We like college football the fans are so late. This season has given us a lot of interesting talking points with the College Football Playoffs going from four to 12 teams. This has prevented head coaches of underperforming Power Four teams from prematurely lashing out at their head coaches, as many of them are still technically alive to make the expanded playoffs. There was a downside…

For whatever reason, we just haven’t had a surprise weekend yet. Yes, sometimes there will be a team that comes up against a team we thought was better, only to find out otherwise. We’ve had several ranked versus ranked matchups, but that’s par for the course when it comes to championship and AP Top 25 Poll still incredibly Power Four-centric.

What I want to do today is identify seven games in which I think the pressure could make the better team crack. This list also includes a pair of ranked matches where a top 25 team is guaranteed to lose. These four teams face considerable pressure, but only two will add another victory to the win column after this weekend. There is also a trap game component.

Let’s start with a team that has only one loss and can’t afford a second conference loss this weekend.

This might not seem like a pressure-filled event, but there’s no way the No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats are going to lose on the road to a 3-5 Houston Cougars team and that something good comes out of this for K-State. The Wildcats are still very much alive to make it to Arlington out of the Big 12, but a second conference loss would put Colorado, a team they beat, ahead of them in the Big 12 standings.

Kansas State’s only loss so far this season was against BYU, a team that could be the crème de la crème of the Big 12. The Wildcats could end up losing to Iowa State in Farmageddon at the end of the regular season, but they succeed. looking to lose to a team that likely isn’t going to a bowl in Houston would absolutely ruin their playoff chances. Kansas State is just two favorites on the road to the University of H.

K-State should win this game against the Cougars comfortably, but this is giving off real trap game vibes.

Next up should be Farmageddon rival Iowa State, Kansas State. The Cyclones are tied with Clemson for 11th this week. Iowa State is 7-0, but has looked shaky at times in recent Big 12 games against Baylor and UCF. The worst part of the Clones’ Week 10 matchup is that they’re facing a desperate Texas Tech team trying to prove themselves. The Red Raiders are 5-3 so far.

Iowa State may be a multi-score favorite at home, but strange things tend to happen late in the season at Jack Trice. Sometimes it’s in the Cyclones’ favor. Other times, it’s anything but. The reason I scheduled this game right before Kansas State travels to Houston is because there is a chance Iowa State plays close at home. The other takeaway is that Texas Tech is also better.

Iowa State may be favored in all of their remaining games, but they’re playing like a team that could lose.

This one is also tricky. For No. 19 Ole Miss, the Rebels need to win to have a realistic chance of making the playoffs at 10-2 (6-2). Losing to LSU in Magnolia is good, but losing to Kentucky on homecoming seems worse by the week. With Georgia looming on the horizon in a few weeks, Ole Miss can’t afford to fall into the barbecue that is Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Yes sir! Arkansas has a very good chance of roasting the Rebels alive in the Nutt Bowl. Houston never has a problem with the outcome of this game, but a third SEC loss likely means the end of the line for Lane Kiffin in Oxford. This was Ole Miss’ season to contend for a championship. If the Rebels suffer a third loss before the Georgia game, Kiffin may look to take his job elsewhere.

Ole Miss is just a touchdown favorite against Arkansas. Look for the pigs to keep this one very close.

I almost didn’t include this one, but after careful consideration, I’d be a fool not to. Texas A&M is coming off arguably its best win since joining the SEC last week. The Aggies pivoted on Conner Weigman at quarterback in favor of Marcel Reed and never looked back against LSU. It would be a real shame if the last undefeated team in the conference lost to its old cross-division rival.

Texas A&M is essentially a home field favorite on the road in South Carolina. While the Gameocks may not be bowl eligible due to their brutal schedule, they are playing very hard for head coach Shane Beamer. The defensive line is one of the best in football. They can throw the ball with conviction. If throwing the ball isn’t their strong point, neither is Texas A&M. These teams remind me of each other.

A road loss at South Carolina would make the Texas game a must-win for A&M to make the playoffs.

Oh no. It’s a trap! You bet. I’m not saying the #13 Indiana Hoosiers are going to fall into the Sarlacc, but this is my real Admiral Akbar trap game of the week. IU is 8-0 and the talk of the college football world. They have to face a traditional rival on the road in the feisty, but not quite there, Michigan State Spartans. Sparty needs two wins in two of its final four games to be bowl eligible.

Everyone knows Ohio State will be on Indiana’s schedule in a few weeks. Although we glossed over the Michigan game a bit, that’s the other game on the schedule for Indiana, besides beating brainiac Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket. The fact that Indiana is only a favorite against Michigan State in East Lansing scares me. It would be a bad time for the Hoosiers to finally stumble.

If IU gets to 9-0 with a convincing win over Sparty, I’ll be confident they can win the Big Ten.

We have finally arrived at the first of two ranked matches. The No. 20 SMU Mustangs may be two spots behind the No. 18 Pittsburgh Panthers, but the Ponies are home favorites with just over a touchdown over Pitt. The Panthers just bludgeoned Syracuse last Thursday. No one outside of Western Pennsylvania respects them, which is perfect for Pat Narduzzi.

SMU has yet to lose in ACC play, as the Mustangs’ only loss was to BYU by three points in early September. If SMU wins this game to get to 8-1, it significantly boosts the Ponies’ chances of reaching Charlotte. Pitt would then have to beat Clemson to avoid elimination in the playoffs. With SMU scoring a touchdown at home, I’d say they’re under a lot more pressure than Pittsburgh.

No matter what happens in this game, both would still be in contention to win the ACC, but a win is a must.

I don’t think any team faces more pressure this weekend than No. 4 with a loss. Ohio State having to travel to State College to face undefeated No. 3 Penn State. If the Buckeyes lose to the nail in their hammer vs. nail rivalry, that pretty much puts them out of contention to make it to Indianapolis. That would make the game against Indiana in a few weeks a must-win if the Buckeyes wanted to make the expanded playoffs.

Penn State is also under pressure in this game for several reasons. First, Ohio State historically owns James Franklin. Second, this puts the Nittany Lions behind the eighth ball to get to Indianapolis. And third, if they fail to make it to Indy, will they still make the playoffs by a very James Franklin 10-2 score? Either way, all the pressure is on Ohio State because a loss would be detrimental.

The winner of this game will be elated, while the loser of this Big Ten battle will be very disheartened.