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) /
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Saturday, September 24, 2016: Michigan running back Chris Evans in action during the third quarter of UM’s 49-10 win over Penn State, Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Saturday, September 24, 2016: Michigan running back Chris Evans in action during the third quarter of UM’s 49-10 win over Penn State, Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Michigan vs. Penn State

Penn State visited Ann Arbor back on Sept. 24, 2016. The result was not pretty. The Nittany Lions were torn apart by the Michigan Wolverines to the tune of 49-10.

That result has no doubt stuck with PSU for the last year. Considering that they won out the rest of the way, it’s a wonder if they would’ve been Playoff-bound had they gotten a W in Ann Arbor against the Wolverines. They did take down Ohio State and Wisconsin – two top-10 wins – along the way after all. And they more than proved their worth, even in a losing effort in the Rose Bowl.

Well, in Week 8, the Nittany Lions will have a chance at revenge. This time around, the game will be going down in Happy Valley. Beaver Stadium will play host to a matchup that, now, is a Top 10 showdown between the No. 4 and No. 7 teams in the country. The Big Ten race has yet to be figured out, with these two teams and the Buckeyes all having yet to separate themselves in the East Division. A game of this size will be one that’s absolutely must-see TV.

This game also features the über-dynamic Saquon Barkley, who’s worth a watch damn near every week at this rate. The proverbial Heisman frontrunner has been unstoppable this season, and he’ll have his hands full against the stout Michigan defense. The Wolverines haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher so far this season. That could change by the time they take the trip to State College, but it certainly doesn’t appear likely. Want to see if Barkley can crack the code? Of course, you do.

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