College Football Week 7 Roundtable

Photo: George Walker, USA Today Sports

Separation Saturday has arrived. This week is full of games that will reverberate to conference championship week. Week 6 saw some great matchups, highlighted by Alabama surviving an upset bid from Texas A&M 24-20. Undefeated matchups fill the slate: #10 Penn St travels to #5 Michigan, #3 Alabama visits #6 Tennessee, and #13 TCU hosts #8 Oklahoma St.

The Footballguys staff is here to get you ready for Week 7. Games to watch, players to keep an eye on, and as a bonus, darkhorse teams are shaping up to challenge for their championship game.

What Game Are You Watching?

No. 10 Penn St at No. 5 Michigan

Jason Wood - This is probably the chalk answer, but how can we not be excited by a matchup of top-10 teams in No. 10 Penn State heading to No. 5 Michigan? It's been a long time since both storied franchises were this highly ranked in a face-off, and whoever comes out victorious will be one step closer to a potential playoff berth, although Ohio State will have a lot to say about that later this season. Both Michigan and Penn State are undefeated and field top-10 defenses, according to SP+ rankings. But Michigan should handle their business, given home-field advantage and a much better offense. The Wolverines' offense ranks 8th in SP+, while the Nittany Lions are a mediocre 46th.

Kyle Bellefeuil - This weekend is loaded with exciting games. The one that has my eye is No. 10 Penn State against No. 5 Michigan at the Big House. This is a battle between unbeaten teams featuring stout defenses and strong rushing attacks on offense. However, Michigan has more juice in the passing game. Starting fast and getting in sync early will be key for Michigan’s offense which had to turn it on in the second half last week. Penn State is coming off a bye and will be looking to play spoiler in Ann Arbor on Saturday. This game has major Big Ten implications, and it is easily each team’s toughest test to date.

Matt Bitonti - All that they'll pipe through the stream. I'm a sampler who likes to browse. But certainly, Penn State at Michigan tops the menu. The Michigan fight song and a couple of others (Notre Dame's song, Wisconsin doing "Jump Around") collectively are the soundtracks to college football. Come January, it's unlikely these Big-10 squads will be at the level of playoff teams (like Alabama or Clemson), but that doesn't mean we can't have fun now. There's a ton of NFL talent on both rosters, and "The Big House" will be rocking. For trivia buffs, it's the largest stadium in the USA and the Western Hemisphere and the third largest in the world.

Kevin Coleman - The best game of the weekend is #10 Penn State heading to Ann Arbor to take on #5 Michigan. Both these teams are coming into this game undefeated, and Penn State has revenge on its mind after losing a heartbreaker last season in a game they controlled. Michigan has one of the best rushing offenses in the country, led by junior running back Blake Corum, while Penn State has one of the best rushing defenses in the country. This will be a battle of juggernauts on the line of scrimmage, testing Michigan’s offensive line against Penn State’s defensive line. This game will most likely come down to the two quarterbacks playing in this game. For Michigan, can J.J. McCarthy open up this offense and win them a game? For Penn State, can Sean Clifford limit his mistakes? This will be one of the best college football games we have seen this season.

No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah

Jonathan Morris - There are so many good ones to choose from this week. Penn State-Michigan, Alabama-Tennessee, Oklahoma State-TCU, Clemson-Florida State, and the one that I’ll be locked in on is USC-Utah. No wrong choice in any of the above matchups, but Utah is coming off a tough loss to UCLA but can still find themselves in a favorable spot in the Pac-12 with a win over USC. This will be USC’s first true test, and it will be on the road, where they are currently a field goal underdog. If USC can win this one, their schedule sets up well for them to get to 10-0 before facing UCLA. It is a must-win for their playoff hopes to stay alive. Utah, despite already dropping two games this year, can still control its own destiny in getting to the Pac-12 championship and finding its way back to the Rose Bowl for a second consecutive year.

No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee

Dan Hindery - This is probably the best weekend of matchups so far this season, with a handful that I definitely want to check out (Penn State-Michigan, Alabama-Tennessee, Oklahoma State-TCU, Clemson-Florida State, and USC-Utah). While it is easy to make a case for any of these five, the Alabama and Tennessee matchup stands out as the most intriguing. This run of strong play from the Volunteers was easy to see coming and has established the team as a top playoff contender. To make the final four, Tennessee likely needs to take down either Georgia or Alabama. Playing at home with Bryce Young banged up gives Tennessee a real shot to pull the upset on Saturday.

Christian Williams - The Week 7 slate is among the best of the season, and many games are worth watching. Still, the top-six matchup between #3 Alabama and #6 Tennessee is the game with more intrigue than all. Following a near-loss to Texas A&M, Alabama must travel to Knoxville to face one of the best offenses in the nation, led by Hendon Hooker. Bryce Young's return could be the difference in the game because redshirt freshman Jalen Milroe had costly ball security issues in his first meaningful playing time. The X-factor matchups will be the Tennessee wideouts versus the Alabama secondary. The Volunteers average 547 yards of passing offense per game, and while Alabama's raw pass offense against total is low, the cornerbacks are susceptible to big plays. This game has massive playoff implications, and the winner will set themselves up nicely for a berth.

What Player Are You Watching?

RB Blake Corum, Michigan

Jason Wood - Blake Corum's star continues to rise, but he'll be tested against the Penn State defense. If the workhorse tailback can put up big numbers this week, he'll cement his growing reputation as one of college's best. But many scouts remain skeptical of Corum's NFL potential, and if he struggles this week in a key matchup of unbeatens, it could push him down as a "system" guy. No single game should shape a player's future, but Corum literally has millions of dollars on the line this weekend.

Bob Henry - Blake Corum is indeed an intriguing prospect. He definitely fits the system. No doubt that helps him. However, I've seen a number of plays where he has broken a linebacker or safety's ankles, froze a defender, or made tacklers miss for me to think he's not defined purely by the system. Corum's compact, sudden, but explosive, quick and has the ability to have an impact on all three downs.

In Michigan's offense, Corum is underutilized in the passing game because Donovan Edwards is next-level good in that area. He could start as a slot wide receiver on a number of Top 20 programs.

Some of what drives the narrative that Corum is a system player is that Harbaugh and staff keep the playbook really conservative against the teams they've played. We don't get to see a lot of the skills/potential in a more creative offense, but that's where the big reveal is for a game like Penn State, even Michigan State, and Ohio State. They'll have to open it up.

QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee

Jonathan Morris - I’ll be locking in on Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. He is shooting up NFL Draft boards and will face the daunting defense of Alabama this week, a group that usually exposes offenses. Hooker has thrown 239 straight passes without an interception, I’m excited to see if Alabama can force him into some turnovers or if Hooker will be poised and composed to knock off Alabama.

Kevin Coleman - No player has more pressure on them this weekend than Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker. The fifth-year quarterback has led Tennessee to an undefeated record and gets to play Alabama at home in Neyland Stadium. These are the types of games that make or break players’ legacies. Hooker has been phenomenal this season, throwing for 1,432 yards and ten touchdowns while also rushing for 231 yards. If Tennessee can win this game, it would be one of the biggest wins the program has had this century and could mark a turning point in this Volunteer football program.

QB Caleb Williams, USC

Dan Hindery - I want to see USC quarterback Caleb Williams and how he handles the pressure of what should be a very hostile road crowd playing at Utah. Williams is the early leader to be the top overall pick in 2024, and his athleticism and arm talent are obvious to see. The only thing he has to prove is that he has the poise and intangibles to play his best on the biggest stages. This is a game that could go a long way toward determining the Pac-12 Champion and a huge early proving ground for Williams.

LB Junior Colson, Michigan

Kyle Bellefeuil - I’ll be keeping a close eye on Michigan linebacker Junior Colson. A true sophomore, Colson is a young player who is vital to the success of Michigan’s defense. Colson compiled 60 tackles (38 solos) as a true freshman in 2021, and his 44 tackles (19 solos) are a team-high through six games this season. Along with Michigan’s defensive front, Colson will be key to slowing down Penn State’s talented running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Colson projects as a top linebacker prospect for the 2024 class, and I’m eager to see if he can step up in a big game this weekend.

WR Jordan Addison, USC

Christian Williams - Wide receiver Jordan Addison from USC is the player with the most intrigue this week. Addison gets the toughest matchup of his 2022 season, facing off primarily against Clark Phillips, the Utah cornerback who projects as a fellow first-round pick. Phillips leads the nation in interceptions and has incredible ball skills. Addison having a statement game against a guy who will undoubtedly play on Sundays would be massive for his draft stock, especially following Quentin Johnston's breakout performance in Week 6. With the lack of clarity at the top of the wide receiver class, Addison has a great opportunity this weekend against Utah.

OT Olmuyiwa Fashanu, Penn St.

Matt Bitonti - In a year that supposedly lacked high first-round tackle prospects, #74 Penn State redshirt sophomore tackle Olmuyiwa Fashanu has, in a matter of weeks, soared up the mock drafts to become consensus OT1. He measures 6-foot-6 and 308 pounds, and scouts love his footwork and technical ability in pass protection. At 19 years old, 20 by the draft, his youth is a huge plus. This weekend will be a huge test for this young man, given Michigan's collection of weight-room freaks. Depending on how Fashanu plays, his performance could be worth millions.

What dark horse has a path to their conference title game?

Texas / Tulane

Jason Wood - I know you asked for one, but I'll give you two on polar ends of the spectrum. The Texas Longhorns have one of the biggest fanbases in the country and are a storied program, so it seems specious to call them a dark horse. But the team's struggles in recent seasons and early-season losses to Alabama and Texas Tech have most thinking of the Longhorns as an also-ran. Yet, those two losses cloud what may be one of the nation's elite programs. Losing to Alabama in a squeaker is hardly problematic, and the close loss to Texas Tech came with star quarterback Quinn Ewers out. Ewers may be the nation's top quarterback and is absolutely one of the five best signal-callers. Texas ranks 5th in SP+ despite their two losses, with a 7th-ranked offense and 16th-ranked defense. Not only can they make their way to the Big 12 championship game, but I would also expect them to by winning out.

In case the Texas pick makes you groan, my other choice is Tulane. The Green Wave have an identical 5-1 record as the Cincinnati Bearcats, and both are 2-0 in the conference. Quarterback Michael Pratt missed the Houston game with a bum shoulder, and the Green Wave had to win with a walk-off play at the end. But Pratt returned this week and drubbed East Carolina with three touchdown passes. If Pratt stays healthy, Tulane could find itself facing off against the Bearcats in the Championship game.

TCU

Jonathan Morris - Like Jason, I am also very interested to see how the dominos will fall in the Big 12. Oklahoma State, TCU, Kansas State, Texas, and even Baylor all have legitimate shots to be in the top two of the conference when the season comes to an end. I’m most interested in TCU who was picked 7th in the preseason Big 12 poll but now sits with the second-best odds to win the Big 12 Championship. All these teams will be facing off against each other in a gauntlet over the next several weeks, and I think that TCU’s schedule might set up the best opportunity to get to the championship game. That obviously starts with a massive game Saturday as they host Oklahoma State.

A bonus pick that isn’t as flashy is the Big Ten West race. It looks like, for the first time since the Big Ten Championship game started in 2011, we will have a team that hasn’t been there before in Illinois, Purdue, or Minnesota. Per usual, they will be met with Ohio State or Michigan in a game that likely is a blowout, but regardless, it will be nice to see a new face coming out of the Big Ten West.

Kevin Coleman - My off-season team of destiny was the TCU Horned Frogs. As soon as they hired Sonny Dykes as their head coach, they instantly became one of my favorites to make a conference championship this season. His offense has not disappointed. They are averaging 46.6 points per game, and Dykes has made quarterback Max Duggan a legitimate NFL prospect again. With the emergence of running back Kendre Miller and the resurgence of Quentin Johnston, this offense has the firepower to win out in the Big 12. They have a massive test this weekend against Oklahoma State, but if they can win that game, they must be considered a favorite to reach the title game.

Purdue

Dan Hindery - Purdue has a great shot to emerge from the Big Ten West to make the title game. It may be a stretch to call anyone from the division a dark horse, given how wide open things are and the fact that Illinois is currently leading the way, but it would still be a great story for the Boilermakers to come out of nowhere and take the title. They are in a great position to do so. Their only conference loss was a close one in a crossover game against Penn State, and they already notched a huge road win over Minnesota, which is arguably the biggest competition for the division crown. Purdue does have tough road games at Wisconsin and Illinois but splitting those two and taking care of business in the four games they should be favored will put them in position to make it to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game.

Minnesota

Kyle Bellefeuil - As a few others have stated, the race in the Big Ten West for a spot in the title game is an intriguing one. I’m going to put my chip on Minnesota. Although they might not be a dark horse, they do have a tough upcoming pair of road games against Illinois and Penn State. The Gopher defense is tough, and it sounds like their offense will likely get star running back Mohamed Ibrahim back this week. Getting back-to-back crucial victories could set Minnesota up very well in their quest to reach the Big Ten title game.

Syracuse

Christian Williams - There are a few candidates here, but with UCLA on their bye week, the most exciting dark horse is Syracuse. The 5-0, 18th-ranked Orange have North Carolina State coming to town with a matchup against Clemson on the horizon. With Devin Leary likely out of this game, Syracuse has an opportunity to steal this game and head to Clemson as an undefeated, top-fifteen team. To accomplish that, Sean Tucker must be actively involved in the offense. Coming off a 232-yard performance on the ground against Wagner two weeks ago, Tucker will likely be the focal point, giving Syracuse an excellent chance to come out on top this weekend and continue contending for the ACC title.

North Carolina / UCLA

Matt Bitonti - I'll give you two. UNC has the edge in the ACC Coastal, and if they keep up their pace, it could set up a choice ACC championship game against Clemson. This might seem like a blowout on paper, but UNC's freshman class has been impressive. In the Pac-12, if #11 UCLA (who just beat #20 Utah) can knock off #7 USC in their annual rivalry game (which is at home this year), they could make it happen in the South.