Yahoo - 2014 season preview: Five games to watch in week 8 (Dr. Saturday)

[Jenni Carlson]

The college football offseason is long and arduous, but its end is almost in sight. We’re going to take a look at five games you have to look forward to for every weekend of the season. (This is also a handy guide to decide how to RSVP for any autumn weddings.) All times are Eastern and all games are played on Saturday unless otherwise noted. These games take place the weekend of October 18. Previously: Week One (August 30) ~ Week Two (September 6) ~ Week Three (September 13) ~ Week Four (September 20) ~ Week Five (September 27) ~ Week Six (October 4) ~ Week Seven (October 11) Notre Dame at Florida State (TBD) Should Notre Dame make it into this game with a respectable record (possible but not easy with games against Michigan, Stanford and North Carolina), you can bet a decent amount “College GameDay” will be bringing the show to Tallahassee. Why? Because the very first “GameDay” road show was in South Bend for Noles/Irish in 1993, and they were there in 2002 when FSU hosted ND. Although there is likely no way to stop Jameis Winston, the Irish may have a weapon capable of at least slowing him down in linebacker Jaylon Smith. Smith, a five-star sophomore gaining some preseason All-American accolades, is comfortable attacking or dropping back into space to make plays like this . He’ll need to play like a superstar if the Irish hope to slow down Winston, who gets four offensive line starters back in addition to his leading receiver and top tight end Nick O’ Leary. Jimbo Fisher’s squad will likely be riding a 22-game winning streak into this game. Kansas State at Oklahoma (TBD) Last time these two met in Norman was in 2012, when the 16-point underdog Wildcats stunned the sixth-ranked Sooners 24-19 on their way to the Big 12 title. Oklahoma gained a measure of revenge last year (41-31 in Manhattan), but did so behind 200 yards on the ground from running back Brennan Clay, who is projected to make the Denver Broncos roster this fall. Replacing Clay will likely be sophomore Keith Ford , a top-fifty recruit from Texas who averaged 5.8 yards per carry on only 23 carries last year. (Sophomore Alex Ross, another four-star option, will also likely see plenty of touches.) Kansas State only returns 11 starters but Bill Snyder has his usual assortment of JUCO transfers coming in to backfill the roster, including big Terrell Clinkscales , a four-star defensive tackle from Dodge City Community College.

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