This weekend, national attention will be divided across a slate of games with major College Football Playoff implications, including No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 Missouri. With six ranked matchups on the Week 7 schedule, some contenders will strengthen their playoff resumes, while others could see their postseason hopes take a significant hit.
For Ole Miss, the matchup against Missouri represents another opportunity to establish itself as a legitimate playoff contender. With the expanded 12-team playoff field offering multiple paths to the postseason, a win over a ranked SEC opponent could prove valuable as the Rebels navigate the second half of their schedule.
The Rebels look to strengthen their playoff campaign
Ole Miss enters Week 7 at 4-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play following a 52-17 victory over Vanderbilt. After a setback against Florida, Ole Miss can build momentum against a Missouri team also ranked among the nation’s Top 15.
Missouri comes to Oxford at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play after defeating Texas A&M 27-6. The Tigers’ recent performances, including their walloping of Florida, sets up a matchup between two teams looking to improve their position in a competitive SEC race.
A victory would give Ole Miss another opportunity to strengthen its postseason resume against a ranked conference opponent. With several SEC teams competing for just a few playoff spots, the Rebels will need to capitalize on opportunities against quality opponents for the rest of the season, especially with matchups against Texas and Georgia looming.
The stakes extend beyond the conference standings. A home loss would leave Ole Miss with less room for error as the season progresses, especially with more SEC matchups ahead. With six ranked matchups scheduled across the country on Saturday, the Rebels are not the only team facing an important test.
Currently, Ole Miss has a 19.2% chance to make the playoffs, according to The Rooting Guide. A win over Missouri would boost those odds by 6.1%, while a loss would bump them down 12.1%.
Six ranked matchups could reshape the national picture
While Ole Miss hosts Missouri, several other games will feature postseason-bound teams facing ranked opponents. The slate includes No. 4 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 14 Tennessee, No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 8 BYU, No. 16 Mississippi State vs. No. 22 LSU and No. 18 Oklahoma State vs. No. 20 Houston. Each game gives a contender a chance to add a quality win while handing a potential playoff rival a loss.
The most prominent matchup of the early window comes when two of the three most recent national champions, Ohio State and Indiana, face off in Bloomington, Ind. A rematch of last year’s Big 10 Championship, the implications for this year’s title game will become clear in Bloomington. With Indiana entering the weekend undefeated, the result of this game could significantly affect the conference race and the national playoff picture.
Another major test comes in the SEC, where Alabama travels to face Tennessee. The annual rivalry, aptly titled the “Third Saturday in October,” gives both teams an opportunity to earn a ranked conference victory. For Alabama, the game also represents a chance to respond following its loss to Georgia, while Tennessee looks to strengthen its standing against another highly ranked opponent.
The evening slate features another matchup between undefeated teams as Notre Dame travels to face BYU. Both teams enter the weekend undefeated, making the contest one of the most consequential games on the schedule. As an added bonus, College Gameday heads to Provo, Utah, for the first time since 2009.
Mississippi State’s trip to LSU and Oklahoma State’s matchup with Houston round out the six games besides Ole Miss and Missouri featuring ranked teams on both sides. Those contests could also influence conference standings and the broader playoff race as the season reaches its midpoint.
