up over 700 yards against Ole Miss? The Tiger defense crumbled as Rebels overcame a nine point deficit in the final minutes. Many talking heads do not think they should be ranked just because of that weak unit. On the other side of the ball, Jayden Daniels has been fantastic. In last Saturday’s shootout with Ole Miss, he threw for 414 yards and 4 TDs. His receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had eight receptions for 124 yards and 3 TDs. In addition, Logan Diggs rushed for 101 yards and 2 TDs. If the Tiger offense plays half as well as they did in Oxford, they should have a great shot at beating red hot Missouri in Columbia. Missouri QB Brady Cook (1,468 yards and 11 TDs) and has the record for number of passes thrown without an interception all time in the SEC. His running back Cody Schrader (463 yards and 3 TDs) and receivers Luther Burden (644 yards and 5 TDs) and Theo Wease Jr. (254 yards and 3 TDs) have been phenomenal as they have beaten Kansas State, Memphis, and Vanderbilt as they enter this big game. Missouri’s defense is led by linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper (27 tackles) and defensive back Joseph Charleston (26 tackles). LSU needs to bounce back in what should be a fantastic game in Columbia on Saturday afternoon. Projected Score: Missouri 35, LSU 31

12.Oklahoma (5-0) vs. 3.Texas (5-0) (Dallas) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
Can Oklahoma defeat Texas after their first 5-0 start since 2009? The Sooners themselves are also undefeated entering the final Red River Showdown as Big 12 foes before they both head to the SEC. Both teams are undefeated entering the game for the first time since 2011. Brent Venables’ team already has as many wins (5) as they had all of last season. So, things are looking up. But, they run into what is a buzzsaw in Texas. Venables’ QB is Dillon Gabriel, who has thrown for 1,593 yards and 15 TDs, has been great up to this point. It will be up to the Sooners running backs to help Gabriel in the passing game, Marcus Major (199 yards and 1 TD) and Tawee Walker (193 yards and 2 TDs). Michigan transfer receiver Andrel Anthony must be good for the Sooners, as he has put up 387 yards and 1 TD through one third of the season so far. On the other side, Texas’ offense has been one of the best in the country. Longhorn running back Jonathan Brooks exploded for 218 yards and 2 TDs in their dominant win over Kansas last weekend. He will be a key to making things easier for signal-caller Quinn Ewers Quinn Ewers, who threw for over 300 yards and 1 TD in the victory. Ewers’ targets Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Mitchell will be crucial in determining the outcome between the Longhorns and Sooners. Looking to stop Gabriel and the Oklahoma offense will be Jaylan Ford (32 tackles and 2 interceptions) and the Texas defense. A huge one looms at the Cotton Bowl and the Texas State Fair. Projected Score: Texas 38, Oklahoma 31

13.Washington State (4-0) @ UCLA (3-1) (Saturday, 3 PM ET, P12N)
Can UCLA get a quality win in the Pac-12 and make itself a contender in what has been the best league in America this year? Freshman quarterback Dante Moore (849 yards and 8 TDs) must be efficient against a very good Washington State team if they want to do so. Tailbacks Carson Steele (272 yards and 2 TDs) and TJ Harden (264 yards and 2 TDs) must support Moore in this game as well. J. Michael Sturdivant has been fantastic for the Bruins, having 12 receptions for 279 yards and 2 TDs. The UCLA defense must stop an electric Wazzu offense, as the unit is led by linebackers Darius Muasuau (24 tackles, 1 interception and 3 sacks) and Kain Medrano (21 tackles and 2 sacks). The Cougar offense has been fantastic this season, led by QB Cameron Ward, who has thrown for almost 1,400 yards and 13 TDs. His receivers Lincoln Victor (342 yards and 3 TDs), Josh Kelly (336 yards and 5 TDs), and Kyle Williams (301 yards and 4 TDs) will be very hard for the Bruins defense to stop. Defensively for Washington State, defensive back Sam Lockett III leads them in tackles with 26 and 1 interception. A fun Pac-12 battle in Westwood looms on Saturday. Projected Score: Washington State 41, UCLA 31

11.Alabama (4-1) @ Texas A&M (4-1) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
Alabama and Texas A&M will fight for first place in the SEC West at Kyle Field on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide have not been as good as they normally are under Nick Saban because of worse than usual offensive line play but this is their chance to prove they are still national championship contenders. Both the Crimson Tide and Aggies defenses have been crucial to their 4-1 starts this season. Defensive back Caleb Downs (40 tackles and 1 interception), linebacker Trezmen Marshall (30 tackles 1.5 sacks), and defensive back Jaylen Key (29 tackles and 1 interception) have led the Tide. For the Aggies, linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (30 tackles and 3 sacks) and Tauren York (27 tackles and 1 sack), and defensive tackle Walter Nolen (20 tackles and 3 sacks) have been huge this season. Offensively for the Aggies, Max Johnson replaced Connor Weigman as the starting quarterback last Saturday when Weigman was injured in the Aggies win over Auburn two weeks ago. Johnson (436 yards and 6 TDs on the season) played fantastic against Arkansas in Arlington, leading them to a win in the Southwest Classic. A&M’s talented core of receivers also excelled last week; including Evan Stewart (357 yards and 4 TDs) and Anias Smith (343 yards). Offensively for the Crimson Tide, signal-caller Jalen Milroe (838 passing yards, 189 rushing yards, and 10 total TDs) and has been great since regaining his starting position against Ole Miss. Along with Milroe, Alabama’s other top rushers, Jase McClellan (326 yards and 3 TDs) and Roydell Williams (242 yards and 1 TD) must help Milroe open the deep passing game for the Crimson Tide, who struggle with that with no receivers over 200 yards on the season. Texas A&M will look to beat Alabama for the third time since entering the SEC. Projected Score: Texas A&M 28, Alabama 24

20.Kentucky (5-0) @ 1.Georgia (5-0) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
Kentucky finally looks like they may be able to beat Georgia in the Kirby Smart era with Georgia’s struggles against lesser competition. Devin Leary (1,129 yards and 10 touchdowns) has been solid for the Wildcats this season since transferring from North Carolina State. Leary must avoid throwing his sixth interception this season against the Georgia defense that is always good under Kirby Smart. Vanderbilt transfer running back Ray Davis has been tremendous for Kentucky, rushing for 594 yards and 8 TDs. Kentucky’s receiving corps have looked great as well, with Tayvion Robinson (308 yards and 3 TDs), Barion Brown (251 yards and 1 TD), and Dane Key (196 yards and 2 TDs). The Wildcats defense will have to stop new Georgia starting QB Carson Beck (1,497 yards and 7 TDs) and talented tight end Brock Bowers (413 yards and 3 TDs) if the Wildcats want to win this game. The Kentucky defense is led by defensive back Maxwell Hairston, who has 33 tackles and 3 interceptions. The Georgia offensive line must establish holes for their running game like they did in their win over Auburn if they want the same result against Kentucky. Daijun Edwards has been the focal point for the Bulldog rushing attack, with 260 yards and 5 TDs on the season. There are huge SEC East implications in this game. Projected Score: Georgia 27, Kentucky 24

10.Notre Dame (5-1) @ 25.Louisville (5-0) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
I feel like I preview a Notre Dame every week at this point. This and next week (the Irish face top ten USC on 10/14), I will also be previewing their game. Notre Dame, though, needs to take it one game at a time and be focused on the Louisville, who is undefeated in what is looking like a loaded ACC in 2023 with Florida State, North Carolina, and Duke also ranked in the AP Top 25. So, lets focus on the Cardinals. Under former Purdue coach Jeff Brohm, the Cardinals have rushed to their best start in a long time. Quarterback Jack Plummer has diced defenses up for over 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns. Tailback Jawhar Jordan has ran all over defenses for 510 yards and 6 TDs while receiver Jamari Thrash (444 yards and 5 TD) has made opposing defenses pay with his big play ability. Defensively, the Cardinals had a good performance last time out, holding Brennan Armstrong and NC State to just 10 points. However, the Cardinals just put up 13 points. Louisville will have to be better on that side of the ball if they want to win this game. So, linebacker TJ Quinn (32 tackles) and defensive backs Cam’Ron Kelly (24 tackles and 2 interceptions) and Devin Neal (24 tackles and 1 interception) will be crucial in determining the outcome of this game. For Notre Dame, the terrific backfield of QB Sam Hartman and Audric Estime have been fantastic this season. If they want to avoid another close finish against an ACC foe (they escaped Durham with a 21-14 win over Duke last weekend), their defense will have to make timely stops like they did in their win over the Blue Devils. Defensive lineman Howard Cross III (35 tackles) and linebacker JD Bertrand (32 tackles) will need to be great if the Irish want to win this game. This showdown is Louisville’s chance to prove that the Jeff Brohm era can be a great one if they protect home field against the Fighting Irish. Projected Score: Notre Dame 35, Louisville 24