The first half consists of September and October, when teams compete for position in the Associated Press and coaches polls. It’s a time when fun non-conference schedules are played and cupcakes are coming to town.
Paint Line and fans cheer on their team during a game between the Samford Bulldogs and the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
It’s also a time when conference play begins, setting the table for the second half of the season when the battle for conference championships will be arranged.
TENNESSEE HEADLINES FIRST COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF RANKING, GEORGIA GOES DOWN TUESDAY
And then there’s the second half of the season, when the College Football Playoff committee becomes the focus of the college football world as we get closer to New Year’s Eve when the semifinals are played.
The first CFP rankings came out on Tuesday and they treated us to a great college football Saturday.
Let’s take a look at some games to get you up to speed on Saturday as the college football season begins in Week 10.
No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 1 Tennessee – 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
Would it be an exaggeration to call this game “The Game of the Century?” It can. But it sure has a nice ring to it. Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker (5) throws a pass during a game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 29, 2022, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The Vols will travel to Athens, Georgia, ranked No. 1 in the CFP rankings for the first time in program history. It is a classic battle of opposites as Enter Tennessee with the nation’s top-ranked offense and Georgia will be up against a defense that ranks second in the nation in points allowed per game (10.5). GEORGIA OUT OF YEAR’S NFL DRAFT PROSPECT WITH TORN PECTORAL AHEAD OF TENNESSEE GAME: REPORT Georgia’s defense took a big hit earlier in the week when outside linebacker Nolan Smith underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral he suffered in last week’s game against Florida. Smith, a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, leads the Bulldogs with three sacks, seven tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries. But it’s a defense loaded with talent, fourth in the nation in yards allowed per game (262.6) and 13th in the nation in passing yards (177.1). LEGENDARY GEORGIA FOOTBALL COACH VINCE DOOLEY DIES AT AGE 90 “They’re athletic. They can run all three levels,” Tennessee coach Josh Hoepel said Monday when asked about Georgia’s defense. “They’re physical at all three levels. They don’t have busts. They play their assignments extremely well. They make you win it. It’s a great test for us. You’ve got to win one against them. Jalin Hyatt of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates his touchdown against the Kentucky Wildcats at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 29, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images) “That’s out on the perimeter. That’s on the offensive line — in the trenches — and you’ve got to be able to sustain drives.” Georgia will face its biggest challenge of the year, as the Tennessee offense has been unstoppable under Heupel and Heisman favorite Hendon Hooker. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Volunteers offense leads the nation in points per game (49.4), yards per game (553.0), passing efficiency (198.52) and yards per pass attempt (11.3). His running game is also averaging 199.6 yards per game, good for 24th in the nation. “Tennessee is not necessarily an unfortunate offense” Georgia coach Kirby Smart he said, according to ESPN. “They run the ball very well. I think you could say statistically they have an explosive pass rush. They’re a run team that cuts it deep. They do a really good job with explosive passing plays. They commit to the run. There’s a Their backs are very tough”. The field after a Georgia Bulldogs touchdown in the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium, Oct. 8, 2022, in Athens, Ga. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) The winner of the “between the fences” game will clinch a spot in the SEC championship game and establish itself as the nation’s top team. It should be a matter of beauty.
No. 10 LSU vs. No. 6 Alabama – 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
All eyes will be on the SEC for the two biggest games of the day as Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide with one loss head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a match with Brian Kelly and the Tigers. Both teams are trying to hand each other a second SEC loss. There are three groups – Ole Miss is the other — tied in the West with a 4-1 conference record. Alabama is coming off the week after beating Mississippi State and hoping the week off allowed quarterback Bryce Young a few extra days of treatment for his injured shoulder. Alabama Crimson Tide’s Bryce Young runs the ball during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Oct. 22, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images) MICHIGAN STATE FIRES FOUR MORE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AFTER MICHIGAN TUNNEL INCIDENT In the two games since sitting out against Texas A&M, Young has completed 56 of 87 attempts for 704 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The LSU’s defense will be delegated with trying to stop Young, a dual-threat quarterback, a type of quarterback the Tigers’ defense has struggled against this year. Against Tennessee, LSU allowed 239 yards passing and 56 on the ground to Hendon Hooker. Against Florida, he allowed 185 passing yards and 109 on the ground to Anthony Richardson. But that’s why Kelly left South Bend for the Deep South. He wanted a chance to beat the best. Brian Kelly, center, is introduced as the LSU Tigers head football coach by LSU President William F. Tate IV, left, and athletics director Scott Woodward during a news conference at Tiger Stadium on Dec. 1, 2021 in Baton Rouge, La. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) “I want to beat Nick Saban,” Kelly said in the spring. “Who doesn’t want to beat Nick Saban? You know what I mean? I want to play him in the regular season. That’s the standard, right? That’s the standard. Now it’s a conference opponent.” DEION SANDERS PLANS TO LOCK JACKSON STATE PLAYERS IN HOUSTON HOTEL AFTER TAKEOFF MURDER He has his chance and will need a big game from quarterback Jayden Daniels to get his first win against Saban in three tries. Against Ole Miss in Week 8, Daniels threw for two touchdowns and rushed for three more. On the season, Daniels threw for 1,812 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 524 yards and nine touchdowns. LSU Tigers’ Jayden Daniels celebrates a touchdown during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Tiger Stadium, Oct. 22, 2022, in Baton Rouge, La. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) “(Kelly’s teams) always have balance on offense,” Saban said, according to The Tuscaloosa News. “They’re going to run the ball. They got a really good pitching scheme. Using the staff they have very, very well. LSU COACH BRIAN KELLY ON LIVE UPDATE: ‘RUINS THE GAME’ “They’ve historically played very well on defense and on special teams. It’s typical of what a well-coached team usually does. They’ve gotten to the point — and all of his teams have been like that — they’re not winning. You’ve got to execute them and beat them, and I think that this should be the focus of our team.”
No. 13 Kansas State vs. No. 24 Texas – 7 p.m. ET, FS1
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has another chance to improve his record in true road games as the Longhorns head to Manhattan, Kansas, looking to avoid their third straight conference loss. In Sarkisian’s two years in Austin, the Longhorns are just 1-6 in true road games, including a 14-point differential vs. Oklahoma State in Week 8 at Boone Pickens Stadium. Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian watches players warm up before a game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, October 15, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (Tim Warner/Getty Images) It’s the same team that Kansas State was blown out in Week 9embarrassing the Cowboys 48-0 at home. AUBURN FOOTBALL COACH BRIAN HARSIN FIRES AFTER LOSS AT ARKANSAS “I think we played good football,” Sarkisian said this week, according to ESPN. “I think we have a squad that is committed to this last month of the season, but we have to be careful not to look down the road. We have to focus on this game and we have to handle business this week, and it will be a good game.” The Wildcats were without starting quarterback Adrian Martinez against Oklahoma State, but didn’t miss a loss with backup quarterback Will Howard. Kansas State rushed for 199 yards in Week 9, 158 of those yards coming from Douche Vaughn. MICHIGAN’S JIM HARBAUGH DEMANDS ‘SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES’ FROM TUNNEL INCIDENT, PLAYER SEEKS LEGAL ACTION The Wildcats are 11th in the nation in rushing yards per game with 228 yards. Texas is third in the Big 12 in yards allowed per game (121.6). Kansas Wildcats Deuce Vaughn (22) runs to the outside against Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Mason Cobb (0) during the first half at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium, Oct. 29, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. ( Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) Martinez has practiced all week, but Kansas State won’t decide who will start at center until closer to kickoff. “We’re prepared for both, we have to,” Sarkisian said Monday, according to ESPN. “Obviously the style of player Adrian Martinez has at quarterback…
