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10 best college football games in October that will shape the playoff picture

By Christopher Novak

Penn State running back Saquon Barkley picks up yardage and squares off with Michigan safety Delano Hill (44) on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Michigan won, 28-16. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images)
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley picks up yardage and squares off with Michigan safety Delano Hill (44) on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa. Michigan won, 28-16. (Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times/TNS via Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans runs with the ball for a score during their game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on September 23, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 23: Quarterback Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans runs with the ball for a score during their game against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium on September 23, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

7. Utah vs. USC

Utah and USC played a memorable Friday night game in 2016, where the Utes took down the Trojans 23-17. That night in Salt Lake City spurred USC’s decision to keep Sam Darnold under center.  We know what’s happened since then with the Trojans, who will be hosting the Utes in LA this time around. They won the Rose Bowl and got off to a hot start this season. They did lose to Washington State, but for now, they still look like solid enough contenders in the Pac-12 South.

The Utes have quietly had a solid amount of success since that night as well. While they finished with three losses last year, they are currently unbeaten through the seasons’ first four weeks. They won their Pac-12 opener against the Arizona Wildcats, escaping Tucson with a 30-24 victory.

That sets up a very intriguing showdown for the Pac-12 South. Especially with the Trojans’ aforementioned loss to Washington State in mind. Utah is breathing down USC’s necks, and a head-to-head showdown at the LA Coliseum will have huge implications for which team will represent the division in the Pac-12 Championship Game.

The Utes and Trojans will first have to get through Stanford and Oregon State. The Trojans have the easier test in that regard, but assuming these two teams handle their business, this will be must-see TV out west. Both teams are nationally ranked now. This has the makings of a Top 20 showdown, assuming the two clubs handle their business going into Oct. 14. If they do, this one should be a doozy.

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