"College football has the shortest regular season around but remains capable of endless plot twists. A mere 13 weeks from Week 1, Florida State and Penn State are 5-6, Clemson is 6-5, Kelly is out of a job, Franklin has found a new one and, because of another couple of late-game failures, Miami is again just on the outside of the College Football Playoff looking in (while Notre Dame is again safe)."
"Now we get to find out how the story ends. Who will survive the intricate web of tiebreakers to reach conference title games? What surprises might fierce rivalry games provide? And most importantly, how much small-school playoff football do you plan on watching? It's time to feast on Thanksgiving and on football. It's Rivalry Week! Here's everything you need to follow."
"Rivalry Week's superpower is its depth. Everywhere you look -- from the Egg Bowl to the Territorial Cup to the Battle on the Bayou (Louisiana-ULM) to the Battle for the Fremont Cannon (Nevada-UNLV) -- you'll find games that will define fans' outlooks for an entire offseason. It's nice to have some bell-cow games, though. And two of the sport's loudest rivalries have major stakes this year."
Several teams that started strong have tumbled late: Florida State and Penn State sit at 5-6, Clemson at 6-5, Brian Kelly is out of a job and James Franklin has landed elsewhere. Miami's late-game failures leave it just outside the College Football Playoff while Notre Dame remains safe. The short regular season enables rapid shifts and dramatic plot twists. Rivalry Week will determine which teams navigate tiebreakers to reach conference championships, produce numerous consequential matchups nationwide, and feature two marquee rivalries with major stakes during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Read at ESPN.com
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