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There's something to know about every ranked game on the October 12 epic college football slate


There's something to know about every ranked game on the October 12 epic college football slate

October 12th. This date is on the calendar throughout the off-season. It's a date that college football fans have been hoping their friends didn't plan their weddings for. It's a date with an epic series of college football games.

With three ranked vs. ranked matchups, 13 other ranked teams in action and Heisman contenders playing after midnight, October 12th looks set to be a Saturday not to be missed. Here's something you should know about every game that features a ranked team.

Ranked vs Ranked Matches

No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma

Mikala Compton/American-Statesman/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Texas footballTexas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond (7) leads the team onto the field before the Texas Longhorns face Mississippi State on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

The only times a team ranked No. 1 in the country lost in the Red River Rivalry were Oklahoma's losses in 1963 and 2008.

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon

Tom Hauck/Getty Images
Oregon Ducks footballOregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 runs for a touchdown during the first half against the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium on October 4, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon.

Every game between the two programs in the 21st century has featured either Ohio State or Oregon among the top 10 teams.

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU

For all the hype surrounding Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss' 17 rushing touchdowns in the red zone are the third most in the country.

🔮: Predicting the 5 automatic qualifiers for the College Football Playoff, one month into the season

Play with ranked teams

South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama

In the game following Alabama's three more losses to unranked opponents as a No. 1 team, the Crimson Tide won 38-0 (1962), 28-7 (1980) and 49-9 (2021).

Latest rankings: Alabama falls, Big Ten teams finish in top four of Week 7 AP Poll

No. 10 Clemson at Wake Forest

Clemson's offense is averaging 48.5 points in its four-game winning streak since its season-opening loss to Georgia.

No. 21 Missouri at UMass

Since moving to the FBS in 2012, UMass is 0-11 against ranked opponents.

No. 4 Penn State in Southern California

USC head coach Lincoln Riley is just 5-7 in his last 12 games and has lost eight of 12 games against ranked opponents since taking over with the Trojans in 2022.

Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame

Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Notre Dame footballBeaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Miami (OH) Redhawks at Notre Dame Stadium on September 21, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana.

Stanford and Notre Dame have played for the Legends Trophy during the regular season every year since 1997, with the exception of the 2020 COVID season.

California at No. 22 Pittsburgh

Pitt hasn't started a season 6-0 since 1982, when Dan Marino was the starting quarterback.

STREAKING: College football's longest active regular-season winning streaks

Purdue at No. 23 Illinois

Purdue looks to beat Illinois for the fifth straight time. For the Boilermakers, it would be the longest streak in the rivalry's history. Purdue won five straight from 2004 to 2009.

Arizona at No. 14 BYU

BYU converts just 29.5% of its third downs, the 10th-worst percentage in the FBS.

Mississippi State No. 5 Georgia

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Georgia footballCarson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up before the game against the Clemson Tigers in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Carson Beck didn't throw a touchdown in the first quarter this season. He only threw one touchdown in the first half – with 17 seconds left.

Florida at No. 8 Tennessee

Tennessee has the second-best offense in the SEC. Florida has the second-worst defense in the conference.

No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia

Iowa State has the top scoring defense, top pass defense and top total defense in the Big 12.

AWARDS: Top 12 Heisman Trophy contenders after a month of college football

No. 18 Kansas State at Colorado

Kansas State has allowed a wide receiver to gain at least 128 yards in all but one FBS game. Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Hunter had over 100 receiving yards in four games this season.

No. 17 Boise State in Hawaii

Loren Orr/Getty Images
Boise State footballRunning back Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Boise State Broncos thrills the crowd during the first half against the Utah State Aggies at Albertsons Stadium on October 5, 2024 in Boise, Idaho.

Ashton Jeanty didn't play in the second half against Utah State or Portland State and is still on the same level as Barry Sanders' legendary Heisman-winning season in 1988.

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