It will be almost impossible for Week 7 to match the chaos of Week 6, but the slate is full of exciting matchups.
This will be the first matchup of the season between the top three ranked teams, with the No. 1 team in the country facing off in a famous neutral rivalry game. The day should be lively.
Here are the matchups we’ll be watching closely on Saturday. Follow all the action live below.
Both teams begin their Cotton Bowl rivalry game outside of the bye weeks. The Longhorns moved to the top of the AP Top 25 after the Alabama loss and Quinn Ewers is back in the starting lineup. Oklahoma will start true freshman Michael Hawkins for the second straight season. If the Sooners want to pull off an upset, Hawkins needs to be fantastic and the running game needs to get on track.
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: CBS | Line: Penn State -5.5 | Overall: 50.5
This game lost some of its luster after the Trojans lost to Minnesota last week. This dropped them out of the top 25 and reduced their chances of winning the Big Ten. However, it could still be a dangerous game for Penn State. Penn State’s offense looked much better in 2024 after an offseason coordinator change, and the defense allowed 12 or fewer points in four of its five games.
The marquee game of the weekend should be a breeze. Opposing defenses have not yet solved OSU’s two-headed rushing attack and a passing game featuring all-world freshman Jeremiah Smith. If the game comes down to quarterback play, Oregon could have the edge. Will Howard has been solid for the Buckeyes, but Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel leads the country in completion percentage and has thrown for 1,449 yards.
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Ole Miss -3.5 | Overall: 63.5
This game has the makings of a shootout. The Rebels average 44 points per game while LSU scores over 35 points per game. QB Jaxson Dart has already thrown for 2,100 yards and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 1,652 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games. The Tigers were eliminated in Week 6, while the Rebels rebounded from their first loss with a blowout win over South Carolina.
Kansas State is a good benchmark for the Buffaloes’ seemingly improved roster. The team has already matched its 2023 win total and is just two wins away from bowl eligibility. The biggest test for Colorado will be their defense up front. Against the Buffaloes, teams average over 150 rushing yards per game and KSU RB DJ Giddens and QB Avery Johnson each average 7.3 yards per carry.
Live40 updates
Alabama INT wins!
The Crimson Tide survive when South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers throws an interception in the end zone to end the game. The Gamecocks had three plays to get into field goal range but can’t muster anything and Alabama wins.
SOUTH CAROLINA GETS ONSIDE KICK
The Gamecocks are still alive! With 40 seconds left, they’re at midfield and all they’re missing is a field goal.
South Carolina scores a TD, misses the 2-point conversion to tie the game
Nyck Harbor makes a nice catch in the corner of the end zone, giving South Carolina a chance to tie the score with less than a minute to play, but the ensuing two-point conversion is of no use as QB LaNorris Sellers sails the ball out of bounds End zone.
touchdown Alabama!
On a crucial third-and-10, Jalen Milroe finds Germie Bernard wide open for a 34-yard touchdown.
South Carolina trails 27-19 with less than two minutes to play.
Alabama tries to bleed out the clock
The Crimson Tide now have the ball past midfield and are doing their best to fill the clock. All they need is another first down.
There are two minutes left.
Iowa defeats Washington
The Hawkeyes are in full control at home against Big Ten newcomer Washington.
South Carolina misses FG
The Gamecocks’ drive stalled at the Alabama 33-yard line and South Carolina’s Alex Herrera missed the 51-yarder that would have given them the lead.
There’s just over 5 minutes left.
touchdown Alabama!
After a wild turnaround in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide are back on top. It’s Jalen Milroe who finds the end zone with a seven-yard run.
The two-point conversion is not good. Alabama up 20-19.
Alabama recovers fumble!
Just two games later, the Crimson Tide have it back! South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers simply mishandled the ball and Alabama jumps on it.
The Tide have great field position again. What some wild games in Tuscaloosa.
Intercept South Carolina!
Alabama was looking to score and Jalen Milroe appeared to have a receiver open in the corner of the end zone, but a smart play by South Carolina’s O’Donnell Fortune resulted in a pick in the end zone.
With just over 12 minutes left, the Gamecocks will bounce back with a 19-14 lead.
Wisconsin leads 21-0 against Rutgers
The Badgers are on the road in the second half of their Big Ten matchup against the Scarlet Knights.
South Carolina touchdown!
The Gamecocks are in the lead! What a start to the second half. That was a 16-play, 85-yard drive capped by a short TD run by Raheim Sanders with 8:40 remaining.
South Carolina is ahead 19-14.
We’re back for the Alabama-South Carolina second half and the Gamecocks are on the rise on their first possession. They are above midfield with ten minutes left in the third period.
Scoreboard update
Here’s how things stand as the first wave of play arrives at halftime:
Scoreboard update
Halftime: Iowa 20, Washington 10
After all that oddity with Washington’s FG attempt, Iowa scored just before halftime with a FG in exactly the same manner, with the ball flying over the post.
In a somewhat bizarre moment in the game, Washington scored a field goal late. Iowa seemed to think it hadn’t gone in and decided to challenge the play, but it couldn’t be checked as it went past the uprights.
The Hawkeyes will have the lead at halftime in Iowa City after two first-half touchdowns from Kaleb Johnson.
Halftime: Alabama 14, South Carolina 12
Jalen Milroe makes another costly mistake with just seconds left in the half and Jalon Kilgore puts the pick into field goal range for the Gamecocks, who score three more points as time expires.
The Tide were in control of the game early in Tuscaloosa before the half ended in surprise. They allowed 12 points in the final 1:43 before halftime.
Fumble recovered by Alabama!
Now Alabama causes a turnover in midfield. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers made a poor decision trying to throw the ball while being sacked and ended up fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Alabama.
The Tide have it back with 48 seconds left in the half.
Safety South Carolina!
The Gamecocks add two more points after an error by Alabama’s Jalen Milroe! The Bama quarterback dropped back into his own end zone from the 12-yard line and then threw the ball to no one, resulting in an intentional grounding and a safety.
South Carolina will take it back with all its timeouts and 1:30 remaining in the first half.
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