Importance of thin Rivalry Week Schedule hinges on Ohio State-Michigan

Thanks to an expanded slate of college football games on Friday night, the Saturday lineup for Rivalry Week isn’t as stacked as you would normally think. However, that doesn’t really matter, because for all of us, the only game of consequence kicks off at 12 noon ET on the FOX Television Network. That contest, of course, sees the No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes face off against the vile and villainous No. 4 Michigan Wolverines.

The significance of any other games on the day depends on what the Buckeyes do versus their rivals. A win brings joy and good tidings to all Scarlet and Gray hearts and minds, adding extra import to Georgia Tech-UGA, Illinois-Northwestern, the Iron Bowl, LSU-Texas A&M, and ND-USC. A loss brings an afternoon and evening of soul searching and perhaps heavy drinking.

So, let’s take a look at what games could be important for Buckeye fans to check out later today.

Early Window

Nothing. Ohio State is playing M*ch*g*n, and there is nothing even remotely compelling enough to devote an iota of attention to during this window other than The Game. Even if you have multiple screens, they should all be tuned to FOX in order for you to more fully appreciate the experience of the rivalry.

If you must, during halftime you can flip over to the SEC Network to see if Georgia Tech can pull the upset of No. 5 Georgia, thus eliminating one more obstacle on the Buckeyes’ path to the College Football Playoff. Just make sure that you click back to FOX in time for the second half kick.

Afternoon Window

Let’s be honest, you are likely not going to be in any emotional state to fully appreciate football during this window — at least not during the first half. If the Buckeyes pull the upset and beat Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines for the seventh straight year, you will likely be way too excited to sit down and watch more football, especially since there really any interesting games that will be particularly close in this slot anyway.

Of course, if OSU loses for the first time at home in this rivalry since John Cooper was the coach, we’ll all be dealing with much different emotions. But, should the euphoria or anger subside enough to focus on football, there are a few games worth checking out in the afternoon.

Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 19 Northwestern Wildcats
3:30 p.m. ET | BTN

This one obviously becomes even more important if the Buckeyes beat TTUN. In that case, Pat Fitzgerald’s Wildcats will be OSU’s opponent in next week’s Big Ten Championship Game. Of course, if OSU losses, you can always take comfort in seeing Lovie Smith’s Santa-like beard.

Auburn Tigers at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS

Like The Game, the Iron Bowl brings a whole host of emotions, and anything can happen. Alabama is a 24.5 point favorite, so expecting the Tigers to knock the top-rated team from the ranks of the unbeatens is more than a bit foolish. But, if things are “closer than the experts expect” as it turns to the fourth quarter, it could be worth flipping over to CBS to see if Tua Tagovailoa can earn that Heisman that he’s going to get next month.

Evening Window

No. 7 LSU Tigers at No. 22 Texas A&M Aggies
7:30 p.m. ET | SEC Network

If you hadn’t heard, the CFP Selection Committee really likes LSU. They like Joe Burrow and his new team so much that they have them ranked seventh, even though they have suffered losses to both No. 11 Florida (27-19) and No. 1 Alabama (29-0). Most college football experts seem to assume that the Bayou Bengals can’t get much higher than their current position, since they won’t have the benefit of playing in the SEC Championship Game.

But, this is still one to check out, not only because of Buckeye fans’ continued affection for Burrow, but also because of where the Tigers sit in the CFP pecking order. OSU would almost certainly jump LSU with a win today — or at the latest after a potential win in the B1G Championship — so seeing what the Tigers look like against a top-25 opponent should help us gauge how the Buckeyes stack up in the committee’s eyes.

No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at USC Trojans
8 p.m. ET | ABC

I wouldn’t put too much stock in the Men of Troy pulling off this upset as they have been just shy of full-on dumpster fire this season, and will likely be looking for a new coach as early as tomorrow. But, a loss by the Irish would start to open up a number of unexpected paths that the Buckeyes could sneak into the CFP.

Check Saturday’s full slate of games here: