College football's 10 most important games remaining: Conference title, CFP races hit the home stretch — SkimNews
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- College Football Playoff contenders face five of the 10 important Power Four games on Nov. 7, including three top-15 SEC matchups; the first selection committee rankings are revealed a week from Tuesday, and the source says the weekend will drive widespread changes in the projections.
- Utah hosts BYU on Nov. 7 as the Big 12's lone unbeaten team; the source says a win would all but punch Utah's ticket to the CFP and conference title game, while a BYU loss would leave the Cougars dependent on an at-large route.
- Alabama and LSU have combined for one win over a currently ranked opponent—Kentucky—and the source projects the loser of their Nov. 7 game in Baton Rouge out of the 12-team CFP bracket.
- Texas and LSU both enter their Nov. 14 rematch at 5-2, but the Longhorns have three wins over currently top-25 teams and LSU none; the source says Texas can lose, finish 9-3 and still make the CFP via its win over Ohio State.
- Kentucky carries a six-game winning streak into its Nov. 7 trip to Tennessee after a late-season bye; the source says a win plus a 2-1 finish against Florida, Missouri and Louisville would produce the Wildcats' first CFP appearance.
- Ohio State visits USC on Oct. 31 with a freshman quarterback; the source says a Buckeyes road loss would reshape the Big Ten title picture and gives USC a chance to appear in the first CFP top 25 even after losing at Wisconsin.
- Oregon State plays Boise State on Nov. 14 with the Group of Six's playoff bid at stake, though the source calls a berth possible but far from likely; Oregon State's best finish is 11-2 after early losses to Texas Tech and Houston, and New Mexico factors after beating New Mexico State.
Why it matters: Nov. 7 is the hinge: five of the 10 games fall on that date, including three top-15 SEC matchups, and the first CFP rankings arrive a week from Tuesday. The source projects the Alabama-LSU loser out of the 12-team field, turning one road game into a direct bracket-changing test.
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