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Ohio State at Indiana and Notre Dame at BYU lead a slate of home games that could alter the national picture. Several matchups this weekend carry playoff or conference credibility implications for the hosts and their visitors.
High-stakes home showdowns
Notre Dame at BYU (32)
This is the first time two top-10 teams have met in Provo. Notre Dame arrives ranked No. 2 while BYU is No. 8, and neither program has faced a ranked opponent so far this season. The outcome matters for College Football Playoff positioning and will be a statement for the Big 12, which has had limited marquee nonconference wins (Oklahoma State over Oregon is one exception).
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ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast from Provo — the first time the show has been on campus there since 2009 — adding to the national attention.
Line: Notre Dame by 10.
Dash pick: Notre Dame 21, BYU 12. Expect a defensive struggle: both teams rank among the top 10 nationally in total and scoring defense. The Irish appear to have the edge in both offense and defense.
Ohio State at Indiana (33)
Indiana has never hosted a top-five opponent until now. Historically, Ohio State games in Bloomington felt like home contests because Buckeye fans fill the stands. That dynamic may shift this year as Indiana’s program has drawn more local enthusiasm.
Line: Ohio State by 3.5.
Dash pick: Indiana 23, Ohio State 21. Jeremiah Smith poses matchup problems for any secondary; last season he had eight catches for 144 yards in the Big Ten title game but no touchdowns. Indiana’s ability to stand up defensively near the goal line could decide this one.
Wisconsin at UCLA (34)
UCLA’s undefeated start has not translated into huge home crowds — the Bruins average about 31,446 fans per game, 72nd nationally and trailing several non-Power Four programs. Wisconsin’s only loss came in the season opener to Notre Dame, so this is a meaningful nonconference test for the Badgers.
Reports indicate UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is out for the season. Cal Poly transfer Ty Dieffenbach, who filled in at Oregon and played his first FBS snaps in four years, will be the emergency option.
Line: UCLA by 3.5.
Dash pick: Wisconsin 17, UCLA 14. Wisconsin’s defense, which has allowed just one rushing touchdown so far, could congest the box and force the Bruins to adjust with a new QB.
Alabama at Tennessee (35)
Visit Knoxville and the rivalry atmosphere can get out of hand. Tennessee fans infamously hauled down goalposts in 2022 and tossed one into the river; they again took one down in 2024 but did not remove it from the stadium. The university has historically accepted SEC fines for field storms, but the penalty has grown to about $500,000 per incident.
Line: Alabama by 8.5.
Dash pick: Alabama 27, Tennessee 17. Tennessee’s offense has struggled, while Alabama will be eager to rebound after a controversial loss to Georgia. Kalen DeBoer has rarely lost consecutive games in his coaching career, a trend that suggests Alabama will respond sharply.
Kansas at Kansas State (36)
This Sunflower Showdown won’t shift national perceptions, but it does continue a lopsided local rivalry. Kansas State has dominated this series; Kansas’ last victory in the matchup came in 2008, when current K-State coach Collin Klein was a redshirt freshman.
Line: Kansas State by 4.5.
Dash pick: Kansas State 35, Kansas 28. K-State’s quarterback Avery Johnson has been unpredictable but has consistently troubled the Jayhawks in recent seasons.
Other notable home reunions
Reunion games this weekend include several matchups with familiar storylines: Oregon faces Nebraska in Eugene, where Ducks QB Dylan Raiola may have an uncertain role; Ole Miss hosts Missouri and sees Austin Simmons returning to his former school; Northwestern visits Michigan State to square off with former coach Pat Fitzgerald.
Lines: Oregon by 7.5; Mississippi by 6; Northwestern by 7.5.
Dash picks: Oregon 24, Nebraska 17; Ole Miss 38, Missouri 35; Northwestern 31, Michigan State 21.
Coaches: earned credit and cautionary tales
Kirk Ferentz (38), Iowa
Ferentz has steered Iowa to a 5–1 start, including a convincing win over Washington. He tends to have his teams primed for rivalry games — Floyd of Rosedale in Minnesota brings out strong performances — and Iowa has captured the bronze pig in 10 of the last 11 meetings.
Mike Norvell (39), Florida State
Norvell’s decision-making came under scrutiny after a game at Louisville. Leading 14–0, Florida State faced fourth down inside the 5 and chose to go for it rather than take a field-goal lead. The play failed, and one snap later Louisville broke a 97-yard touchdown run on the way to a 44–20 final. With expectations high, such reversals intensify pressure on a coach already on a short leash.
Point after
Hungry in Atlanta? The Dash recommends the wings and Cajun fries at Clay’s Sports Cafe in Sandy Springs. It’s a modest storefront, but the sauce and spice have loyal fans and a college-football crowd on Friday afternoons.
PODCAST: Listen to Sports Illustrated’s college sports podcast, Others Receiving Votes, hosted by Pat Forde, on Apple and Spotify. The show is also available on SI’s college YouTube channel and SI TV.
