Lamest time window: Early afternoon. This slate will deliver in descending order, meaning as the sun goes down the intrigue rises. Get all your errands finished early.

Noon: Nothing mesmerizing here, not even South Carolina at Alabama (ABC). Anyone honestly believe the Tide will fall flat two consecutive weekends?

3:30: For the first time in its 124-year existence, the Red River Rivalry enters the sprawling SEC lexicon. Texas-Oklahoma (ABC) may be steeped in tradition, but we’re a bit more intrigued by No. 4 Penn State’s visit to USC (CBS). Suddenly, this shapes up as a must-win game for embattled Trojans coach Lincoln Riley. Additionally, USF’s American Athletic Conference clash with Memphis has been moved to this time slot due to Hurricane Milton.

7: If the Gators can escape Neyland Stadium with their second consecutive win against No. 8 Tennessee (ESPN), Billy Napier might — just might — survive the entire regular season.

7:30: Prepare to channel surf between No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon (NBC) and No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU (ABC). ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be in Eugene (its second consecutive pre-dawn broadcast from the Pacific Time Zone), while the Rebels will try to win the Magnolia Bowl trophy for the third time in four years (though last year’s 55-49 Ole Miss win will be tough to top).

7:45: Vanderbilt at Kentucky (SEC Network) suddenly looks sneaky good. Can Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia cement his folk-hero status with a second consecutive command performance?

10:15: Coach Prime seeks his first win against a ranked foe since his Colorado debut (45-42 vs. TCU) when the Buffaloes host No. 18 Kansas State (ESPN) in another opportunity for Travis Hunter to fortify his Heisman candidacy.

11: For night owls, No. 17 Boise State’s game at Hawaii (CBS Sports Network) is worth watching just to see Heisman favorite Ashton Jeanty. The Broncos junior, who was born in Jacksonville but played his high school ball in Texas, has run for 1,031 yards and 16 touchdowns (10.9 yards per carry) in only five games.

Local of the week

T.J. Moore, Clemson

The Tigers community rallied around this Tampa Catholic alumnus after Hurricane Helene destroyed his family’s Tarpon Springs home. A GoFundMe account set up by Moore’s aunt, which had an initial stated goal of $10,000, generated more than $30,000 — much of it coming from Clemson players and staffers. Moore responded with a 23-yard touchdown catch in the Tigers’ 29-13 win last week at FSU. “(The support) meant a lot, seeing how, like, the whole Clemson community came together to help my family,” Moore told reporters earlier this week. “It showed me that it was more than football at this point, and everybody around here is family.”

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Gators-Vols a running feud

Though few certainties exist in college football’s chaotic realm, one can reasonably hypothesize that the Florida-Tennessee outcome will be determined on the ground.

In 19 of the teams’ 24 meetings this millennium (including five of the last six), the team with more rushing yards has prevailed. That doesn’t bode well for the Gators, considering Tennessee ranks fifth in the nation in rushing offense (267.2 yards per game), averaging 5.73 yards per attempt (tied for 11th nationally).

Here’s a look at the rivalry’s rushing totals, and outcomes, of the last decade:

2023: UF 183, UT 100 (Gators, 29-16)

2022: UF 141, UT 227 (Vols, 38-33)

2021: UF 283, UT 148 (Gators, 38-14)

2020: UF 19, UT 94 (Gators, 31-19)

2019: UF 128, UT 88 (Gators, 34-3)

2018: UF 201, UT 156 (Gators, 47-21)

2017: UF 168, UT 183 (Gators, 26-20)

2016: UF 106, UT 179 (Vols, 38-28)

2015: UF 109, UT 154 (Gators, 28-27)

2014: UF 156, UT 28 (Gators, 10-9)

2013: UF 215, UT 66 (Gators, 31-17)

By the numbers

4: Consecutive wins by Oklahoma against Texas when both teams are ranked in the AP poll. The teams meet for the 120th time Saturday at the original Cotton Bowl Stadium.

5: Catches needed by USF receiver Sean Atkins to tie the school’s career record held by Jefferson High alumnus Andre Davis (153)

17: Second-half points allowed this season by Penn State, which ranks fourth nationally in second-half points allowed per game (3.4). Former USF defensive coordinator Tom Allen now runs the Nittany Lions defense.

45.7: Florida punter Jeremy Crawshaw’s average on 17 attempts this season, which ranks 27th nationally. Crawshaw pinned three of his four punts against UCF inside the Knights 20-yard line, including one at the 3.

51: Career games played by USF outside linebacker Jason Vaughn, four shy of the program mark held by Gaither High alumnus Donovan Jennings

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