Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s Heisman frontrunner, is on the verge of making Big Ten history this Saturday, needing just one more touchdown catch to tie the conference’s career receiving touchdowns record. The guy has 38 career TD catches already, which is just insane, but guess who has surprisingly kept him out of the end zone in their two previous meetings? None other than No. 5 Indiana, the team he faces again this weekend in Bloomington.
Smith’s Big Ten Record Chase Hits a Familiar Wall in Bloomington
Talk about a specific challenge for Smith, right? He broke a similar slump earlier this season against Texas, dropping 164 yards on them in a Week 2 loss after they’d also held him in check twice. No other team has stopped him more than once, so this Indiana drought is definitely a standout. And get this, the Hoosiers are walking into this game as slight underdogs despite winning 22 straight games and rocking a perfect 19-0 home record under coach Curt Cignetti. That’s a ridiculous run for them! Our experts are still leaning Ohio State by 3.5 points, though, betting on Ohio State hitting enough big plays with Smith to finally get some breathing room late, especially with Indiana’s passing defense looking a little thin without D’Angelo Ponds in the secondary this time around. This game could totally be a preview of the Big Ten Championship, too.
Chaos Across the Country as Top 15 Teams Clash
But hey, Week 7 isn’t just about Ohio State and Indiana. This weekend is absolutely loaded. It’s the first time since 2018 we’ve got four matchups between AP Top 15 teams all on the same Saturday! Over in the SEC, No. 6 Alabama is heading to Knoxville to face No. 14 Tennessee. Bama’s coming off a loss to No. 1 Georgia, and Nick Saban’s squad hasn’t dropped back-to-back regular season games since 2007, which was his first year there. That’s a 220-game streak, folks! The ‘Third Saturday in October’ rivalry has also seen the home team win the last five games. Tennessee’s got its own drama, with George MacIntyre stepping in at QB because freshman Faizon Brandon is injured. Then you’ve got another monster SEC showdown as Austin Simmons returns to No. 9 Ole Miss with No. 13 Missouri. Simmons started for Ole Miss last year before an ankle injury sidelined him, letting Trinidad Chambliss take over. Now he’s back with a different squad for a gigantic reunion.
And don’t even get me started on Provo at night! No. 8 BYU is hosting No. 2 Notre Dame in what could be one of the biggest games in Cougars history. Notre Dame has been on a tear, winning 16 straight games by double digits. But here’s the kicker: they’ve lost seven consecutive road games against AP Top 10 teams. BYU, on the other hand, hasn’t beaten a top-two team since Ty Detmer pulled off that stunner against Miami way back in 1990. Can they break that drought at home? This whole season has been wild, right? Just last week Texas was sitting at No. 1, and Florida was in the top 10 two weeks ago. Things change so fast in college football, and nothing is ever truly safe. Our experts have weighed in, and it’s gonna be a must-watch weekend.
So get ready, because Week 7 is absolutely packed with potential upsets, record-breaking moments, and huge shifts in the national title picture. With so many top-15 teams squaring off, you know there’s gonna be some serious drama unfold that could shake up the rankings big time. Don’t miss a second of it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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