It’ll be nearly impossible for Week 7 to match the chaos of Week 6, but the slate is loaded with exciting matchups.
It features the season’s first matchup of teams ranked in the top three, and the No. 1 team in the country is playing in a famed neutral site rivalry game. The day should be feisty.
Here are the matchups we’ll be monitoring closely on Saturday. Follow all the action live below.
Both teams enter their Cotton Bowl rivalry game off bye weeks. The Longhorns moved to the top spot in the AP Top 25 after Alabama’s loss and Quinn Ewers is back in the starting lineup. Oklahoma will start true freshman Michael Hawkins for the second straight game. If the Sooners are going to pull the upset, Hawkins has to be fantastic and the run game has to get on track.
This game lost some luster after the Trojans fell to Minnesota last week. That dropped them out of the top 25 and crippled their chances of winning the Big Ten. It could still be a dangerous game for Penn State though. The Penn State offense has looked much better in 2024 after an offseason coordinator switch, and the defense has allowed 12 or fewer points in four of its five games.
The marquee game of the weekend should be a doozy. Opposing defenses haven’t yet solved OSU’s two-headed rushing attack and a passing game that features all-world freshman Jeremiah Smith. If the game comes down to quarterback play, Oregon could have the edge. Will Howard has been solid for the Buckeyes, but Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel leads the country in completion percentage and has thrown for 1,449 yards.
This game has all the makings of a shootout. The Rebels enter averaging 44 points per game while LSU is scoring over 35 per game. QB Jaxson Dart has thrown for 2,100 yards already and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 1,652 yards and 15 TDs through five games. The Tigers were off in Week 6 while the Rebels bounced back from their first loss with a resounding win over South Carolina.
Kansas State is a good measuring stick for what appears to be an improved Buffaloes squad. The team has already matched its win total from 2023 and is just two victories away from bowl eligibility. The biggest test for Colorado will be up front on defense. Teams are averaging over 150 rushing yards a game against the Buffaloes and KSU RB DJ Giddens and QB Avery Johnson are each averaging 7.3 yards a carry.
The Gamecocks have the lead! What a start to the second half. That was a 16-play, 85-yard drive capped off by a short TD run by Raheim Sanders and it burned 8:40 off the clock.
South Carolina is up 19-14.
We are back for the second half of Alabama-South Carolina and the Gamecocks are on the march with their first possession. They’re over midfield with 10 minutes left in the third.
Scoreboard update
Here’s where things stand as the first wave of games hits halftime:
Scoreboard update
Halftime: Iowa 20, Washington 10
After all that strangeness on Washington’s FG attempt, Iowa scored on a FG just before the half in the exact same manner with the ball flying over the upright.
In a bit of a bizarre moment in that game, Washington made a field goal late. Iowa seemed to think it didn’t go in and decided to challenge the play, but it wasn’t reviewable since it went above the uprights.
The Hawkeyes will have the lead at halftime in Iowa City after two first-half touchdowns by Kaleb Johnson.
Halftime: Alabama 14, South Carolina 12
Jalen Milroe makes another costly mistake with just seconds remaining in the half and Jalon Kilgore returns the pick into field goal range for the Gamecocks, who are able to get three more points as time expired.
The Tide were in control of things early in Tuscaloosa before a baffling finish to the half. They allowed 12 points in the final 1:43 before the break.
Fumble recovered by Alabama!
Now it’s Alabama getting a turnover at midfield. South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers made a poor decision in trying to throw the ball while being sacked and ended up fumbling the ball, which was recovered by Alabama.
The Tide have it back with 48 seconds left in the half.
Safety South Carolina!
The Gamecocks add two more points on the board after a mistake by Alabama’s Jalen Milroe! The Bama QB dropped back into his own end zone from the 12-yard line and then threw the ball to nobody, resulting in an intentional grounding and a safety.
South Carolina will have it back with all its timeouts and 1:30 left in the first half.
South Carolina touchdown!
The Gamecocks were facing a fourth-and-9 at the Bama 36-yard line and took a deep shot to the end zone and got it! It’s LaNorris Sellers to Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a score to cut into Alabama’s lead.
It’s 14-7 Crimson Tide with under 2 minutes left in the first half.
Clemson tacks on another TD
After another first-half interception, the Tigers went for it on fourth-and-goal and Phil Mafah delivered once again.
Clemson now up 21-7.
Rutgers deep ball
Meanwhile, in Piscataway, the Scarlet Knights are driving to cut into an early Wisconsin lead and just took this deep shot.
Clemson strikes again!
Clemson’s Kylon Griffin intercepted a pass by Wake Forest QB Hank Bachmeier just two plays later and the Tigers are into the end zone AGAIN on a short run by Phil Mafah.
What a quick turnaround for Clemson!
Clemson ties it up
The Tigers respond in due course with a lengthy drive of their own, capped off by a 22-yard TD pass from Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams.
It’s 7-7 in Winston-Salem.
Wake Forest up 7-0 on Clemson
Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons are on the board first as they try to knock off No. 10 Clemson.
Hawkeyes strike first in Iowa City
After blocking a field goal attempt earlier in the opening quarter, the Hawkeyes are now on the board first with a short Kaleb Johnson TD run.
Army is still undefeated and hosting UAB this week. QB Bryson Daily just delivered this highlight-reel stiff-arm and sprint to the end zone as the Cadets take an early lead on Trent Dilfer’s Blazers.
The Hawkeyes are trying to bounce back from a blowout loss to Ohio State with a home game against Big Ten newcomer Washington.
This will definitely help.
Bama scores quick
One week after their stunning upset loss to Vanderbilt, the Crimson Tide got off on the right foot against South Carolina.
The opening drive of the game went 75 yards in nine plays and was capped off by this Jalen Milroe TD run.
We are underway with our first wave of games today!
With no standout games early today, we’ll be bouncing around a bit and giving updates from around the country.
What to watch: Week 7 college football viewing guide
Here are the best games of college football’s Week 7. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)
Deion Sanders again expresses his displeasure with late kickoffs: ‘How stupid is that?’
Click the photo above to read the story. (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
For Ryan Day and Ohio State, expectations have peaked and the pressure builds with a matchup at Oregon
Click the photo above to read the story. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
LSU-Ole Miss Magnolia Bowl kicks off the meat of the SEC schedule
Click the photo above to read the story. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
How Clemson’s ‘windshield mentality’ — and some timely upsets — put the Tigers in prime position for a playoff spot
Click the photo above to read the story. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
No. 1 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian announces that Quinn Ewers will start vs. No. 19 Oklahoma
Click the photo above to read the story. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Colorado’s Shilo Sanders set to return against No. 18 Kansas State
Click the photo above to read the story. (Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
Heisman watch: Dillon Gabriel has a chance to make a big statement against Ohio State
Who’s on the Heisman watchlist ahead of Week 7? (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports)
Good morning folks and welcome to our Week 7 college football live tracker!
We’re still about 30 minutes away from kickoff of the first wave of games, so catch up on what’s happened this week in the meantime.
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