College Football, Week 13: Games and players to watch

Good morning and happy Saturday New York Giants fans!

Even though we’re getting ready to start the second part of the Giants’ season, and it feels as though the college season only just started, there are only a couple weeks left. There is no margin for error remaining for top teams as they strive to be one of the four best teams in the country and earn a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

We are also getting down to the big rivalry and divisional games, which means we are getting to the games scouts will put on first when getting ready to make their final grades over the coming winter and spring. It just so happens that we will get one of those games to start off our day.

Penn State (9) at Ohio State (2)

Fox - Noon

It’s rare that the day’s marquee game is one of the first of the weekend. But that is exactly what we get in the B1G showdown between Penn State and Ohio State. Not only could a spot in the College Football Playoffs be on the line in this game, but this will be go-to tape for a number of prospects as teams prepare for the 2020 NFL Draft.

Players To Watch

Penn State

• Yetur Gross-Matos (EDGE)
• Cam Brown (ILB)
• K.J. Hamler (WR)

Ohio State

• Jeffery Okudah (CB)
• Shaun Wade (CB) *red-shirt sophomore
• Damon Arnette (CB)
• Malik Harrison (LB)
• J.K. Dobbins (RB)
• K.J Hill (WR)

Texas at Baylor (13)

Fox Sports 1 - 3:30 p.m.

While there are players to watch on both sides today, perhaps the biggest question will be whether or not Baylor head coach Matt Rhule will be in the NFL next year.

Rhule interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching position last year and his name is already being tossed around as a popular candidate. He has a very good reputation after helping to build Temple and then rebuilding Baylor’s program and reputation over the last two years.

Coaching questions aside — they aren’t draftable — there are several players to whom we should be paying attention in this game.

Players To Watch

Texas

• Collin Johnson (WR)
• Devin Duvernay (WR)
• Zach Shackelford (iOL)
• Brandon Jones (S)
• Justin Madubuike (iDL)

Baylor

• Denzel Mims (WR)
• Blake Lynch (LB/S)
• Sam Tecklenberg (OG)

Oregon (6) at Arizona State

ABC - 7:30 p.m.

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert has likely become the de-facto QB-2 with Tua Tagovailoa done for the year with a scary hip injury. Herbert is inconsistent with a passer, but it won’t take much for an NFL team to fall in love with his size (6-foot-6, 235 pounds), arm strength, and mobility — nor the character that lead him to pass up the chance to be a top-10 pick in the 2019 NFL draft because he wanted to play for Oregon with his little brother.

Keep an eye on Arizona State receiver Brandon Aiyuk. A former JuCo transfer, Aiyuk is emerging as a playmaker and is a good candidate to jump up draft boards over the winter. He might not have elite speed, but there is a “Cruz-esque” element to his game where he is able to create separation then explode to rack up yards after the catch.

Oregon should win as they hold out hope that one of the top four teams stumble, but this should also be a fun game.

Players To Watch

Oregon

• Justin Herbert (QB)
• Jake Hanson (OC)
• Calvin Throckmorton (OT)
• Dallas Warmack (OG)
• Shane Lemieux (OG)
• Juwan Johnson (WR)
• Troy Dye (LB)
• Jordon Scott (DT)

Arizona State

• Brandon Aiyuk (WR)
• Eno Benjamin (RB)
• Cohl Cabral (OL)