The Road Ahead: Week 6 blowouts or an upset-fest?
Time & TV: Tenn-Ark, UGA-Auburn, Mizzou-TexA&M, UNLV-Syracuse, Clem-FSU, Mich-Wash
VIDEO: Watch Josh Pate preview No. 4 Tennessee vs Arkansas
The Road Ahead is a series — Get time, TV, and fan gear for the nation’s key games in a weekly summary delivered to your inbox with a FREE subscription to College FansEdge!
Friday night lights
Syracuse at No. 25 UNLV: 9pm ET/8pm CT/6pm PT | FS1
UNLV is 4-0 and ranked for the first time in program history, and hosting a Power-4 opponent for a Friday night game.
Unranked Syracuse won't answer very many questions about just how good 2024 UNLV actually is, but a 5-0 start would put UNLV at the doorstep of some opportunities for a special season.
Michigan St at No. 6 Oregon: 9pm ET/8pm CT/6pm PT | FOX
If UNLV-Syracuse turns out to be a dud, odds aren’t much better for an instant classic with Michigan State at No. 6 Oregon — However, having seen it in person, a Friday night game at Autzen is a college football bucket list experience for certain.
Ranked vs. ranked
No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M: Noon ET/11am CT/9am PT | ABC
pick for Game of the Week — Immediate implications in the SEC race and potential CFP seeding impact down the road make this a must-see game.
It’s still not quite crunch time in the playoff race, but a loss here starts to dim the lights on paths to the CFP for either team — If loving a college football matchup like this one is wrong, we don’t wanna be right.
Dawgs of destiny
Auburn at No. 5 Georgia: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ABC
For unranked Auburn, this might as well be the Super Bowl — For No. 5 Georgia, it’s a week to decide how they’ll respond from the Week 5 loss to new No. 1 Alabama.
Nobody in the country thinks Georgia's done — the Vegas line opened with Georgia by 24 over Auburn. The question is how quickly No. 5 Georgia can reset their mojo after that blistering Week 5 first half that saw new No. 1 Alabama lead the Bulldogs 21-0 after the first quarter.
The Slim Shady Bowl
No. 15 Clemson at FSU: 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT | ESPN
Will the real Florida State please stand up — Will this be the week FSU starts a fairytale win streak to save their season? Or is this the week FSU allows its fifth loss in six games? — These questions after ten months of Florida State insisting they deserved a spot on the 2023 CFP and insisting they deserve a better conference than the ACC.
The point of no return is just about here for four-loss FSU — meantime, QB1 DJ Uiagalelei is reportedly out for the Clemson game and the next few weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand. Brock Glenn reportedly will start at QB.
2023 CFP rematch
No. 10 Michigan at Washington: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | NBC
The once-mighty fell quickly in the months since last season’s CFP championship game.
No. 10 Michigan’s offense is one-dimensional, averaging a B1G-worst 115.4 pass yards per game through Week 5 — and Washington is utterly unrecognizable after losing its head coach to Bama, its entire 2023 starting offense to transfers and the Draft, and losing its best returning DB on a transfer to bitter rival Oregon.
Struggling 2023 national champ Michigan needs more style points than a close win over two-loss, unranked Washington — but the opening Vegas line favored the Huskies by a field goal.
A loss here simply isn't a possibility Michigan can afford to entertain — Ranked teams ahead:
Week 8 at No. 24 Illinois
Week 10 vs. No. 6 Oregon
Week 11 at No. 23 Indiana
Week 14 at No. 3 Ohio State
Games of the Week:
Friday, Oct. 4
Syracuse at No. 25 UNLV: 9pm ET/8pm CT/6pm PT | FS1
Saturday, Oct. 5
No. 9 Missouri at No. 25 Texas A&M: Noon ET/11am CT/9am PT | ABC
Auburn at No. 5 Georgia: 330pm ET/230pm CT/1230pm PT | ABC
No. 15 Clemson at FSU: 7pm ET/6pm CT/4pm PT | ESPN
No. 4 Tennessee at Arkansas: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | ABC
No. 10 Michigan at Washington: 730pm ET/630pm CT/430pm PT | NBC
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