After a relatively uneventful Week 6 of college football, Week 7 aims to please. No. 1 and No. 2 both travel to face Top 10 conference opponents — a recipe for a shake-up at the top — and the SEC West serves up an interesting game as well.
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin
This is the marquee matchup of the week. The Buckeyes (5-0) head to Madison for their first true conference test. Coming off a tense win over Indiana, this week’s game is OSU’s biggest barrier to an undefeated season until their annual matchup with “That Team Up North.” Nobody expected them to be this good so soon — over half of their players on scholarship (46) are freshmen — but early success and a convincing win over Oklahoma have “THE” most insufferable Big Ten fan base thirsting for another College Football Playoff appearance. They do boast both a No. 2 scoring defense and top-five rushing attack, but third-year quarterback J.T. Barrett will need to start using his arm as well as his legs if Ohio State wants a shot at the ‘ship.
After an unexpectedly hot start, Wisconsin (4-1) comes off its bye week still chewing on an…uninspiring 14-7 loss at Michigan. The battle tested Badgers have already played three AP Top 10 teams (beating two) and will certainly be prepared for a fourth. Redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook’s play has been sporadic — some throws show flashes of promise, while others leave you saying, “Welp, that’s a freshman quarterback.” To mitigate a lackluster offense, Bucky will lean heavily on the defense, which is No. 4 in both scoring and rushing but missing linchpin linebacker Vince Biegel (foot), and hope to win the turnover and special teams battles to grind out UW’s first win over Ohio State since 2010. Catch it on ABC at 7 p.m.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Tennessee
Tune in to CBS at 2:30 to see Vols coach Butch Jones turn previously undiscovered shades of red. Tennessee (5-1) calls this rivalry the “Third Saturday in October”. Alabama calls it “Week 7.” Look, Tennessee hasn’t beaten Alabama in a decade. At this point, the Vols are that one rural high school team whose whole town looks forward to “The Big Game,” and Alabama is the conference powerhouse who shows up and wins by four touchdowns every year. “But this year is different! This is the best Vols team in years! WE GOT ROCKY TOP MAGIC, YA HEAR?!?” The puke orange faithful have a point: Tennessee is No. 9 for a reason. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs is talented (if not inconsistent), its receiving corps is legit and the good lord above seems to nudge close games UT’s way. However, UT’s defense is porous at best, it’s coming off a crushing overtime loss, and the Rocky Top crowd seems to enjoy booing its own team. Now, the Tide is coming to town.
Thank the Old Gods and the New that Vanderbilt doesn’t play Alabama this year. After a Week 3 scare at Ole Miss, the Tide have rolled, demolishing Kentucky and dominating a quality Arkansas team on the road. They’re the undisputed No. 1 team in the nation and are the consensus favorites to repeat as national champions. Now comes one of their toughest matchups. Here are the facts: Alabama is better in the trenches, Alabama has the size and speed to cover UT’s quality receivers, nobody can cover Calvin Ridley and Alabama is too well-coached to blow the three touchdown lead that Tennessee customarily hands opponents in the first half. If Alabama doesn’t overlook this game in anticipation of Texas A&M next week and LSU the week after, the Tide should prove why they’re the champs.
Vanderb–KIDDING! No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 22 Arkansas
While this matchup likely won’t have playoff implications unless Ole Miss wins out and gets lots of help, it will begin to establish the pecking order below Alabama and A&M in the SEC West. While Arkansas (4-2, 0-2 SEC) has sunk to the bottom of the division, Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1 SEC) is lurking right behind those top two teams, waiting for one to slip up. The Rebels boast an explosive offense led by former Heisman contender Chad Kelly. While losing two games has ended their playoff hopes this season, the program can still earn honor of ‘Bama’s bridesmaid and challenge for a championship next year.
Since former coach Bobby Petrino left Arkansas, the Razorbacks have played the role of spoiler for their SEC West counterparts. After early shellackings at the hands of Alabama and A&M, they take that role again. Quality quarterback Austin Allen has proven tough so far this season but can’t seem to move the ball until the game is already out of reach. Fans are beginning to grow restless with fourth-year coach Bret Bielema (actual Razorback in previous and current life) and his inability to win big games. A win this Saturday would be an important step in continuing his ruse: that he’s NOT an actual hog in a headset crammed into a windbreaker. Flip over to ESPN at 6 p.m. to find out.