Saturday Storylines: Week 13
Here we are. Just two weeks remain in the regular season, and while there’s temptation across the country to look ahead to next week’s rivalry matchups, staying present in the moment and taking care of today’s business is paramount. You can almost feel the chaos on the horizon, and playoff dreams could be crushed by the end of the day. Make sure to join us tonight after the primetime slate for our LIVE Recap Show on YouTube, X, and Instagram!
Without further ado, here are your Week 13 Saturday Storylines:
HOOSIERS PUT UNDEFEATED SEASON ON THE LINE IN COLUMBUS
#5 Indiana at #2 Ohio State (-10.5) - Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH | 11 AM CT on FOX
So much of the conversation surrounding the Hoosiers this week has centered around their strength of schedule and the “what if” following an assumed loss that you’d almost forget they are the undefeated team. Sure, the odds favor the Buckeyes, but Indiana has won their nine games against FBS competition by an average of over 25 points - an impressive state regardless of competition. Our best advice in this one for neutral observers? Don’t dwell on the Big Ten or Playoff implications and just sit back and take it all in. A breakthrough underdog looking to cement their status as a top contender against one of the stalwarts of the sport. The committee will do whatever they please with the result, so enjoy the game on the field without worrying about the conversation in the boardroom.
ARIZONA STATE HOSTS BYU IN BATTLE FOR THE TOP OF THE BIG 12
#14 BYU at #21 Arizona State (-3) - Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, AZ | 2:30 PM CT on ESPN
For the first time since 2014, the Sun Devils are playing host to a Top 25 matchup. The team that was picked dead last in the conference preseason now controls their own destiny to make it to the Big 12 title game and play for a spot in the Playoff. Fellow surprise team BYU, who also still controls their own destiny following their first loss of the season, stands in their way. The similarities extend beyond their surprising place in the conference standings - both teams are +9 in turnover margin and struggle at times to stop the run. One team’s dream season will last another week, but the loser will, in all likelihood, wake up from their conference championship and Playoff dreams.
ARMY AND NOTRE DAME MEET IN TOP 25 MATCHUP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1958
#19 Army vs #6 Notre Dame (-14) - Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, NY | 6 PM CT on NBC
Just over 100 years ago, legendary writer Grantland Rice dubbed the electric Notre Dame backfield of Harry Stuhldreher, Don Miller, Jim Crowley, and Elmer Layden “The Four Horsemen” following a 13-7 Irish upset of Army at the Polo Grounds. In 2024, Army is undefeated and has an electric rushing attack led by QB Bryson Daily, but Notre Dame is undoubtably the heavy favorite. Remember all that stuff I wrote about living in the moment for Indiana-Ohio State? Throw that out the window and let’s dream about the ripple effects a massive Army upset would send throughout the sport. Notre Dame would likely be out of the playoff, and Army would have a shot to take their place. That, in turn, could theoretically leave the entire Big 12 out in the cold if the right (or wrong, depending on your perspective) results happen. So yeah, don’t feel pressured to live in the moment if this one is close.
SEC PLAYOFF CONTENDERS NEED TO SURVIVE ROAD TESTS
#7 Alabama, #9 Ole Miss, and #15 Texas A&M hit the road needing to return with wins.
We have thrown around “elimination game” quite a bit over the last few weeks, but when you have two losses in late November, it seems like an appropriate time to throw it out once again. Alabama, Ole Miss, and A&M are all squarely on the bubble and need wins on the road to keep their playoff hopes alive for another week. To make the stakes even higher, all three teams will face their hated in-state rivals in a week, meaning the secondary battle will be the mental hurdle of not looking ahead. Kalen DeBoer, Lane Kiffin, and Mike Elko will need to earn their keep this week, and we’ll see who stays in the ring another week.
Have a great Saturday! Be sure to follow @ThreeTechPod on Instagram and X, subscribe to the channel on YouTube, and join us LIVE tonight for the full Week 13 Breakdown!