College Football Games to Watch This

Weekend
By FRED BIERMANSEPT. 18, 2015
Photo

Mississippi's offense, led by the quarterback Chad Kelly (10), has put up huge numbers on
offense in two blowouts, topping 70 points in each game. Credit Thomas Graning/Associated
Press
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No. 15 Mississippi at No. 2 Alabama
9:15 p.m. Eastern, ESPN
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The battle for the Southeastern Conferences West division kicks into high gear Saturday with
a prime-time matchup in Tuscaloosa. Mississippi has put up huge numbers on offense in two
blowouts, topping 70 points in each game, and Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly, the nephew of
the Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, has looked tremendous. But dont expect the same
kind of numbers against the Alabama defense. Last season the Rebels knocked off the
Crimson Tide with a late interception in the end zone, ending a 10-game losing streak against
Alabama. But Mississippi has never beaten a team ranked as high as No. 2, and it has not
won in Tuscaloosa since 1988. Alabamas offense starts with Derrick Henry, a fast and
bruising running back who is in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race, but things are still a
little unsettled at quarterback. After starting and playing well against Wisconsin, Jake Coker
struggled against Middle Tennessee last week. Cooper Bateman played the entire second half
and had his struggles as well. They will need to play better this week. While Mississippis
offense is getting all the attention, its defense is also a very good unit. Defensive tackle
Robert Nkemdiche is one of the best defensive players in the SEC and he has had a
rushing touchdown and a receiving score and has blocked a field-goal attempt this season.
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Graphic: 2015 Heisman Trophy Watch

No. 14 Georgia Tech at No. 8 Notre Dame

3:30 p.m., NBC
Notre Dame blew out Texas in its opener, and morale in South Bend was sky high. But after
the Fighting Irish lost the starting quarterback Malik Zaire for the season and narrowly
avoided an upset against Virginia last week, the mood around the team is far more subdued.
Zaires backup, DeShone Kizer, came through with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Will Fuller
with 12 seconds left to beat the Cavaliers, but the Irish looked shaky, especially on defense.
Notre Dame will have to be much more disciplined Saturday against Georgia Techs option
offense. The Yellow Jackets have scored 134 points in two games and are 12 for 12 in the red
zone. The Irish are familiar with the triple option, though, because they play Navy every
season.
Photo

Louisiana States highly rated quarterback, Jeremy Johnson, has thrown five interceptions in
two games. Credit Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press
No. 18 Auburn at No. 13 Louisiana State
3:30 p.m., CBS
Things move quickly in college football. Auburn started the season ranked sixth, but a loss
this week would probably send the Tigers out of the Top 25. Last Saturday, Auburn almost
lost at home to Jacksonville State, a Football Championship Subdivision team that was a 41point underdog. The Tigers highly rated quarterback, Jeremy Johnson, has thrown five
interceptions in two games, and he will have to improve quickly if Auburn is to win at L.S.U.

for the first time since 1999. L.S.U. is coming off a road win against its division rival
Mississippi State. Quarterback Brandon Harris passed for only 71 yards in that game, but he
ran the ball well and unlike Auburns Johnson did not make mistakes. If the game stays
close, Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson could be a difference maker. After missing a big fieldgoal attempt in a bowl game last season, Carlson is perfect this season and has kicked a 56yarder.
No. 19 Brigham Young at No. 10 U.C.L.A.
10:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1
B.Y.U. has cracked the Top 25 after scintillating come-from-behind victories over Nebraska
and Boise State. After quarterback Taysom Hill went down with a season-ending foot injury
against Nebraska, his backup, Tanner Mangum, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass with no time
left. A week later, Mangum threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Juergens with 45
seconds left to give the Cougars another upset. While Mangum is a 22-year-old freshman
who spent the past two years on a mission in Chile, U.C.L.A. quarterback Josh Rosen is an
18-year-old who was among the most coveted recruits in the country last year. Rosen had a
breakout debut against Virginia with 351 yards and three touchdowns but looked a little more
like a freshman against Nevada-Las Vegas in his second game.
Stanford at No. 6 Southern California
8 p.m., ABC
After two easy victories, U.S.C. opens its Pacific-12 schedule against the Cardinal, one of its
biggest rivals over the last few years. Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler has looked nearly
flawless. Stanford will try to slow things down and keep it close, but its secondary might be
overmatched.
California at Texas
7:30 p.m., Fox
California is trying to prove that it is for real, while Texas is simply trying to save face. Cal
quarterback Jared Goff, who has six touchdown passes in two games, will try to use this
matchup to make a name for himself. Texas is in turmoil, but a win here would go a long way
toward settling things down.
Air Force at No. 4 Michigan State
Noon, ABC
The Spartans need to avoid a letdown against the Falcons, whose triple-option offense can be
dangerous. The Falcons lost their starting quarterback, Nate Romine, to a knee injury last
week.