College football schedule, 2024 games: What to watch in Week 7, TV channels, Saturday kickoff times

A blockbuster weekend of college football action awaits, with several high-profile games between top-tier teams. The loaded slate is highlighted by a Big Ten showcase game between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon during the evening window. While this clash of the titans is sure to attract a lot of attention, there’s plenty more action in store for viewers throughout the day.

No. 7 Alabama battles South Carolina in one of the most exciting games of the early window as the Crimson Tide look to rebound from a stunning loss to Vanderbilt. It should be fascinating to see how Alabama – and its fans – react to the program’s first loss under first-year coach Kalen DeBoer.

The afternoon wave includes the SEC’s first-ever edition of the Red River Rivalry, where No. 1 Texas faces No. 18 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. At the same time, CBS will televise No. 4 Penn State’s league showdown at USC. The Nittany Lions have an opportunity to make a national statement against a Trojans team that desperately needs a Big Ten win.

In addition to the top-five matchup between the Buckeyes and Ducks, the evening’s schedule features No. 9 Ole Miss traveling to Death Valley to face No. 13 LSU in a game with significant collegiate implications -Football playoffs for both teams. Those in need of a nightcap can watch No. 18 Kansas State take on Deion Sanders and Colorado in a game with the Big 12 title on the line.

Once the action begins in Week 7, here’s a viewer’s guide to help you navigate all of Saturday’s games.

Always east

The best games

South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama – Noon on ABC, fuboTV (Try it free): Both South Carolina and Alabama are coming off disastrous games in Week 6. The Gamecocks failed to score a touchdown in their 27-3 home loss to Ole Miss, while Alabama suffered a historic upset at Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide are back at home and should be off to a flying start, but Shane Beamer’s team has a history of winning as underdogs. Can Alabama reassert itself as a national title contender with a dominant performance, or will it find itself in a dogfight that reinforces the concerns raised last week?

No. 1 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma – starting at 3:30 p.m ABC, fuboTV (Try it free): Oklahoma defeated Texas in the Red River Rivalry last season, handing the Longhorns their only loss before the College Football Playoff. It would be even more shocking if the Sooners do it this season, with true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins getting his first taste of one of the sport’s premier rivalries. The Longhorns are heavy favorites with quarterback Quinn Ewers returning from injury, but this series is prone to wild twists.

No. 4 Penn State at USC – 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free), Paramount+ with Showtime Penn State coach James Franklin lamented the difficulty of traveling from Central Pennsylvania to Los Angeles this week, and with good reason. Big Ten teams that travel two or more time zones away for games are just 1-7 this season. If the Nittany Lions want to establish themselves as Big Ten title contenders, they will have to overcome their jet lag against a USC team that is likely still upset about the controversial ending to last week’s 24-17 loss at Minnesota.

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU – 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (Try it free): LSU’s final two weeks included a bye and a relatively stress-free win over South Alabama. Therefore, the Tigers should be rested and do their best defensively against an Ole Miss squad coming off two physical SEC battles. The game also takes place within the hostile confines of Tiger Stadium, which is notoriously a difficult nighttime venue for opponents. If Ole Miss can find a way to escape with a win, the Rebels will head into the bye week feeling good.

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon – 7:30 p.m. on NBC, fuboTV (Try it free): Both teams are 5-0 with Big Ten and national title aspirations, but neither has been tested in any significant way. Ohio State took down everyone in its path without much issue. Oregon hasn’t been quite as dominant, but still has the makings of a potentially great team. Plus, the Ducks are at home and should have an electric home-field advantage. The winner has a good chance of being in first place on Sunday.

No. 18 Kansas State at Colorado – 10:15 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (Try it free): This game pits skilled Kansas State coach Chris Klieman against flashy, sizzling second-year Colorado coach Deion Sanders. The Wildcats prefer to run the football while the Buffaloes want to broadcast it. It’s an extremely intriguing clash of styles that also has significant implications for the Big 12 title. It’s worth staying up late to see.

The best of the rest

• No. 10 Clemson at Wake Forest – Noon on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
• No. 21 Missouri at UMass – Noon on ESPN2, fuboTV (try free)
• UAB at Army – Noon on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
• California at No. 22 Pitt – 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free)
• Purdue in No. 23 Illinois – 3:30 p.m. on FS1, fuboTV (try for free)
• Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame – 3:30 p.m. on NBC, fuboTV (try for free)
• San Diego State at Wyoming – 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free)
• Arizona at No. 14 BYU – 4 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (try for free)
• Mississippi State at No. 5 Georgia – 4:15 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
• Florida at No. 8 Tennessee – 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
• Oregon State at Nevada – 7:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free)
• No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia – 8 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (try free)
• No. 17 Boise State at Hawaii – 11 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)