Breaking news: College football is almost over.
When you’re done weeping (what are we going to do with our Saturdays … house work!?) with the fact that we have only a month left, understand that this has been an incredible season with the best plot twists yet to come. The 2016 season seems like it’s producing a host of potentially elite teams that could make the playoffs.
Or we could have what usually happens, and the pressure starts to get to the teams at the top, and we’re left scrambling for a fourth team going into the final weekend. The massive games you won’t want to miss, in order of importance, are below. Enjoy them. We’ll be starving for Spring Practice soon.
1. Michigan @ Ohio State
The Game in 2016 might be the most important version of it since the epic 2006 tilt, which both teams met unbeaten shortly after the passing of former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. It was a defining moment of sorts for both programs, as Michigan began sort of a downward spiral that saw Lloyd Carr get run out of town and OSU take over the Big Ten. The Bucks seemed ripe for the picking after losing to Penn State and then flaccidly defeating Northwestern at home, but a bludgeoning of Nebraska lets us know how good they are, and it could be buzzsaw vs buzzsaw with a playoff spot on the line.
2. Auburn @ Alabama
It’s only fitting that the two best rivalries in college football look like the two most important games left in 2016. Since dropping two of their first three at home, Auburn has surprisingly (sort of, I guess) stepped up as the most probable L for Alabama in the SEC. As cliche as “throw out the records and venue for this rivalry” is, the Iron Bowl is such that both will be prepped to play their best games. Alabama looks utterly overwhelming on defense, but it shouldn’t be a shock to the system if Auburn makes this a one-possession game late. The question is, even if the Tide loses, does it matter at this point?
3. Washington @ Washington State
Goody. All the rivalries are coming together to mean something! Other than, like, Florida and Florida State (kidding). The Apple Cup is a heck of an intense game, but usually both teams are so far off the national radar, only junkies circle it on the schedule, and they typically get their fix. The last two years have been underwhelming Washington blowout wins betwixt two mostly mediocre teams. Whether it’s a Washington blowout remains to be seen, but these are the two best teams in the Pac-12, probably somewhat surprisingly
4. Oklahoma @ West Virginia
Believe it or not, long forgotten Oklahoma probably has a viable path to a playoff, and WVU, again, believe it or not, is currently the Big 12’s best shot at crashing the playoff party. Both would have to win out, which includes a tough tilt against improving Texas in Austin this weekend for the Mountaineers. So this game could be moot before it even happens, which would basically give us an easy shot at knowing who the four teams would be with some distance (Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC, and ACC champs) betwixt them and the Big 12 if something goes a bit sketchy for a game.
5. West Virginia @ Texas
So Texas is continuing to improve and WVU is getting into that uncharted territory of having a real, viable shot at making the playoffs. If they win out, they have a strong case for it. WVU is a bit green on the road still (1-1 this season) but should they snare this one, the schedule sets up favorably with the Oklahoma game at home as well as Baylor coming to Morgantown while the only road game left would be at eternally scuffling Iowa State. So yeah, this is a big ole game this weekend, fellas.
So there you have it. Kick back and enjoy. Soon, there will be colder weather. And what the heck, it gets dark at like 5:30 this time a year anyway (routine plug about how much daylight savings time sucks), so feast on some college football before it’s gone.
