College football Week 14 preview: Five best games to watch this weekend

It’s Week 14 of the college football season, which means one thing: rivalry week. All sorts of things are on the line this weekend – conference championship berths, College Football Playoff berths and bragging rights.

Can Ryan Day finally beat Michigan? If that is the case, no. 2 Ohio State play no. 1 in Oregon in the Big Ten title game for the first time since 2019. The Buckeyes have all of their goals ahead of them — winning the Big Ten and the national championship — but they have to beat their archrival first.

Later we get the long-awaited revival of Texas vs. Texas A&M. These two programs haven’t played each other since 2011, but one of college football’s greatest rivalries will be renewed now that they’re both in the SEC. The no. 3-ranked Longhorns thought they were getting the last laugh 13 years ago when Justin Tucker drilled that 40-yard field goal as time expired; can the Aggies get revenge at Kyle Field on Saturday night?

Meanwhile, the Big 12 enters this final week of the regular season with no clarity on which teams will play for the conference championship. Nine – yes, nine – teams could do according to countless scenarios. In other words, expect chaos this Thanksgiving weekend.

With that, here are the top five games to watch this weekend:

Michigan on no. 2 Ohio State (Noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)

For Day and OSU, this one is about revenge. The Buckeyes have failed to beat their biggest rival over the past five years, and no matter how successful the program has been since then, winning this game is the key.

Just check out what Day said about what it’s like to lose to Michigan on “GameTime with Ryan Day” this week: “Besides losing my dad and a few other things, honestly for my family it’s the worst thing ( has) happened.

(Read more: Michigan vs. Ohio State: Historic Big Ten matchup by the numbers)

Ohio State should take care of Michigan this time. The Buckeyes have the best defense in the nation and a top-10 scoring offense. They have talent at every position. They have been able to overcome two season-ending injuries to starting offensive linemen. They have star players Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka and a defense loaded with future NFL players. It’s no secret that the Wolverines have struggled this season and that there isn’t much on the line for them other than pulling off this year’s upset. To do that, though, quarterback Davis Warren would have to make explosive plays, which this offense hasn’t done all season. What’s more, they should also channel Michigan’s past three years of performances in the 120th edition of “The Game” and dominate Ohio State on the ground.

no. 8 Tennessee on Vanderbilt (Dinner ET)

Tennessee is sitting pretty right now. Beat Vanderbilt and all signs point to the CFP. The Vols are fortunate that they are highly thought of by the selection committee and do not need to play in the SEC title game to earn a spot in the 12-team field. A win on Saturday could also potentially earn them an on-campus game in the first round.

To do that, they will rely on several things, including the SEC’s top running back in Dylan Sampson. The junior set a school record with 22 rushing touchdowns – the best in the SEC – and is averaging 187.45 yards per carry. match.

However, Vanderbilt is no slouch. The Commodores are bowl eligible and have put together a respectable season, which included a massive upset of then-No. 1 Alabama in October. They almost beat then-No. 5 Texas later that month as well. Quarterback Diego Pavia has been impressive this season, throwing for 2,029 yards with 16 scores (seventh-most in the SEC) with just three interceptions. However, he will have to have a near-perfect game against the conference’s second-best defense.

no. 15 South Carolina on no. 12 Clemson (Dinner ET)

South Carolina is on a five-game winning streak that includes wins over two Top 25 teams (Texas A&M and Missouri). Plus, we’ve already talked about how the Gamecocks could easily sit with just one loss right now, after losing to LSU and Alabama by a combined five points earlier in the season. Freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers has improved each week, scoring 13 of his 17 touchdowns in the past five games.

Clemson, meanwhile, is looking for its first win over a Top 25 opponent this season. The only other the Tigers have faced was Georgia in the season opener and the Bulldogs dominated 34-3. Quarterback Cade Klubnik is facing the stingiest defense he has faced (and that includes Georgia’s). The offensive line will have its hands full with Gamecock defensive end Kyle Kennard, who leads the SEC in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (11.5).

Clemson will also keep an eye on the Miami (Fla.)-Syracuse game later in the afternoon. If the Tigers win and the Hurricanes lose, Clemson will find itself in the ACC Championship Game the following week.

no. 24 Kansas State on no. 18 Iowa State (7:30 PM ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)

The Big 12 is where this weekend’s mayhem could happen. If Iowa State and Arizona State win their respective games (Sun Devils play Arizona), then the two teams will meet in Arlington, Texas the following week for the conference championship game. It is the easiest and most straightforward result. If one of them loses, however, there are various scenarios where other teams can find themselves at the top of the league.

The Cyclones may have the toughest test as this is the only Top 25 matchup in the Big 12 this week. In addition to that pressure, Iowa State also has a chance to become the first team in program history to win 10 games in the regular season. Needless to say, there is very on the line.

Kansas State doesn’t have quite as much to play for, but could play spoiler. Especially with DJ Giddens, who is one of the best running backs in the country, and defensive end Brendan Mott, who leads the Big 12 with 8.5 sacks.

no. 3 Texas on no. 20 Texas A&M (7:30 p.m. ET)

The bet here is clear: The winner will play against no. 7, Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Texas A&M thought it had escaped Texas when it left the Big 12 for the SEC back in 2012. Fast forward 12 years later and now the two are conference foes again. In that span, the Aggies have not played for an SEC title. The fact that the Longhorns could do it in their first year in a new conference doesn’t sit well with anyone in College Station.

Additionally, if the Aggies lose, they will likely be eliminated from CFP contention. If Texas loses, however, they will still almost certainly be an at-large team in the 12-team field. If Steve Sarkisian’s team can beat Texas A&M and then get revenge on Georgia (who beat them in mid-October in Austin) and win the SEC, it would win the No. 2 in the CFP seed.

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She has previously written for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in the spring of 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

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