Lamest time window: The evening slate has one matchup of top-25 teams (No. 18 Pittsburgh at No. 20 SMU), but nothing else terribly enticing. Seems a good weekend to wine-and-dine the significant other as atonement for all those previous Saturday nights spent anchored to the sofa.
Noon: No. 3 Penn State hosts No. 4 Ohio State (Fox) in the weekend‘s marquee matchup, in which the Buckeyes have won the last seven meetings and 11 of the last 12. Elsewhere, former Miami coach Manny Diaz returns to Hard Rock Stadium with a 6-2 Duke team capable of de-railing the fifth-ranked Hurricanes’ joyride (ABC). Duke took No. 20 SMU to overtime last weekend, missing the would-be winning two-point try in a 28-27 loss.
3:30: Florida-Georgia (ABC) is the main fare here, but top-ranked Oregon’s trip to the Big House to face 5-3 Michigan (CBS) is certainly worth monitoring. And the Gus Malzahn Watch is in full effect at UCF, where the reeling Knights will try to avoid a sixth consecutive loss when they host Arizona (FS1).
7:30: No. 10 Texas A&M has a dangerous trip to South Carolina (ABC), which embarrassed Oklahoma by 26 points and lost to Alabama by only two in its last two contests. The Gamecocks also are coming off a bye, while the Aggies must re-focus after last weekend’s emotional win against LSU. Louisville at No. 11 Clemson (ESPN) could be sneaky good.
8: No. 18 Pitt, 7-0 for the first time since the Dan Marino era (1982), can get its first quality win at SMU (ACC Network). If the Mustangs (7-1, 4-0 ACC) prevail, they still need help to reach the ACC title game because Miami and Clemson — also undefeated in league play — currently would win the league tie-breaker based on higher opponents’ win percentage in conference play.
Sign of the times
Former Gators tailback Trevor Etienne’s offseason move to Georgia might have left Florida’s fan base jilted, but probably not jolted. In the transfer portal era, the shock value of such allegiance switches has dissipated significantly.
“It’s become the norm of college football,” said Gators coach Billy Napier, who watched Etienne post consecutive 700-yard rushing seasons for the Gators before moving to Athens last winter. “It’s already happened a handful of times this year that we played against players on the other side that were on our team in the past.”
Earlier this month, UCF receiver Trent Whittemore — who spent his first four college seasons at Florida — had two catches against the Gators. Two weekends ago, Miami linebacker Jaylin Alderman had a couple of tackles at Louisville, where he played the previous three seasons.
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USF linebacker Jamie Pettway and Bulls defensive tackle Decarius Hawthorne return Friday night to FAU (ESPN2, 7:30 p.m.), where both began their careers.
“Feels like there is a story each week about scenarios like that,” Napier added. “It wasn’t the first and won’t be the last, unfortunately.”
Local of the week
Tom Allen, Penn State
This former Temple Heights head coach, Armwood High assistant and USF defensive coordinator is flourishing in his latest incarnation as Nittany Lions defensive play-caller. Penn State enters its showdown against Ohio State ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense (267.6 yards per game), run defense (93.0 yards per game) and scoring defense (14.3 points per game). Additionally, the Nittany Lions have surrendered only 30 second-half points in seven contests.
Audible of the week
“I think it sends a strong message. I think all recruits, in-state, out of state, can now clearly see the trajectory of this program versus the trajectory of the other (state) programs.” — Miami coach Mario Cristobal, after his team clinched the unofficial state title with a 36-14 romp of FSU last weekend. Miami has defeated Florida A&M (56-9), Florida (41-17), USF (50-15) and FSU this season.
By the numbers
7 Starting offensive line groups for FSU in eight games. The 1-7 Seminoles host North Carolina on Saturday at 3:30 (ACC Network).
11.9 Points per game allowed by Ohio State, which ranks first nationally
14.3 Points per game allowed by Penn State, which ranks eighth nationally
17 USF freshmen or redshirt freshmen who played against UAB last week, according to Bulls coach Alex Golesh
101 Times Florida and Georgia have played, per the Gators
102 Times Florida and Georgia have played, per the Bulldogs. Florida doesn’t recognize a 52-0 Dawgs win in 1904.
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