Notre Dame Football: 10 Games To Watch This Weekend During The Bye

With the Notre Dame Fighting Irish getting a week off with the bye, fans have a wide variety of choices in front of them this weekend.

You could, after all, decide to rejoin your family for one weekend! I’m taking my oldest son on a camping trip on Saturday, and then on Sunday... birthday party for my youngest son. The possibility of me being able to slide into my office to enjoy a care-free Saturday of football is all but gone, and perhaps many of you are in the same boat blessed with the same.

As far as the college football slate is concerned, here are 10 games to pay attention to as you eat a sack of cheeseburgers:

Stanford Cardinal @ Arizona State Sun Devils 9:00 (THURSDAY)

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Stanford isn’t the Stanford of the past 5 years, but they can still finish the season with a respectable record and in the Top 25. Strength of schedule is always important, and a late night Thursday Pac 12 game is always fun.

North Carolina Tar Heels @ Syracuse Orange NOON

If you want to do a bit more scouting of Syracuse before the Irish face them, here ya go.

#6 Michigan Wolverines (suck) @ #24 Michigan State Spartans NOON

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The ridiculous notion that the Skunkbears could pass an undefeated Irish in the rankings could be ended pretty quickly in East Lansing. Harbaugh still needs a road win against a top 25 team. Dantonio chuckles.

#16 N.C. State Wolfpack @ #3 Clemson Tigers 3:30

At first glance, an undefeated Wolfpack playing a seemingly vulnerable Clemson team is intriguing. Another look, and it should be another semi-easy win for the Tigers.

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide @ Tennessee Volunteers 3:30

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I’d love to say to watch this game because anything can happen in a rivalry game... but no. Watch this game so you truly understand how much better Alabama is when compared to the rest of the country.

Wake Forest Demon Deacons @ Florida State Seminoles 3:30

Past opponent versus future opponent. Take what you will from this game.

Houston Cougars @ Navy Midshipmen 3:30

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Navy is struggling this year, but the option is still a tricky tricky thing. Start scouting for next week (and enjoy #RTDB).

#22 Mississippi St. Bulldogs @ #5 LSU Tigers 7:00

The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in college football, and they represent the hope for a second team from the SEC in the playoff. The Tigers are a key player moving forward — especially with Bama coming to Baton Rouge next week.

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes @ Purdue Boilermakers 7:30

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Upsets happen, and sometimes this game is better than it should be. Come for the possibility of an upset, and stay for humiliation (doesn’t matter who).

USC Trojans @ Utah Utes

An undefeated Irish team is getting into the playoffs no matter what. Still... beating a good and ranked Southern Cal team would help them in a number of areas. One of those games where you kind of want one thing to happen, but if something else does... all the lol’s.