Big Ten & SEC Weekend Preview: Three Non-Conference Rematches From Last Season Highlight Slate
In the second week of the college football season, members of the Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee are making visits throughout Big Ten and SEC country, meeting with fans across both conferences in advance of the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
No. 5 Oklahoma at No. 2 Ohio State – 7:30 p.m. on ABC
The Sooners (1-0, 0-0 Big 12), fresh off of a 56-7 whooping of UTEP, head to Columbus to face the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in one of the most challenging road environments in the country. Ohio State has lost only two games in the Horseshoe since Urban Meyer took over in 2012, tied with Alabama for fewest home losses in that span. Last season, Ohio State handled Oklahoma 45-24 in a Week 3 matchup in Norman to drop the Sooners to 1-2 on the year. OU bounced back, however, and rattled off 10 consecutive wins, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Auburn, and finished 11-2 in Bob Stoops’ final season in charge. Ohio State leads the all-time series between the schools 2-1 but lost the only prior meeting in Columbus, in 1977.
Pittsburgh at No. 4 Penn State – 3:30 p.m. on ABC
After a 15-year break, Pittsburgh (1-0, 0-0 ACC) and Penn State (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) renewed their intrastate series in 2016, reviving a rivalry that dates back to 1893. This year, Pitt hits the road to face Penn State seeking their third straight win in the Keystone Classic. The Panthers defeated the Nittany Lions 42-39 at home last season on the back of James Conner, who rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown and caught another score. The 42 points put up by the Panthers, one of six games in which they scored 40 or more points, were the second-most allowed by Penn State last season. Only Michigan (49) scored more on the Penn State defense. The Nittany Lions enter this year’s contest firing on all cylinders after a 52-0 Week 1 drubbing of Akron, while Pitt survived an overtime scare against Youngstown State, escaping 28-21 after blowing a 21-0 lead. Penn State has won the last four meetings in State College and leads the all-time series 50-43-4.
No. 23 TCU at Arkansas– 3:30 p.m. on CBS
Former Southwest Conference rivals Arkansas (1-0, 0-0 SEC) and TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) meet up in Fayetteville in a rematch of last season’s double-overtime thriller in Fort Worth. After trailing 20-7 entering the fourth quarter in that game, TCU scored three straight touchdowns to take an eight-point lead. Arkansas then scored with just over a minute left and converted a two-point conversion to send the game into OT. After holding the Horned Frogs to a field goal in the second extra period, Austin Allen ran it in from five yards out to give the Razorbacks the road win. Arkansas holds 44-23-2 advantage all-time in the series including a 31-3 mark since 1959, however TCU came away with the victory the last time these teams met in Fayetteville (1990). Both squads enter the matchup following large wins against FCS programs to open the season.
Other Big Ten and SEC games being played this week:
Ohio (1-0, 0-0 MAC) at Purdue (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) – 8:00 p.m. on FS1 (Friday)
Cincinnati (1-0, 0-0 AAC) at No. 8 Michigan (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – 12:00 p.m. on ABC
FAU (0-1, 0-0 C-USA) at No. 9 Wisconsin (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – 12:00 p.m. on BTN
Northern Colorado (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) at No. 22 Florida (0-1, 0-0 SEC) – 12:00 p.m. on SEC
*Northwestern (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Duke (1-0, 0-0 ACC) – 12:00 p.m. on ESPNU
Iowa (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) – 12:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Eastern Kentucky (0-1, 0-0 OVC) at Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 12:00 p.m. on SEC
UT Martin (1-0, 0-0 OVC) at Ole Miss (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 12:00 p.m. on SEC
Towson (1-0, 0-0 CAA) at Maryland (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – 12:00 p.m. on BTN
Fresno State (1-0, 0-0 MW) at No. 1 Alabama (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2
*Indiana (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten) at Virginia (1-0, 0-0 ACC) – 3:30 p.m. on ACC
Western Michigan (0-1, 0-0 MAC) at Michigan State (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m. on BTN
Eastern Michigan (1-0, 0-0 MAC) at Rutgers (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten) – 3:30 p.m. on BTN
Indiana State (0-1, 0-0 MVC) at No. 25 Tennessee (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 4:00 p.m. on SEC
Alabama A&M (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) at Vanderbilt (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 4:00 p.m. on SEC
Nebraska (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Oregon (1-0, 0-0 Pac 12) – 4:30 p.m. on FOX
No. 13 Auburn (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at No. 3 Clemson (1-0, 0-0 ACC) – 7:00 p.m. on ESPN
South Carolina (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at Missouri (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2
Nicholls State (1-0, 1-0 Southland) at Texas A&M (0-1, 0-0 SEC) – 7:00 p.m. on ESPNU
No. 15 Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at No. 24 Notre Dame (1-0) – 7:30 p.m. on NBC
Chattanooga (0-1, 0-0 Southern) at No. 12 LSU (1-0, 0-0 SEC) – 7:30 p.m. on SEC
Mississippi State (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at Louisiana Tech (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) – 7:30 p.m. on CBSSN
Western Kentucky (1-0, 0-0 C-USA) at Illinois (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) – 8:00 p.m. on BTN
Minnesota (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) at Oregon State (1-1, 0-0 Pac 12) – 10:00 p.m. FS1
*Will be scouted on behalf of the Camping World Bowl due to game being played at an ACC or Big Ten campus.
All times listed are Eastern Time Zone (ET), and all games are on Saturday unless otherwise listed.