Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 10
Next
TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 23: Tight End Jaylen Samuels #1 and Head Coach Dave Doeren of the North Carolina Wolfpack shares a laugh after the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 23, 2017, in Tallahassee, Florida. NC State defeated #12 ranked Florida State 27 to 21. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 23: Tight End Jaylen Samuels #1 and Head Coach Dave Doeren of the North Carolina Wolfpack shares a laugh after the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 23, 2017, in Tallahassee, Florida. NC State defeated #12 ranked Florida State 27 to 21. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

6. NC State vs. Notre Dame

After taking a season-opening loss to South Carolina, NC State has rebounded with four straight victories. This includes a quick 2-0 start in ACC play with wins over FSU and Syracuse under their belts. This matchup, though, is a nonconference showdown that could cause quite a bit of attention.

For the first time, the Wolfpack will make the trip up to South Bend on Oct. 28. They’ll face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for only the third time in their programs’ histories. The second came last year when NC State won a sloppy, rain-filled game 10-3 in Raleigh. The first time was all the way back in January 2003, when the Wolfpack won 28-6 over the Fighting Irish in the Gator Bowl.

Bradley Chubb and NC State will be out to make it three in a row against the Fighting Irish, who will be coming off of a high-stakes rivalry game against USC. It would certainly be a high mark for the program and for Dave Doeren, who has definitely turned the tide in Raleigh this year.

Don’t expect it to be too easy for the Wolfpack, though. Notre Dame’s defense has been nothing if not stingy this season. Te’von Coney, Nyles Morgan and Drue Tranquill are part of one of the best LB corps in the country. Julian Love and Nick Watkins are a dynamic duo themselves in the secondary, which may make it hard for Kelvin Harmon and Stephen Louis on that day.

The Wolfpack and Fighting Irish are currently in the Top 25. Assuming all goes well, this too will be a Top 25 matchup on the last weekend of October.

Home/College