Week 10 Big Ten & SEC Preview: LSU and Alabama Meet

Undefeated and second-ranked LSU (7-0, 4-0 SEC) goes on the road to face the surging Crimson Tide and #4 Alabama (7-1, 4-1 SEC) in an SEC clash that could have major College Football  Playoff implications. The game features two of the nation’s top running backs — LSU’s Leonard Fournette and Alabama’s Derrick Henry — facing off against two of the best run defenses. Fournette leads the country with 1,352 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season, but will face a Crimson Tide defense that has allowed less than 80 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers defense is not far behind, allowing only 656 yards through seven games (93 yards per game).  Henry will look to be the first opposing running back to rumble for more than 66 yards against the LSU defensive front all year. The game will be televised nationally Saturday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

The ninth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) have a chance to match their best start in school history Saturday as they travel to Bloomingdale to take on the Indiana Hoosiers (4-4, 0-4 Big Ten). The Hawkeyes’ backfield is loaded, even after losing leading rusher Jordan Canzeri to injury three weeks ago.  Iowa will use a trio of running backs, all of which scored touchdowns in last week’s victory over Maryland. That trio includes opening day starter LeShun Daniels, who returned from injury against the Terrapins posting 60 yards and a score on just 13 attempts. Kirk Ferentz said this week that Canzeri is close to a return as well. Indiana QB Nate Sudfeld is third in the Big Ten with 2,049 yards and 14 touchdowns and only four interceptions, but faces a strong Iowa defense led by junior Desmond King. King has seven interceptions on the season, leading the Big Ten.

#21 Northwestern (6-2, 2-2 Big Ten) will face the nation’s best pass rush this weekend as they host Penn State (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten).  The Nittany Lions depth on their line has played a vital role in wearing down their opponents. They have posted 22 second-half sacks, including 16 in the fourth quarter alone.  The defense is led by senior DE Carl Nassib, who leads the FBS in sacks with 14.5. The Wildcats have had an extra week to prepare after defeating the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln on October 24. QB Clayton Thorson passed for 177 yards and rushed for a career-high 126 yards in the victory.

#19 Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2 SEC) will host SEC West rival Auburn (1-4, 4-4 SEC) at Kyle Field Saturday night. The Aggies will be led once again by QB Kyler Murray, who made his first start last week in a 35-28 victory over South Carolina. The true freshman threw for 223 yards and rushed for 156 more, propelling the Aggies to a season-high 544 yards. The Tigers are looking to RB Peyton Barber, who was limited to only 17 yards against Ole Miss due to injury. Barber has racked up 12 rushing touchdowns, including a career-high 5 against San Jose State earlier this year.

Other games this weekend:

#7 Michigan State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) travels to Nebraska (3-6, 1-4 Big Ten).

#3 Ohio State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will host Minnesota (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten).

#20 Mississippi State (6-2, 2-2 SEC) will travel to Missouri (4-4, 1-4 SEC).

#10 Florida (7-1, 5-1 SEC) will host Vanderbilt (3-5, 1-3 SEC).

Rutgers (3-5, 1-4 Big Ten) travels to #17 Michigan (6-2, 3-1 Big Ten).

#18 Ole Miss (7-2, 4-1 SEC) will host Arkansas (4-4, 2-2 SEC).

Kentucky (4-4, 2-4 SEC) travels to Georgia (5-3, 3-3 SEC).

Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) travels to Maryland (2-6, 0-4 Big Ten).

South Carolina (3-5, 1-5 SEC) travels to Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC).

Illinois (4-4, 1-3 Big Ten) travels to Purdue (2-6, 1-3 Big Ten).