Gameday - Week #7

It is a Columbus Day Gameday for all of us here in the college football world and ESPN's College Gameday has sailed west to Seattle, Washington, where the #16 Huskies will host the #2 Oregon Ducks (kickoff at 4PM on FOX Sports 1).  Today's edition of this long-term rivalry (The Huskies and the Ducks have met 105 times since 1905) is very significant for both teams because of how it could affect their post-season standings.  While it is safe to say that both teams will get bowl bids, an Oregon victory will bring the Ducks closer to a national championship appearance.  However, if Washington wins, it should put the Huskies on track to secure their first Rose Bowl bid since 2001, which was a game they won 34-24 over Purdue.  In addition to this game, today's slate also features two other games between ranked opponents.  At Noon (EDT) on ESPN, the #25 Missouri Tigers will travel to Athens to play #7 Georgia Bulldogs in a game that ESPN has on "upset alert" because of Georgia's near loss to Tennessee last week in Knoxville.  At 3:30 (EDT) on CBS, #10 LSU will host #17 Florida in a SEC inter-divisional match-up.  Though both teams each have one loss, Florida remains undefeated in the conference standings.  A win here for the Gators will put them closer to representing the SEC East in the conference championship later this year.  As for LSU, a win today could put them in a position to play in the Sugar Bowl, should Alabama remain undefeated.

Today's slate also features some important rivalry games.  Indiana travels to Michigan State to play for the Old Brass Spittoon trophy, which looks like this:

 Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated.

Virginia plays Maryland at 3:30 on ESPNU in what may be the last time these two border teams play each other as conference opponents (Maryland will join the Big Ten in 2014).  Oregon State plays Washington State at 10:30 on ESPNU, California has an in-state match-up against #11 UCLA tonight at 10:30 on ESPN2, #19 Northwestern plays border rival Wisconsin at 3:30 on either ABC or ESPN2 (check local listings), and #18 Michigan heads to Happy Valley to play Penn State.  But, today's schedule has what is arguably one of the biggest interstate rivalry games in all of college football, the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma.  Commentators have referred to this game as "Mack Brown's last stand" because the outcome of this game could determine whether or not Texas decides to relieve Brown of his duties as head coach of the Longhorns.  While Oklahoma has won the last three editions of this rivalry, the last two years have been a disaster for Texas.  The Sooners in 2011 beat Texas 55-17 and 2012's score was not much better for the Longhorns:  63-21.   Today's Red River Rivalry kicks off at Noon Eastern on ABC.  Enjoy today's games, Everybody!!