NCAA football Week 7 not-to-miss games

The GIST: Mornings might be for coffee and contemplation, but Saturday afternoons (and evenings) are for college football. We’re breaking down four not-to-miss Week 7 gridiron games, including three of the six ranked matchups. No twinkle lights decoding required.

No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks (5-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (3-3), 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2): The Big 12 is officially in the upside down. Though the (former powerhouse) Sooners have won 44 of their last 50 games against the Jayhawks, unranked Oklahoma was shut out by Texas last week and now must host a formidable Kansas squad.

No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-0) vs. No. 5 Michigan Wolverines (6-0), 12 p.m. ET (FOX): In tomorrow’s bitchin’ battle between two undefeated Big Ten teams, the Nittany Lions will rely on their tough defense, which has allowed less than 100 rushing yards on average, when they visit The Big House to take on quarterback (QB) J.J. McCarthy, who hasn’t yet faced a ranked team. Talk about a test.

No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0) vs. No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers (5-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS): The Tide is somehow still undefeated. Head coach (HC) Nick Saban’s squad just squeaked by Texas and Texas A&M this season, and star QB Bryce Young is questionable to play. But Saban’s Bama has never lost to the Vols and their defense remains exceptional.

• However, the Vols offense hasn’t been this hot since the Peyton Manning days, scoring 30 TDs in five games, and if they can overcome the Tide’s D line, they’ll be the ones smoking the rivalry cigars.

No. 7 USC Trojans (6-0) vs. No. 20 Utah Utes (4-2), 8 p.m. ET (FOX): You may think that undefeated USC has the upper hand given the Utes’ loss to No. 11 UCLA last week, but Utah’s won 22 of their last 23 home games and has SoCal revenge on the brain.

• This one is extra special for the Salt Lake squad, too: They’ll be honoring two late players, Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan (both #22s), with custom helmets. Bigger than ball.