College football Week 13 preview: Top games, what to watch, rankings NCAA.com

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PRESENTED BY Now that we're in Week 13 of the college football season, we're getting down to must-win games for conference division hopes and more. Below, find our preview of the top games, what to watch for and the weekly Top 25 rankings. In two key games, No. 2 Ohio State plays No. 8 Penn State and No. 4 Georgia is home against Texas A&M.

College football Week 13 preview Top games

Penn State has had some close games lately, but if PSU can play in another tight one this week, that's a good sign. Ohio State has been so dominant through 10 games that the Nittany Lions might feel a little more comfortable if the game is close in the fourth quarter. But a lot will probably have to go right — like somehow slowing down Buckeyes QB Justin Fields. OSU-PSU: The Bulldogs are going to Atlanta as SEC East champs and would be a tough foe for LSU (the Tigers are one win away from clinching the SEC West). But UGA is also right in the mix for a CFP spot, so there are bigger goals than the SEC title as the Bulldogs play an A&M team that's won four in a row. Georgia can't afford a second loss. Indiana was ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 1994 but fell to Penn State by a touchdown last week. Still, it's been an impressive 7-3 season for IU going into this one. But there's one thing missing: a signature win. This could be just that, though Michigan has been on a roll the last few weeks. One of the biggest stories to watch this week will be to see how Baylor responds after blowing a 25-point lead to OU last week. The Bears will have to win out, but Texas is a tough one. Yes, Texas is only 6-4, but QB Sam Ehlinger is capable of carrying the Longhorns to an upset on the road.
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CFP:
MORE: Both teams are 5-1 in AAC play, which is tied with Memphis for first in the West (though Memphis has the head-to-head edge on both). The winner stays in the hunt for the AAC title, but they'll need Memphis to lose. SMU has struggled on defense, so Navy should be able to get its ground game going. Louisiana Tech's loss to Marshall helped open the door wider in the CUSA West. The Bulldogs are 5-1 in the conference, tied with Southern Miss (though Louisiana Tech beat the Golden Eagles), with UAB next at 4-2. The Blazers are the defending CUSA champs and won't give in easily. The American isn't shy in giving fans fun games every week, and this one is no different. Temple gave Memphis its only loss of the season (so far) and could end Cincinnati's New Year's Six hopes with an upset here. The Ducks have clinched a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game and would love to meet 1-loss Utah for a resume-boosting game. But first Oregon will have to defeat Arizona State and rival Oregon State. The Sun Devils were 5-1 but have since lost four in a row, so the Ducks should get by with QB Justin Herbert and a strong defense. The Broncos keep on winning and would pounce should the AAC champion end up with two defeats and challenge for the New Year's Six spot. But Utah State is going to be ready with what should be a wild atmosphere in Logan, Utah. But Aggies star QB Jordan Love left the Wyoming game and Boise State quarterbacks Hank Bachmeier and Chase Cord could both be out. WEEK 13 SCHEDULE:

College football preview What to watch for this week

Can Alabama still sneak into the College Football Playoff

With Tua Tagovailoa out for the season, it's the Mac Jones show now at quarterback. With the Tide likely not playing for the SEC Championship, that's a miss for a team without a big win. That means Jones and Alabama need to look really, really, really good against Western Carolina and Auburn to overcome those issues. The Tide are currently No. 5 and might not drop this week either, unless Penn State shocks Ohio State. But Alabama will have a difficult time holding off some teams. That starts with a 1-loss Pac-12 champion. Both Oregon and Utah could end up in the top 4 if they win out. If the Ducks and Utes are both 11-1 for their Pac-12 title game, it's easy to see that serving as a play-in game for the CFP. Alabama might be in a stronger position against a 1-loss Big 12 champion (Oklahoma or Baylor). OU is only No. 9 and moved up just one spot after winning at what was an undefeated Baylor team. But the Sooners will inevitably climb as teams ahead of them lose. And OU will have a conference championship to use in an argument against Alabama. Ohio State looks like the class of the Big Ten, but if OSU stumbles, the Buckeyes might have a strong enough resume to be ahead of 'Bama — with or without a conference title. As fun as it is to debate, it's likely things will work themselves out. All Alabama can do is win big against Western Carolina and hopefully Auburn and then hope for chaos everywhere else.

Can anyone wrestle the Heisman from Joe Burrow

It's getting hard to see anyone but Joe Burrow holding the Heisman next month. But things can change quickly. UNDEFEATED WATCH: It probably starts with Ohio State QB Justin Fields and Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts. Fields has 2,164 passing yards with 31 TDs and only one interception while also rushing for 377 yards and 10 TDs. To seriously challenge Burrow, Fields needs to take advantage of national audience for Saturday's game against Penn State. He also still has to play at rival Michigan and possibly the Big Ten Championship Game. The biggest setback for Fields so far is that he and the Buckeyes have been too good. They haven't needed Fields to play late in games. As for Hurts, he rallied OU at Baylor and is now up to 3,039 passing yards (28 TDs, 5 INTs) and 983 rushing yards (15 TDs). If the Sooners make a serious push toward the CFP, Hurts will get support. But it might be asking a lot for an Oklahoma quarterback to win the Heisman for the third year in a row. Especially when the favorite is undefeated and has been posting ridiculous lines. In the end, Fields and Hurts probably need Burrow and LSU to lose. Asking that from Arkansas this week is a lot, but LSU still has Texas A&M and then Georgia for the SEC title (if the Tigers get there). Right now, Burrow's 3,687 passing yards and 38 touchdowns is way too strong to ignore, especially after the thrilling win at Alabama.

College football rankings for Week 13

RANK CFP ASSOCIATED PRESS Coaches Poll 1.
LSU
LSU (54)
LSU (55) 2.
Ohio State

Ohio State (5)
Ohio State (6) 3.
Clemson
Clemson (3)
Clemson (4) 4.
Georgia

Georgia
Georgia 5.
Alabama
Alabama
Alabama 6.

Oregon

Oregon
Oregon 7.
Utah

Utah
Oklahoma 8.
Penn State
Oklahoma
Utah 9.
Oklahoma
Penn State
Penn State 10.
Minnesota
Florida
Florida 11.
Florida
Minnesota
Minnesota 12.
Wisconsin
Michigan
Michigan 13.
Michigan
Baylor
Baylor 14.
Baylor
Wisconsin
Wisconsin 15.
Auburn
Notre Dame
Notre Dame 16.
Notre Dame
Auburn
Auburn 17.
Iowa
Cincinnati
Cincinnati 18.
Memphis
Memphis
Memphis 19.
Cincinnati
Iowa
Boise State 20.
Boise State
Boise State
Iowa 21.
Oklahoma State
SMU
SMU 22.
Iowa State
Oklahoma State
Appalachian State 23.
Southern California
Appalachian State
Oklahoma State 24.
Appalachian State

Texas A&M
Texas A&M 25.
SMU
Virginia Tech
San Diego State

Week 13 college football schedule game times TV channels

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