College Football Heads Into November

Now that the Big Ten and Mountain West Conference seasons have started, just the Mid-American Conference and Pac-12 are left to get going as college football rolls into November. The top three teams have already separated themselves, with Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State racking up big wins.

Notre Dame, one-loss Georgia and Oklahoma State lurk just behind them in the AP Poll.

Big Ten Opener

Ohio State slammed Nebraska in its opener, 52-17, and jumped over Georgia and Notre Dame in the rankings as a result. Quarterback Justin Fields didn't have a huge day stats-wise, but he now has the second-best Heisman odds at +250.

Fields will play fewer games than Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (-110) and Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (+500), so it may be tough to pass them in the counting stats.

The other big winner from the opening week in the Big Ten was the Buckeyes' arch-rival, Michigan. The No. 18 Wolverines went on the road and throttled No. 21 Minnesota 49-24 to win the Little Brown Jug.

Quarterback Joe Milton threw for 225 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 52 yards and a touchdown to enter the Heisman race at +3000, tied for the fourth-best odds.

The biggest loser of the first weekend was No. 8 Penn State, which suffered a controversial overtime loss at unranked Indiana. The one-point loss came on a two-point conversion in overtime, and replays were inconclusive as to whether Indiana got the ball across the line.

Penn State will have to bounce back quickly to save its season as it is a 12.5-point underdog at home this week against Ohio State.

Season-Ending injury

Alabama is still ranked No. 2 after crushing Tennessee for the 16th straight season. But the Crimson Tide's 48-17 road win came at a price, with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle suffering what is reported to be a season-ending ankle injury on the opening kickoff. Waddle led the Tide in receptions and receiving yards through the first four games.

Alabama is +400 to win the national championship, just behind Clemson (+175) and Ohio State (+200). The Crimson Tide are favored by 31 points this Saturday at home against Mississippi State. They have a bye week on Nov. 7 before heading on the road to face defending national champion LSU.

Saturday Schedule

Outside of the Buckeyes-Nittany Lions tilt Saturday night, the final weekend of October is rather light for big games. No other game features two ranked teams, and No. 1 Clemson is favored by 31.5 points against Boston College.

The second-best game is likely in the Big 12, where No. 6 Oklahoma State (4-0, 3-0) hosts Texas (3-2, 2-2). The Cowboys (-3.5) are entering a tough three-game stretch as they travel to No. 16 Kansas State (4-1, 4-0) and No. 24 Oklahoma (3-2, 2-2) in their two games after the Longhorns. Another loss eliminates Texas from the conference race.

The top game outside the Power 5 features No. 7 Cincinnati (4-0, 2-0) hosting Memphis (3-1, 2-1). The Bearcats are the last remaining unbeaten team in the American Athletic Conference and are favored by 6.5 points.