Somehow, it’s already Week 4 of college football, and teams are now getting into conference play across the country.
This Saturday’s college football games give us plenty to look forward to, including three top 25 matchups between teams that we don’t always see near the top of the rankings.
Those three headline plenty of key games as we start to consider the College Football Playoff picture.
The best college games to watch on Saturday, September 20, include:
- #17 Texas Tech vs. #16 Utah at 12 p.m. ET (10 a.m. local time for Big Noon Kickoff)
- #22 Auburn vs. #11 Oklahoma at 3:30 p.m. ET
- #9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana at 7:30 p.m. ET
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#17 Texas Tech vs. #16 Utah
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: FOX
What to Watch For: How both teams start will be key, as this is a 10 a.m. local time start, a rarity in college football. That should keep the energy low in the first quarter. Once they settle in, QBs on both sides — Behren Morton and Devon Dampier — should put on a show. Whoever blinks first could be chasing the rest of the game in what is set up to be a high-scoring game. I’m looking for Dampier to lay it on a Texas Tech defense that is 64th in expected points added per dropback.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Utah QB Devon Dampier – 289.5 Pass+Rush Yards
➜ Find our complete Texas Tech vs. Utah Prediction & Picks
SMU vs. TCU
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ESPN2
What to Watch For: In-state games just mean more. This is the last scheduled game in the Iron Skillet rivalry, and both teams are going to get up for it. SMU QB Kevin Jennings is always a delight to watch, and now he gets to play behind a healthy offensive line. SMU’s offense is one of the most explosive in college football, so this one should create some fireworks. TCU is no slouch either, currently positioned as a dark horse in the Big 12. A win here would send them into conference play with a quality win.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: SMU QB Kevin Jennings – 21.5 Fantasy Score
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#22 Auburn vs. #11 Oklahoma
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ABC
What to Watch For: All eyes will be on Auburn QB Jackson Arnold as he returns to Norman after getting benched and transferring in the offseason. He’ll get a brutal matchup vs. an Oklahoma defense that has only allowed 19 points in three games — though two were vs. Illinois St. and Temple. Regardless, the Sooners get home field and one of the best defenses in the country — that’s going to be tough for Arnold.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Auburn QB Jackson Arnold – 220.5 Pass+Rush Yards
➜ Find our complete Auburn vs. Oklahoma Prediction & Picks
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#21 Michigan vs. Nebraska
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: CBS//Paramount+
What to Watch For: Nebraska’s struggling run defense (88th in yards/rush allowed) may have trouble against this Michigan team that should be able to body the Cornhuskers in the trenches. That’s good news for Michigan RB Justice Haynes, who has rushed for over 100 yards in all three games this year — including vs. Oklahoma. Michigan QB Bryce Underwood should be able to settle in in his second career road start.
On the Nebraska side, I’ll be watching how QB Dylan Raiola fairs vs. a Michigan defense that is giving up just 4.58 yards per dropback (17th), per Game on Paper. Raiola was underwhelming vs. competent defenses in 2024, and he hasn’t had a real test this year.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Michigan RB Justice Haynes – 90.5 Rush Yards
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Florida vs. #4 Miami
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ABC
What to Watch For: This one has plenty of history, which always adds to the excitement. Florida QB DJ Lagway threw 5 INTs last week — the Gators simply can’t win games vs. legitimate teams with those kinds of mistakes. Hopefully, he got that out of the way; if not, this will get ugly. But things don’t get easier this week vs. a Miami team that’s loaded on both sides of the ball. I’m looking for Miami to get a statement win as they head into ACC play next week, solidifying itself as a legitimate Championship contender.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Miami QB Carson Beck – 20.5 Fantasy Score
➜ Find our complete Florida vs. Miami Prediction & Picks
#9 Illinois vs. #19 Indiana
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: ABC
What to Watch For: One of the most underrated games of the week here on primetime; neither looks like a legit championship contender, but this should be a tight contest. You’ve got a seasoned vet QB in Luke Altmyer on the Illinois side, and an offensive mastermind in Curt Cignetti on the opposing side. Look for both offenses to exploit some matchup advantages here in a game that’ll come down to the wire.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Illinois RB Kaden Feagin – 56.5 Rush Yards
Arizona State vs. Baylor
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: FOX
What to Watch For: A sleepy key game in the Big 12 on the primetime slate between two really solid QBs in Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson. Both teams are 2-1, with losses coming vs. Power Four teams.
Whoever can take this game will become a team to watch in the Big 12, especially as we’ll see a team fall in Texas Tech vs. Utah. Most importantly, we need to see Leavitt step up, which he is more than capable of. He was 10/22 with 82 passing yards and 2 INT vs. Mississippi State.
That is plainly unacceptable if this team is going to compete. Arizona State should lean on its run game vs a Baylor defense that is coughing up 5.13 yards per rush — 99th in the country. This game is going to be sick, and we should learn a lot about both teams and QBs — I can't wait to watch.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: Arizona St. RB Raleek Brown – 68.5 Rush Yards
Michigan State vs. No. 25 USC
Time: 11 p.m. ET
Where to Watch: FOX
What to Watch For: The highlight of the late night slate brings us two teams opening up Big Ten play. USC’s defense has been solid so far, and we know the offense can run it up with Lincoln Riley at the helm. USC finally cracked the rankings this week; at 3-0, this is QB Jaiden Maiava’s chance to bring more attention to himself (0 turnovers this year) and the program as they head into conference play.
For Michigan State, QB Aidan Chiles is incredibly inconsistent, so I’ll be watching how he holds up vs. a USC pass rush that ranks 9th in havoc rate at 17.6% in 2025. USC has 14 sacks in three games, while Michigan State has given up 8 in their 3 games vs. less-than-stellar competition.
PrizePicks CFB Pick: USC QB Jordan Maiva – 47.5 Yards Longest Completion or Michigan St. QB Aidan Chiles – 16.5 Rush Yards
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Some may say this Week 4 of college football isn’t as exciting as others we’ve had; but every game has Playoff implications as we head into conference play. It all gets started this week, as we see what teams will be elevated to the top of their conferences.
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