we like college football The fans are so behind. This season has given us many interesting discussion points with the College Football Playoffs expanding from four to 12 teams. It has prevented head coaches of underperforming Power Four teams from releasing their head coaches prematurely, as many of them are still technically alive to make the expanded playoffs. There has been a problem…

For some reason, we still haven’t had a weekend defined by surprise. Yes, occasionally there will be a team that will face a team we thought was better, only to often realize otherwise. We’ve had several qualifying matchups, but that’s normal when it comes to league play and AP Top 25 Poll is still so incredibly Power Four-centric.

So what I want to do today is identify seven games where I think the pressure could cause the best team to crumble. This list also includes a couple of ranked matchups where a top 25 team is guaranteed to lose. All four teams face considerable pressure, but only two will add another victory in the win column after this weekend. There is also the cheat game component.

Let’s start with a one-loss team that can’t afford a second conference loss this weekend.

It may not seem like a pressure-packed event, but there’s no way the No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats can lose on the road to a 3-5 Houston Cougars team and anything good come out of it for K-State. The Wildcats are still very much alive to make it to Arlington outside of the Big 12, but a second conference loss would put Colorado, a team they beat, ahead of them in the Big 12 standings.

Kansas State’s only loss so far this season was to BYU, a team that could be the cream of the crop in the Big 12. The Wildcats may end up losing to Iowa State in Farmageddon at the end of the regular season, but they do it. looking to lose to a likely non-bowl team in Houston would completely ruin their playoff chances. Kansas State is just a two-point favorite heading into the U of H.

K-State should win this game over the Cougars handily, but it gives off real trap game vibes.

Next up would have to be Kansas State’s Farmageddon rival, Iowa State. The Cyclones are tied with Clemson for 11th place this week. Iowa State is 7-0, but has looked shaky at times in recent Big 12 games against Baylor and UCF. The worst part of the Clones’ Week 10 game is that they will face a desperate Texas Tech team that is trying to prove itself. The Red Raiders are 5-3 so far.

Iowa State may be a multi-score favorite at home, but strange things tend to happen late in the season for Jack Trice. Sometimes he is in favor of the Cyclones. Other times it’s anything but that. The reason I have this game right before Kansas State goes to Houston is because there is a chance Iowa State plays well at home. The other point to remember is that Texas Tech is better too.

Iowa State may be the favorite in all of its remaining games, but it is playing like a team that can lose.

This one is also complicated. For No. 19 Ole Miss, the Rebels need to win to have any realistic chance of making the playoffs at 10-2 (6-2). The loss to LSU in Magnolia is fine, but losing to Kentucky during homecoming looks worse every week. With Georgia coming into its own in just a few weeks, Ole Miss can’t afford to fall into the spit that is Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Yes sir! Arkansas has a very good chance to roast the Rebels alive during the Nutt Bowl. Houston has never had a problem with the outcome of this game, but a third SEC loss likely means the end of the line for Lane Kiffin in Oxford. This was Ole Miss’ season to compete for a championship. If the Rebels suffer a third loss before the game against Georgia, Kiffin may look to work elsewhere.

Ole Miss is just a touchdown favorite over Arkansas. Look for the Hogs to keep this one closer.

I almost didn’t include this one, but after further consideration, I’d be a fool not to. Texas A&M is posting arguably its best win since joining the SEC last week. The Aggies moved on from Conner Weigman at quarterback in favor of Marcel Reed, and never looked back against LSU. It would be a real shame if the last undefeated team in the conference lost at the home of its former interdivisional rival.

Texas A&M is essentially a field goal favorite on the road at South Carolina. While the Gameocks may not make it to bowl eligibility due to their brutal schedule, they are playing very hard for head coach Shane Beamer. The defensive line is one of the best in football. They can run the ball with conviction. While throwing the ball isn’t his strong suit, neither is Texas A&M. These teams remind me of each other.

A road loss at South Carolina would make the Texas game a must-win for A&M to make the playoffs.

Oh no. It’s a trap! You bet. I’m not saying the No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers are going to fall in the Sarlacc, but this is my true Admiral Akbar Trap Game of the week. IU is 8-0 and the talk of the college football world. They have to play against a traditional road rival, the struggling, but not quite, Michigan State Spartans. Sparty needs two wins in two of its last four games to be bowl eligible.

Everyone knows that Ohio State will appear on Indiana’s schedule in a few weeks. While we’ve glossed over the Michigan game a bit, this is the other one on the schedule for Indiana besides beating Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket. The fact that Indiana is only a one-score favorite over Michigan State in East Lansing scares me. It would be a bad time for the Hoosiers to finally stumble.

If IU gets to 9-0 with a convincing win over Sparty, I’ll be convinced they can win the Big Ten.

Finally we come to the first of two ranked games. The No. 20 SMU Mustangs may be two spots behind the No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers, but the Ponies are home favorites by just over a touchdown over Pitt. The Panthers are coming off an absolute blowout over Syracuse last Thursday. No one outside of Western Pennsylvania respects them, which is perfect for Pat Narduzzi.

SMU also hasn’t lost in ACC play yet, as the Mustangs’ only loss was to BYU by three points in early September. If SMU wins this game to get to 8-1, it will considerably strengthen the Ponies’ chances of making it to Charlotte. Pitt would then need to beat Clemson to avoid playoff elimination. With SMU scoring a touchdown at home, I’d say they’re under a lot more pressure than Pittsburgh.

No matter what happens in this game, both would still be in line to win the ACC, but winning is a must.

I don’t think any team faces more pressure this weekend than the No. 4 with just one loss. Ohio State having to travel to State College to face undefeated No. 3 Penn State. If the Buckeyes lose to the nail in their hammer-to-nail rivalry, it will practically put them out of contention to get to Indianapolis. It would make the Indiana game in a few weeks a must if the Buckeyes wanted to make the expanded playoffs.

Penn State is also under pressure in this game for several reasons. One, the state of Ohio has historically owned James Franklin. Second, put the Nittany Lions behind the eight ball to get to Indianapolis. And three, if they don’t make it to Indy, would they still make the playoffs at a very James Franklin 10-2? Regardless, all the pressure is on Ohio State because a loss would be detrimental.

The winner of this game will be elated, while the loser of this Big Ten battle will be very dejected.