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Games To Watch: Week 5

Just because Illinois is on a bye, doesn’t mean the college football show stops.

Penn State v Ohio State Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Syracuse @ Clemson, 11:00, ABC

Clemson v Syracuse
The scene the last time Syracuse played Clemson
Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

This ACC matchup pits two orange-clad undefeated teams against one another. Clemson’s early dominance is not much of a surprise, but Syracuse, a team that hasn’t gone bowling since 2013 looks sharp under head coach Dino Babers. Syracuse was one of two teams to beat Clemson in 2017 — the other? Alabama. The Tigers have NFL talent all over the field as they look to avenge last season’s tough loss in ‘Cuse’s Carrier Dome.

There’s also this:

West Virginia @ Texas Tech, 11:00, ESPN2

Tennessee v West Virginia
West Virginia quarterback Will Grier is a Heisman Trophy candidate
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

If you like lots of offense and watching a Heisman Trophy candidate sling the ball around, this game has your name all over it.

Mountaineers quarterback Will Grier has 14 TD passes in just three games — that’s second most among Power 5 starting quarterbacks just behind Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins with 16 TD passes. This West Virginia offense is one of the most entertaining units to watch in all of college football. Texas Tech is led by true freshman quarterback Alan Bowman who’s all kinds of special and the next in line of very good Red Raiders QBs.

Ohio State @ Penn State, 6:30, ABC

Penn State v Ohio State
Ohio State’s Parris Campbell (pictured here fumbling the ball) is one the Buckeyes’ speedy offensive threats
Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images

Michigan and Michigan State might have something to say about it, and they’ll have their opportunities against both of these teams, but for now the Big Ten Eastern division is up for grabs on Saturday night. ESPN’s College GameDay heads to State College for this battle between the Big Ten’s top recruiters in Urban Meyer and James Franklin. Ohio State has won five of the last six of these contests against Penn State, including last year’s 39-38 narrow victory in Columbus.

Stanford @ Notre Dame, 6:30, NBC

Notre Dame v Wake Forest
Ian Book was responsible for five total TDs last week. Does ND have their next great quarterback?
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Stanford and Notre Dame are two teams coming off of huge wins with big storylines. Stanford won its biggest game in recent memory, coming from behind to beat Oregon in primetime in overtime last weekend. Notre Dame’s easy victory over Wake Forest wasn’t much of a big deal aside for the fact that the Irish switched quarterbacks from senior Brandon Wimbush to junior Ian Book. Book had five total touchdowns against the Demon Deacons, two through the air and three on the ground with no turnovers. Stanford has a 3-game winning streak over the Irish and are winners of seven of the last 10 in this rivalry.

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