College Football Week 7 Preview: Ohio State Faces Its First Challenge, and the Red River Showdown Takes on an SEC Flair

 Last week, college football reminded us that a thrilling time doesn’t always require a lineup of top-tier matchups. Vanderbilt, Cal, and Arkansas stole the spotlight, delivering one of the season’s most entertaining and impactful weeks so far.

This week, however, promises an exciting array of heavyweight clashes. We have No. 2 vs. No. 3 in Eugene, where Oregon has a prime chance to showcase its top-five potential. The first SEC version of the Red River Rivalry adds to the excitement, along with No. 9 Ole Miss taking on No. 13 LSU in Baton Rouge—both teams vying to stay relevant in the SEC race. Plus, a collection of games that could either clarify or completely scramble the Big 12 standings. And to top it off, we get Idaho-Montana State under the lights!

As we approach the midway point of the season (which feels surreal), here’s your guide for a massive Week 7. (All times are Eastern, and all lines are from ESPN BET.)

Jump to a section:

• Ohio State-Oregon | Texas-Oklahoma
• Ole Miss-LSU
• Big 12 Showdowns | Upset Alerts
• Chaos Superfecta | Week 7 Playlist

The Big One in Eugene

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon (7:30 p.m., NBC)

We've seen some interesting matchups recently, but Saturday evening will feature the most anticipated game of the season as Ohio State travels to Oregon. The Buckeyes are seeking a true test after winning five games by an average score of 46-7. Despite facing mostly weaker opponents, they convincingly defeated No. 29 Iowa by 28 points last week. Their statistics are impressive: fifth in points per drive, first in points allowed, and a nearly flawless performance across the board.

Oregon, meanwhile, has been solid but not quite at the level of the Buckeyes. The Ducks rank in the top 10 for both offensive success rate (ninth) and success rate allowed (seventh). While their passing game is efficient, they need to rekindle their ability to steal easy yards, a hallmark of last year’s offense.

To succeed, Oregon's stars, including running back Jordan James and wide receiver Tez Johnson, must elevate their game against a formidable Buckeye defense. Can Oregon's defense challenge Ohio State quarterback Will Howard effectively?

Current Line: Buckeyes -3 | SP+ Projection: Buckeyes by 2.9 | FPI Projection: Buckeyes by 5.2

Red River, SEC Edition

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma (3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+)

For the first time since 2008, the Red River Rivalry features a No. 1 team. Historically, favorites in this matchup have performed well, but upsets have occurred in critical moments. Texas has demonstrated their dominance, winning games by an average of 45-7, even without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for much of the season. Their passing game has been stellar, with a strong group of receivers, and Ewers is expected to return against a retooled Oklahoma defense that has excelled in limiting big plays.

However, Oklahoma's offense has struggled, particularly with a freshman quarterback and a depleted receiving corps. For the Sooners to upset the Longhorns, they must rely heavily on their defense.

Current Line: Horns -14.5 | SP+ Projection: Horns by 14.5 | FPI Projection: Horns by 15.8

Ole Miss vs. Death Valley

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+)

In their history, Ole Miss has rarely won as favorites in Baton Rouge. After a surprising loss to Kentucky, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are eager to prove themselves. LSU comes off a dominant win and has shown improvement, particularly on defense, though they remain vulnerable against the pass.

The key for Ole Miss lies in its offense, which has yet to allow more than 20 points in a game this season. With the Rebels boasting a stellar defense and an efficient offense, this matchup could test their limits.

Current Line: Rebels -3.5 | SP+ Projection: Rebels by 6.2 | FPI Projection: Rebels by 6.7

The Big 12’s Big (and Potentially Messy) Week

The Big 12's landscape is in flux, with many teams underperforming. This week, eight teams will face off, potentially reshaping the title race.

No. 16 Utah at Arizona State (Friday, 10:30 p.m., ESPN)
Current Line: Utah -4 | SP+ Projection: Utah by 6.5 | FPI Projection: Utah by 0.5

Arizona at No. 14 BYU (4 p.m., Fox)
Current Line: BYU -4 | SP+ Projection: BYU by 3.4 | FPI Projection: BYU by 6.8

No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia (8 p.m., Fox)
Current Line: ISU -3 | SP+ Projection: ISU by 3.0 | FPI Projection: ISU by 1.7

No. 18 Kansas State at Colorado (10:15 p.m., ESPN)
Current Line: K-State -4.5 | SP+ Projection: K-State by 8.7 | FPI Projection: K-State by 0.8

This Week’s Big Upset?

With chaos reigning supreme this season, we might be on the brink of another significant upset. In Week 7 of 2007, several major upsets occurred, and this year has already seen unranked teams topple top-10 opponents.

This week features intriguing unranked-versus-top-10 matchups, notably:

• No. 4 Penn State at USC (3:30 p.m., CBS)
• Florida at No. 8 Tennessee (7 p.m., ESPN)
• No. 10 Clemson at Wake Forest (noon, ESPN)
• South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama (noon, ABC/ESPN+)

Week 7 Chaos Superfecta

Using SP+ win probabilities, we aim to predict chaos! This week’s high-stakes games include Alabama, Clemson, Tennessee, and Penn State. There’s a 40% chance not all of these teams will win, setting the stage for potential upsets.

Week 7 Playlist

Keep an eye on these games for added excitement this weekend:

• Friday Evening: Northwestern at Maryland (8 p.m., Fox)
• Early Saturday: Washington at Iowa (noon, Fox)

Enjoy the weekend of football!