Week 13 College Football Games Impacting Playoff Picture

Week 13 of the college football season is here, and honestly, it looks anything but boring. With playoff spots on the line, a handful of teams are about to square off in games that could change everything.

Whether you live and breathe college football or just tune in for the drama, this week’s slate is packed with action. Let’s talk through the key games, what they might mean for the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture, and why you might want to clear your Saturday.

If you want the full rundown, check out the original article on USA Today.

Oregon vs. USC: A Battle for CFP Relevance

This week’s headliner? Oregon Ducks hosting the USC Trojans in Eugene. Oregon’s sitting at 9-1 and looking to lock in their postseason case.

But here’s the thing: USC could throw the whole CFP order into chaos if they pull off a win.

Why Watch

Oregon’s defense, with LBs Bryce Boettcher and Teitum Tuioti leading the way, will try to keep USC QB Jayden Maiava and WR Makai Lemon in check. Meanwhile, Oregon QB Dante Moore has plenty of targets, but the Trojans’ pass rush—Kameryn Crawford and Braylan Shelby especially—could make things interesting.

Why It Could Disappoint

If Oregon’s defense just steamrolls, this one could get dull fast. But if USC hangs around, we could be in for a real fight all afternoon.

Oklahoma vs. Missouri: Avoiding the Letdown

Oklahoma is coming off a huge win at Alabama, but now they’ve got Missouri—a classic trap game. The Sooners are still in the playoff hunt, but a misstep here could ruin everything.

Why Watch

QB John Mateer needs help on the ground if Oklahoma wants to move the ball against Missouri’s tough defense, led by LB Josiah Trotter. Missouri’s best shot? RB Ahmad Hardy and QB Matt Zollers finding cracks in the Sooners’ defense.

Why It Could Disappoint

Oklahoma games lately have been tough to watch, honestly. Missouri could turn it into another defensive slugfest, where one big play decides it all.

BYU vs. Cincinnati: Big 12 Title Implications

BYU is heading to Cincinnati, and this one still matters for the Big 12 title race. If the Cougars win, they’re almost guaranteed a rematch with Texas Tech.

Why Watch

BYU’s backfield, with QB Bear Bachmeier and RB LJ Martin, packs a punch. Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby will be looking for WR Cyrus Allen but has to watch out for BYU DBs Tanner Wall and Faletau Satuala, who love to take the ball away.

Why It Could Disappoint

BYU’s recent games haven’t exactly been nail-biters. Cincinnati needs to start strong or the home crowd might check out early.

Georgia Tech vs. Pitt: ACC Chaos

Georgia Tech barely escaped disaster last week, and now they get Pitt to close out their ACC schedule. Both teams have been all over the place this year, so who knows what we’ll get?

Why Watch

QB Haynes King for Georgia Tech likes to keep it himself, but Pitt LB Rasheem Biles will be watching. Pitt QB Mason Heintschel needs to get comfortable fast, and it starts with some help from DL Jordan van den Berg up front.

Why It Could Disappoint

Neither team is exactly reliable, so it’s tough to trust what you’ll see. Still, there’s always a chance for some late-game chaos, which could be fun.

Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: Playoff Bubble Drama

Vanderbilt’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread—they need this win against a Kentucky squad that’s on a three-game streak and looking for a bowl invite.

Why Watch

Vandy QB Diego Pavia is up to 28 total touchdowns, and he’s got TE Eli Stowers and WR Junior Sherrill in his corner. On the other side, Kentucky’s freshman QB Cutter Boley and RB Seth McGowan will test Vandy’s defense, which leans on LB Bryan Longwell and DB C.J. Heard.

Why It Could Disappoint

If Kentucky really has figured things out, Vanderbilt could be in for a long day. The Commodores probably want to avoid any late-game drama, but that just hasn’t been their thing this year.

Tulane vs. Temple: American Conference Standings

The American is still up for grabs, and Tulane needs to win out to keep their tiebreaker edge. First up: Temple, who need another win to get bowl eligible.

Why Watch

Temple’s offense, led by QB Evan Simon and RBs Jay Ducker and Hunter Smith, is pretty efficient. Tulane’s defense has trouble getting off the field, but Green Wave QB Jake Retzlaff and RB Javin Gordon could rack up stats against Temple’s D.

Why It Could Disappoint

Temple’s taken some rough losses this year, but Tulane isn’t great at putting teams away either. If turnovers stay low, this could stay close.

Louisville vs. SMU: Spoiler Alert

This one isn’t in the Top 25, but it matters for the mess that is the ACC. Louisville’s out of the title race but could play spoiler, while SMU still has a shot at the championship game.

Why Watch

Louisville QB Miller Moss has serious playmakers in WRs Chris Bell and Caullin Lacy. SMU’s Kevin Jennings is in a similar spot and needs RB TJ Harden to show up.

Why It Could Disappoint

Louisville’s recent games have been thrilling. Still, either team could just fall apart with a couple of bad mistakes.

If they keep it together, maybe we get another nail-biter. But honestly, who knows?

For more details and a deeper dive, you can check out the original article on USA Today.