Rivalry Week Viewer’s Guide: These 21 Games Will Shape the College Football Playoff Field

Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Spread: Memphis -3.5

What’s at Stake: The Midshipmen (8-2, 6-1 American) are still alive for a spot in the conference championship game. However, they need some help in the form of losses by North Texas and Tulane, which seems unlikely, plus they still have to win at Memphis. Navy is an underdog to the Tigers (8-3, 4-3), who played spoiler to the Green Wave on Thanksgiving a year ago.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Ole Miss -7.5

What’s at Stake: The Rebels (10-1, 6-1 SEC) are almost certainly headed to the College Football Playoff regardless of the outcome of the Egg Bowl. A trip to the SEC Championship Game seems less likely in that it would require an Ole Miss win, plus losses by Alabama and Texas A&M. A loss would prevent the Rebels from hosting a first-round playoff game in Oxford. The Bulldogs (5-6, 1-6) can reach bowl eligibility for the first time since 2022 with a win over their rival. There’s also the small matter of whether this is Lane Kiffin’s last game coaching Ole Miss as his name gets bandied about in coaching carousel conversations.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Utah -10.5

What’s at Stake: The Utes (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) have a good case to be a CFP at-large team with a win in the season finale. Their only losses are to Texas Tech and BYU, the likely conference championship game participants. Utah could use some help, like a fellow two-loss team (Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Alabama, Vanderbilt) losing. It would be surprising but not impossible for the Big 12 to send three teams to the CFP. Meanwhile, the Jayhawks (5-6, 3-5) are vying for a bowl bid.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 12 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Georgia -13.5

What’s at Stake: The Bulldogs (10-1, 7-1 SEC) are headed back to the playoff regardless of the outcome of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. Georgia is in position to eliminate the Yellow Jackets (9-2, 6-2 ACC) from at-large contention. Because this isn’t a conference game, Georgia Tech can still qualify for the ACC Championship Game with a loss, but the path became much more complicated after last week’s loss to Pittsburgh. Even a win over the Bulldogs might not be enough for the Yellow Jackets to earn an at-large playoff spot at this point.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Spread: North Texas -20.5

What’s at Stake: If the Mean Green (10-1, 6-1 American) win their season finale, they’re in the conference championship game. And even if they were to fall to the Owls (5-6, 3-4), who are hoping to return to a bowl for the first time since 2019, North Texas will still play for the conference title as long as Memphis beats Navy. The winner of the American projects as a playoff team, barring a rapid rise by James Madison. You could have gotten long odds weeks ago on the Mean Green to make the CFP, but North Texas still has to win the league to make that a reality.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Spread: Indiana -28.5

What’s at Stake: The Hoosiers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) are in great shape heading into their final regular-season game. Indiana is back in the CFP no matter what happens against the Boilermakers (2-9, 0-8). While a win would secure a trip to the Big Ten championship, a loss isn’t disqualifying. A 12th win would set a new program record for coach Curt Cignetti’s team.

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Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m (ABC)
Spread: Texas A&M -2.5

What’s at Stake: This might be the single most important game in rivalry week. The Aggies (11-0, 7-0 SEC) are playing for their first trip to the SEC Championship Game and to play spoiler against the Longhorns (8-3, 5-2), who are on the outside looking in at the playoff picture at the moment. Texas A&M could leapfrog Indiana and/or Ohio State with a win, while Texas would have a strong at-large case to be the second three-loss CFP team with an upset. The Longhorns would also benefit from a few of the multi-loss teams ranked ahead of them losing this week, namely Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Michigan.

Kickoff: Friday, Nov. 28 at 9 p.m. (Fox)
Spread: Arizona -1.5

What’s at Stake: The Sun Devils (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) have a slim shot at returning to the Big 12 title game, and it all starts in the Territorial Cup. Arizona State must beat the Wildcats (8-3, 5-3) and needs either: BYU and Utah to lose, or Texas Tech to lose and Utah and BYU to win, or Texas Tech and BYU to lose and Utah to win. Though unlikely, one of those scenarios could happen. That would in turn open the door for the Sun Devils to sneak back into the CFP as conference champions.

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Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. (Fox)
Spread: Ohio State -9.5

What’s at Stake: Everything. At least it feels that way. The Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) can survive a loss and still comfortably make the playoff, but that would mark a fifth straight defeat in The Game. Even as the reigning national champions, that just won’t do in Columbus. Ohio State would also likely miss out on a playoff bye and potentially the Big Ten title game. The Wolverines (9-2, 7-1) need this game to vault into CFP consideration, either as an at-large team or by backing into the conference championship. Michigan, which hasn’t beaten a currently ranked team, has a chance to score the best win in the country.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. (ESPN)
Spread: Texas Tech -24.5

What’s at Stake: The Red Raiders (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) advance to the Big 12 championship with a win over the Mountaineers (4-7, 2-6). Texas Tech can still get there with a loss, but falling to WVU would be a big blow to its CFP seeding.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 12 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Miami -6.5

What’s at Stake: Neither the Hurricanes (9-5, 5-2 ACC) nor the Panthers (8-3, 6-1) control their own destinies. But if either team is going to advance to the conference championship game, it needs to win this week and have a few other things fall into place. Miami’s path is more complicated, but there’s still a slim possibility of an at-large bid with a win. Pitt’s only way into the CFP is as the ACC champion.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Spread: BYU -17.5

What’s at Stake: The Cougars (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) are currently on the bubble. They do, however, control their own destiny. A win over the Knights (5-6, 2-6) would put them in the Big 12 championship. BYU can also get there with an Arizona State loss, which would set up a rematch against Texas Tech. But barring an upset over the Red Raiders, the Cougs’ at-large case might require a team ranked in front of them to lose in order to inch further up the rankings.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Spread: Oregon -6.5

What’s at Stake: The Ducks (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten) are still in play for a return trip to the conference championship. Oregon’s at-large case seems to be secure after last week’s win over USC, but a win over the Huskies (8-3, 5-3) wouldn’t leave anything to chance. A win this week and in the Big Ten title game could also vault the Ducks further up the rankings, potentially securing a first-round bye.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Oklahoma -10.5

What’s at Stake: The Tigers (7-4, 3-4 SEC) are playing for pride at this point. On the other hand, the Sooners (9-2, 5-2) are quite literally playing for their playoff lives. A win keeps Oklahoma comfortably in the projected field, though the SEC championship is off the table. A loss almost assuredly knocks the Sooners out of contention.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Spread: Tennessee -3.5

What’s at Stake: The Commodores (9-2, 5-2 SEC) have a strong case to make the CFP as an at-large team with a victory over the Volunteers (8-3, 4-3). That’s right, Vandy could be playoff bound with a win in Knoxville, which would also set a new program record for wins in a season. That’s the ’Dores only path into the field. Even then, it’s no guarantee they would jump high enough by beating Tennessee, a feat in and of itself considering the recent history of this rivalry.

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Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3:45 p.m. (ESPNU)
Spread: James Madison -21.5

What’s at Stake: The Dukes (10-1, 7-0 Sun Belt) have already locked up their division and will host the conference championship game regardless of Saturday’s result. But the committee has told JMU for weeks now that it does not hold it in high regard. There’s a world where the American race goes south and the Dukes end up ranked higher than the American champion, but they have to beat the Chanticleers (6-5, 5-2) and their Sun Belt title game opponent just to have a shot.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Spread: Virginia -9.5

What’s at Stake: The Hokies (3-8, 2-5 ACC) are already looking ahead to the James Franklin era, but they’d sure love to spoil the Hoos’ dream season. The Cavaliers (9-2, 6-1) will play for the conference championship with a win or losses by SMU, Pitt and Wake Forest. Obviously, a win over Virginia Tech is the easier route, but UVA is 1-19 in the last two decades of this rivalry game. Despite the difference in records, this is no gimme.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Spread: Alabama -6.5

What’s at Stake: Oh, just a spot in the College Football Playoff. The Crimson Tide (9-2, 6-1 SEC) will end their one-season playoff drought with a win over the Tigers (5-6, 1-6 SEC). That sounds easy enough — only this is the Iron Bowl we’re talking about. On the Auburn side, a victory would secure bowl eligibility, spoil their archrival’s season and could see coach D.J. Durkin get the interim tag removed. No pressure.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 7:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Spread: Tulane -30.5

What’s at Stake: The Green Wave (9-2, 6-1 American) are poised to host the conference championship if they handle their business against the 49ers (1-10, 0-7). It would be quite the collapse for Tulane to trip up now. This has been the committee’s favorite Group of 5 team. If the Green Wave beat Charlotte and win the American title game, they’re in the playoff. There’s still a way to play for the conference championship with a loss, but the committee wouldn’t look fondly on such a result.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Spread: SMU -13.5

What’s at Stake: The Mustangs (8-3, 6-1 ACC) flew under the radar for much of the year, but they’re in the driver’s seat to play for the conference title once again. While SMU can survive a loss, beating the Golden Bears (6-5, 3-4) is the easiest path. The work doesn’t end there, as the Mustangs would then have to win the ACC title game to return to the playoff — unlike last year when they lost to Clemson and still made it as an at-large team.

Kickoff: Saturday, Nov. 29 at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Spread: Notre Dame -32.5

What’s at Stake: This one is quite simple considering there’s no conference championship at stake. If the Fighting Irish (9-2) beat the Cardinal (4-7, 3-5 ACC), they will be back in the CFP. If not, Notre Dame is firmly out of the at-large conversation — and Miami, Texas, Vanderbilt, Utah, BYU and all the other bubble teams would cheer as another spot opens up.