November marks the critical phase of the College Football Playoff race, with the first CFP rankings revealing surprises and leaving several top teams on the bubble. Week 10 features seven games that could define the playoff picture.
No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame
Notre Dame needs a win over the top-ranked Hurricanes to stay in playoff contention, while Miami risks falling from No. 1 to the bubble with a loss. The game lost some luster after wide receiver Malachi Toney was ruled out with an ankle injury.
No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah
BYU sits on the playoff edge despite wins over Notre Dame and Arizona; a loss to Utah would likely eliminate the Cougars. The Utes, ranked third with only one ranked victory, face a major test that could damage their advanced metrics standing.
No. 5 Alabama at No. 14 LSU
Alabama is considered the most overranked team in the CFP rankings. LSU's defense under Lane Kiffin could hand the Crimson Tide a third loss, which would cause a dramatic drop. Alabama has been inconsistent since beating Mississippi State, with losses to Tennessee and Georgia.
No. 2 Georgia at No. 10 Ole Miss
This is an elimination game for Ole Miss, which has shown extreme inconsistency. Georgia will test whether the Rebels are built for a playoff run.
No. 23 Oregon at No. 12 Ohio State
Ohio State's playoff hopes are on the line with two losses and concerns at quarterback with Luke Fahey. Oregon, while lacking a clear playoff path, has the talent to play spoiler.
No. 19 Iowa at Northwestern
Northwestern, 6-2 and unranked, could enter the conversation with wins over Iowa and Ohio State in consecutive weeks. Iowa arrives with momentum after a 30-0 win over Wisconsin.
UTSA at FAU
UTSA is 7-1 with its only loss to No. 7 Texas and remains undefeated in American Conference play. A Thursday night road game against Zach Kittley's high-octane FAU offense offers the Roadrunners a chance to crash the playoff party.
