The 2021 College Football season has seen many strange but highly entertaining games that have impacted College Football Playoff. The impact of the season is about to be even greater through the next two weeks, with rivalry week this Saturday and conference championships next week. There will be two ranked versus ranked matchups this weekend that will help decide for conference championship weekend. There will be other games where some of the top teams could face a potential upset.
One of the biggest games in the SEC is set for the Iron Bowl matchup in Auburn between the #3 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-1) and the Auburn Tigers (6-5). The Tide comes into this game as a 19.5 point favorite, but the Tigers have always been unpredictable in the past decade. The Iron has been tied up in the past four years, with Alabama winning the last game last matchup with a 42-13 score in Tuscaloosa. For the past five seasons, the home team has won the rivalry game. Auburn comes into this game versus Alabama with their new head coach in Bryan Harsin.
Alabama comes into the game with the second-ranked scoring offense as they average 44.4 points per game. Last week, Alabama sophomore quarterback Bryce Young threw for 31-of-40 completions for 559 yards and five touchdowns in the 42-35 win over Arkansas. The passing game of Alabama could have another big game against a depleted Auburn secondary. If the front-seven of Auburn can consistently crash the backfield of Alabama, they could suppress enough for their quarterback in T.J. Finley to a potentially big game of own. Alabama will need to watch out for a dangerous Auburn team to look ahead to the SEC Championship game next week against the #1 Georgia Bulldogs (11-0).
The biggest rivalry game of the week will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan when the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes (10-1) at the #5 Michigan Wolverines (10-1). This has been one of the most heated games in the nation between players and fans, but this rivalry has been completely one-sided. Ohio State has won the last eight matchups versus 'the team up North.' Ohio State has won 15 of the last 16 matchups against their rivals. Michigan has the confidence to take back the rivalry with the Big Ten East Division and a potential College Football Playoff spot on the line.
Both teams come into the game with highly efficient but completely different styles of offenses. Ohio State ranks first in the nation in points per game (47.2) behind their Heisman Trophy caliber quarterback in C.J. Stroud and the wide array of weapons in running backs and wide receivers. They can find the scoreboard by winning single plays through mismatches. Michigan ranks 15th in the nation in points per game (36.9) behind a conservative playstyle behind two power running backs that can wear down opposing defenses. This may be Michigan's best chance to jump that hurdle of being constantly second-best behind their rival and become a playoff.
There is a potential power shift in the Big 12 on the line this Saturday as the #10 Oklahoma Sooners (10-1) and #7 Oklahoma State Cowboys (10-1) will meet in Stillwater. Oklahoma has been to the College Football Playoff in three of the last four years and has beaten their rivals in Oklahoma State six consecutive seasons. Oklahoma State comes into this game with a more clear identity of their team chemistry and consistency. Six of Oklahoma's ten wins have come from a one-possession score as they have struggled against less-talented teams. Oklahoma State has been more efficient in non-conference and Big 12 games.
Oklahoma has seen some impressive performances from their offense as they rank tenth in the nation in points per game (38.9). Their offensive struggles come up to them in the past two games as they averaged 21 points per game and suffered their first loss of the season on the road to #13 Baylor. This Saturday, they will face an Oklahoma State defense that ranks in the top ten of every major defensive category. The Cowboys' defense ranks second in the nation in points allowed per game (14.9). Oklahoma has the experience to get them into the College Football Playoffs potentially, but they also do not have the experience while playing without the momentum.