College Football Weekend Watch Party: TCU-Oklahoma State and the Playoffs for the Playoff

Every Friday, we'll tell you which college football game you absolutely need to watch that weekend, even if it's flying under the radar. It might not always be the matchup of the two best teams, but it will definitely be the most entertaining contest. Because fun is what college football is all about, right?

Now that the College Football Playoff selection committee has put out its first rankings of the season, the playoffs to get into the Playoff is upon us. Nowhere is that more true than the Big 12, which has three undefeated schools (TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma State) and a single one-loss squad (Oklahoma) vying for a spot in the four-team New Year's Eve bracket.

None of these teams have played each other yet, and the only route for any of them to reach the Playoff might be to win all of their games against the others.

TCU and Oklahoma State kick off what amounts to a four-squad round-robin on Saturday, and we'll finally learn what to expect from two schools, which, to put it eloquently, ain't played nobody. Of the top 34 Playoff contenders coming into the season, Oklahoma State's nonconference schedule strength ranked dead last, and TCU's ranked 27th.

Oh, and sorry, Horned Frogs: with Minnesota now simply fighting for bowl eligibility, your close win over the Gophers to open the season looks a lot less impressive now.

So we really have no idea what to expect of TCU-Oklahoma State—besides touchdowns, and that's what figures to make it fun. Oklahoma State has been putting up lots of points against just about everyone this year—though, to be fair, they've been shredding some awful defenses—and hung 70 on Texas Tech last week. Led by quarterback Mason Rudolph, the Cowboys have the offensive firepower to test TCU's inconsistent defense.

Meanwhile, TCU's offense arguably has the most dynamic offensive player in the country in quarterback Trevone Boykin. The Horned Frogs are never out of a game with Boykin under center, and if the Cowboys hope to contain him, they'll have to play better than they did in near losses to Texas and Kansas State.

Both schools are pretty good. Are they great? No one knows. We do know that the winner will have an inside Playoff track, and that the loser will be all but eliminated from contention. Add those stakes to an expected offensive eruption, and this one is a must-watch.

This game will likely decide the ACC Atlantic, and it's Clemson's toughest game on the way to an undefeated season. In the past two years, FSU-Clemson has turned into the ACC's biggest football rivalry. The Tigers are the most complete team in the country, but the Seminoles are talented enough to make that a moot point.

After beating Ole Miss en route to a top 15 ranking, Memphis is this year's Cinderella. However, Navy is very underrated, with its only loss coming to Notre Dame. It's incredibly hard for Navy to compete against powerhouse programs, considering the Naval Academy's recruiting restrictions, but the Midshipmen have a stellar triple-option offense that could prove maddening for the Tigers' defense. Memphis should win, but this one has upset potential.

I'm not sure this is going to be a particularly well-played game, but it's the most relevant Duke-North Carolina football game in years: the winner will become the favorite for the ACC Coastal title, and it's always good when big rivalries are relevant across different sports. Also, it will feature ACC refs! Can't wait to see what happens next!

This game has been more anticipated than the Iron Bowl in recent years, and it might be the most consistently anticipated game in the country. This season is no different. The winner could be No. 1 next week and will have a good chance to win the SEC West (though Ole Miss is an interesting wild card in the race). The loser might be knocked out of Playoff contention altogether.

Prior to the season, this game was slated for prime time because Nebraska was supposed to be good. As it turns out, Nebraska is quite bad, and the Huskers are coming off a loss to Purdue—Purdue! There are better prime-time games to watch. Don't waste your time on what could very well turn into a blowout.