Week 12 viewers guide: A look at Saturday's top games
Each Friday, theScore will preview the week's best matchups on the college football calendar. Here are the top games to watch in Week 11.
No. 9 Indiana at No. 3 Ohio State (Noon ET, FOX)
Rivalry game against Michigan at home? Nope. Road trip on Halloween night to Penn State? Not even close. Divisional slugfest with Michigan State? Absolutely not. Believe it or not, Ohio State's home matchup this Saturday versus Indiana is the biggest game on the Buckeyes' schedule for the 2020 season. The ninth-ranked Hoosiers have been one of college football's best surprises this season, ripping off a 4-0 record which includes victories over Michigan and Penn State. However, Indiana might be in for a rude awakening in Columbus after heavily relying on interceptions to help flip momentum throughout the season. That is something Ohio State star Justin Fields simply doesn't do - the standout quarterback has thrown 476 passes in his collegiate career with only three giveaways.
No. 7 Cincinnati at UCF (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
No. 7 Cincinnati begins a three-week road stretch on Saturday that will determine whether the program can finish the season undefeated and potentially bust into the College Football Playoff. First up is a trip to high-powered UCF for a matchup that should light up the scoreboard. The two teams lead the AAC in scoring, with UCF averaging an absurd 619 yards of total offense per game. The difference between them? The Bearcats' defense is far-and-away the best in the conference, allowing just 12.4 points per contest. The Knights sit third from the bottom, giving up 28.7 points per game. Unless UCF's defense shows up in a big way, Cincinnati should keep the train rolling towards a flawless campaign.
No. 10 Wisconsin at No. 19 Northwestern (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Wisconsin and Northwestern may both be undefeated, but the paths taken to remain that way are very different. The 10th-ranked Badgers have only played two games due to COVID-19 but have looked utterly dominant in both contests. Quarterback Graham Mertz has led an offensive explosion en route to the team's astonishing 94-18 combined scoreline on the season. Northwestern does sit at 4-0 on the campaign but each of the last three victories has come by 7 points or less, which could benefit Wisconsin as Paul Chryst's outfit continues to push for the CFP. The Wildcats are the home team in this one, but the Badgers represent a much tougher challenge than anyone on the schedule.
Kentucky at No. 1 Alabama (4:00 p.m. ET, SECN)
It's highly unlikely Kentucky keeps up with Alabama, but the Wildcats' stout defense should at least make things difficult for signal-caller Mac Jones and the high-scoring Crimson Tide offense. Kentucky is the top passing defense in the SEC by far, allowing just 214.1 yards a game. It will be tough to slow down a top-ranked Alabama attack that throws for 380 yards per contest. After the conference postponed last week's game versus LSU due to COVID-19, Jones needs a strong showing against Kentucky to boost his Heisman hopes. That alone makes this one worth tuning in for.
No. 14 Oklahoma State at No. 18 Oklahoma (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
It's Bedlam time in Norman on Saturday when Oklahoma State and Oklahoma once again meet up for their annual rivalry game. This one has been a shootout over the past 12 years, with the series averaging 74.8 total points. The Cowboys' strong defense will make it challenging for the teams to reach that total this year, but Lincoln Riley's offense has been charging in recent weeks. The Sooners have scored 62 points in both of their last two contests and Spencer Rattler has thrown just one interception in his last 102 passes, boding well for Oklahoma to make it six wins in a row over their in-state adversary.