What to Watch This Saturday: Week 3 in College Football

Game of the Week: USC vs. No 7 Stanford (Saturday, 5pm, ABC)

(all times listed in Pacific Standard Time)

If for some reason you’re still looking for a reason to watch USC and Stanford on Saturday night, just check out ‘the last ten years’ of the rivalry. If you’re wondering what else you should watch on Saturday, it’s all right here.

No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 10 Louisville (9am, ABC)

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

FSU justified its top-tier ranking with a spectacular comeback against Ole Miss in Week 1. Louisville, meanwhile, rolled in their first two games with blowout wins against Charlotte and Syracuse, scoring 70 and 62 points respectively. This is a game neither team can afford to lose. Should be a winner-take-all thriller.

Reason to watch for USC: You’re already locked in for a 5 o’clock dinner party with fellow Trojans. This is breakfast. Wake up with ESPN GameDay (which will be airing just outside Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium) and you’ll be feasting on football all day!

No. 21 Oregon at Nebraska (12:30pm, ABC)

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A trip to Lincoln gives Oregon their first real test of the season. Nebraska coach Mike Riley had a heavy dose of the Ducks during his time at Oregon State. Riley told ESPN earlier this week, “I know how good they are and how good they’ve been for a long time.” The rest of us will find out how good they are on Saturday.

Reason to watch for USC: The Trojans host Oregon on November 5th. If the Ducks have any weaknesses, they will likely be exposed first by the Huskers.

No. 1 Alabama at. No. 19 Ole Miss (12:30pm, CBS)

It’s not often we get a game in which we might see someone knock off the Tide, but this might be one of them. Ole Miss has beaten Alabama two years running, and QB Chad Kelly gives them a chance once again. Nick Saban, however, has never lost to anyone three years in a row.

Reason to watch for USC: Trojans fans are still licking their wounds from Week 1. We’re rooting against Alabama for the rest of the year, right? And on top of that, “Ole Miss” is just fun to say.

No. 8 Michigan St. at No. 18 Notre Dame (4:30pm, NBC)

I can’t believe more people aren’t talking about this game. This is the return of one of the great rivalries in college football - and this year marks fifty years since ‘The Game of the Century.’ Michigan State is ranked higher in the polls, but the Irish are favored by a touchdown at home. It’s hard to know what to expect, other than a great game.

Reason to watch for USC: If we’re talking about rivalries, USC and Notre Dame tops this one by far. Games like this simply set the stage for the Trojans season finale.

UCLA at BYU (7:15pm, ESPN2)

Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Vegas has UCLA favored by 3 going into Provo, but the Cougars will be desperate to rebound from a tough loss against Utah last week. There’s also a feeling that the Bruins haven’t quite recovered from their opening loss to Texas A&M. How will Josh Rosen handle another big game on the road?

Reason to watch for USC: If the Trojans fall to Stanford, we might be cheering hard for BYU in the night cap. The two Pac-12 South favorites are both 1-1 heading into the weekend.

Other games worth watching:

Colorado at No. 5 Michigan (12:30pm, BTN)

No 4. Ohio State at No. 14 Oklahoma (4:30pm, Fox)

No. 11 Texas at California (7:30pm, ESPN)

Did we forget anyone? Let us know who you’ll be watching with your comments.