Texas Longhorns

5 Must-Watch Games to Pass the Time Until Texas Football

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Sep 10, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns mascot Bevo XV on the sidelines before the game against the University of Texas at El Paso at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports

Texas football travels west for some Pac-12 After Dark action. That means a late 9:30 CT start for fans in Austin. What can Longhorn fans do to pass the time between now and then?

Luckily, there is a fantastic slate of games to tide us over until Texas kicks off against Cal. The top three teams in the nation are all on the road for big-time tests against ranked opponents. Nine ranked teams overall go on the road this Saturday (plus two more that have already played). Two ranked teams are even underdogs on the road to unranked teams. This will be a Saturday that tests the Top 25 from top to bottom.

That’s great news for Texas fans as they anxiously await kickoff tonight. There should be no shortage of great football to keep us occupied while pre-game “festivities” get underway. There will be major ramifications from this week’s games across all of college football. Conference schedules are getting into full swing and the race for the College Football Playoff is heating up.

Texas will be impacted by any number of contests today before they kick off. In addition to everyone in the Top 10 being in action today, eight Big 12 teams are playing as well with only West Virginia on bye (Baylor played Friday). Every minute between now and Texas’ game tonight is packed with quality matchups with far-reaching implications.

That makes for some good football. So while Texas preps to tackle the weirdness out west in Pac-12 After Dark, Longhorn fans can sit back and get amped up watching a very solid slate of games in Week 3.

So here are five games to watch to tide you over until Texas’ late-night kickoff tonight, in chronological order. Hope you’ve got a multi-screen setup!

Sep 9, 2016; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) passes the ball against the Syracuse Orange during the second quarter at the Carrier Dome. Louisville defeated Syracuse 62-28. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Florida State at No. 10 Louisville, 11:00 am CT

It’s the matchup that finally brought College Gameday to Louisville!

Lamar Jackson has been electric for the Cardinals, generating plenty of Heisman buzz early in the season. He’s already accounted for 1,015 yards of total offense and 13 total touchdowns and he’s yet to play four quarters in a game. And he’s overcome some bad drops by his receivers that would have pushed his statline even higher.

But Florida State presents the first major challenge to Jackson this season. They have a tough defensive front that is going to get after the Louisville quarterback. Their goal will be to hit him early and often to make him uncomfortable and force some mistakes. Offensively, the Seminoles are still one of the best in the ACC with freshman QB Deandre Francois and super RB Dalvin Cook.

Last season, Jackson had a huge game against the Seminoles, completing 20 of 35 passes for 307 yards and three touchdowns. But he rushed for only 32 yards and the Cardinals lost by 20. Will “Action” Jackson be enough to pull off the upset at home this time?

Sep 10, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) throws the ball during the first half against the Wofford Terriers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 Ole Miss, 2:30 pm CT

Nobody beats Alabama and Nick Saban. They certainly don’t beat them twice. Except Ole Miss is going for three straight against the Tide today in Oxford.

Chad Kelly is the best quarterback in the SEC this season and brings a swagger to the Rebel offense. While that wasn’t enough to hold onto an early lead in their season opener against Florida State, it was enough to escape Tuscaloosa last year with the win. Kelly balled out against the Alabama D, throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns in the 43-37 win.

There’s no doubt that Saban remembers that game pretty well. Alabama appears to be the runaway favorite in the SEC this season and a frontrunner for the College Football Playoff. As the defending National Champions, the Tide don’t have much to prove except that they can beat Ole Miss. The Rebels were the only team to beat the Tide in 2015 and you can be that the Alabama defense is looking for some redemption.

Can Kelly pull off back-to-back upsets of Saban and the Tide? Or will Nick Saban get revenge on a program that has become a thorn in his side?

Sep 10, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) looks to throw in the first quarter against the Nevada Wolf Pack at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

No. 12 Michigan State at No. 18 Notre Dame, 6:30 pm CT

Notre Dame has already seen their College Football Playoff hopes take a hit (you’re welcome). The Irish absolutely need this win against a tough Michigan State squad to get back into the conversation.

Michigan State is once again flying under the radar in the Big Ten. That will happen when you are in the same league as Ohio State and Michigan. But the Spartans are still one of the toughest defenses of college football and always bring it when they play their rival Notre Dame.

For the Irish, it’s all about DeShone Kizer. The dynamic junior has been electric with the football in his hands this season, averaging over 240 yards of total offense per game with nine total touchdowns. As the unchallenged starter for the Irish now, Kizer should really get rolling. Will he be able to find some room against Sparty’s D?

In the fight for the Megaphone Trophy, Notre Dame and Michigan State are going to throw everything they have at one another. Which side will break through with a big play?

Sep 10, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) throws a pass in the second half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 48-3. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Ohio State at No. 14 Oklahoma, 6:30 pm CT

This is the point of the day where being able to watch multiple games at once is an absolute must. Ohio State travels to Norman in a marquee matchup of blue-blood programs with huge CFP implications on the line.

Oklahoma laid an egg in their opener against Houston and are now on the ropes. A second loss before conference play even begins (against the two quality non-conference opponents on their schedule) would all but eliminate the Sooners from the College Football Playoff conversation. They face a big-time challenge against Ohio State and enter the game as a home underdog for the first time since 2000.

Urban Meyer has reloaded once again at Ohio State. Despite losing just about everyone to the NFL Draft, the Buckeyes remain explosive on both sides of the ball. J.T. Barrett can jumpstart his Heisman campaign with a big showing in this game and the Buckeyes can solidify their spot among the top contenders for the CFP.

Expect to see some back-and-forth fireworks in this game. Which side comes out on top? More importantly, how red is Bob Stoops’ face going to get when something goes Ohio State’s way? Smart money is on darker than OU’s jerseys.

September 2, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey (5) runs with the football past Kansas State Wildcats defensive back Kendall Adams (21) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

USC at No. 7 Stanford, 7:00 pm CT

A matchup so nice, they played it twice in 2015. The Trojans and Cardinal have ignited a rivalry in recent years that has shaped the landscape of the Pac-12. This conference opener for both teams is going to go a long way in dictating the rep of the entire conference on a national level.

Stanford continues to be stout and fundamentally sound. In a college football landscape dominated by spread offensive attacks and flashy passing stats, Stanford is a throw-back that is going to punch their opponents in the mouth for 60 minutes. Their main weapon is Heisman hopeful Christian McCaffery who is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the nation that people don’t often get to see. In two games against USC last season, McCaffery accounted for over 700 all-purpose yards en route to a season sweep of the Trojans.

USC, meanwhile, is looking for a bounce-back win after getting dismantled in their opener by Alabama. There are still questions about depth for the Trojans, particularly along the defensive line, but their talent is undeniable. They remain one of the most talented rosters in the Pac-12 and will be looking to put it all together against the Cardinal in this one.

So who takes the early advantage in the Pac-12 race? And will they wrap this one up before Texas kicks off at 9:30?