It’s the calm before the storm in college football. This week is top-heavy as the SEC enjoys SoCon Saturday, and teams prepare for next week’s massive rivalry weekend. 

But there’s still some intrigue, especially in a major Pac-12 clash, some American drama, and some things still to shake out in the Big 12. 

Plus we can still make Michigan jokes. The Michigan sign stealing scandal is like, the perfect scandal. Firstly, no one got actually hurt — there was no evil here, like Baylor, Penn State, etc. Secondly, it almost certainly did not have any real effect on football game results or careers, unlike say the Astros or Tim Donaghy, etc. Thirdly, Jim Harbaugh is a character. Fourthly, Connor Stalions himself is a walking punchline. I hope whatever private investigator Ohio State is secretly funding releases a new detail every week for like the next two years. It’s great.

Below, I’ve listed the nationally-televised games, sorted by viewing window for you to keep track. All times are Eastern, because, well, duh. 

Let’s map it out for Week 12!

Friday:

South Florida at UTSA – 9 PM on ESPN2

Colorado at Washington State – 10:30 PM on FS1

Saturday Noon:

Coastal Carolina at Army – 12 PM on CBS Sports Network

The Chanticleers have won three straight games without star quarterback Grayson McCall; typically, his injuries have been a death knell for the team. They are poised to benefit the most from James Madison’s postseason ineligibility, as they are the favorites to represent the East Division in the Sun Belt title game.

East Carolina at Navy – 12 PM on ESPN News

Harvard at Yale – 12 PM on ESPNU

UL-Monroe at Ole Miss – 12 PM on SECN

Louisville at Miami (FL) – 12 PM on ABC

The Cardinals are pulling off a magic trick season, with Houdini-like escapes in one-score-games every week. They face a Miami program that is turning back to Tyler Van Dyke after benching him.

Michigan at Maryland – 12 PM on Fox

Last season the Terps put a scare into Michigan, but these Wolverines are stronger than last year’s vintage and Maryland seems to have regressed a few notches. Despite a look-ahead spot to Ohio State next week for Michigan, there should be no shortage of motivation for the Wolverines as they play for the honor of recently departed head coach Jim Harbaugh. RIP Jim, may his memory be a blessing.

Michigan State at Indiana OR Purdue at Northwestern – 12 PM on BTN

These are the Traditional Unwatchable Big Ten Network Noon Games of the Week.

Oklahoma at BYU – 12 PM on ESPN

Rutgers at Penn State – 12 PM on FS1

SMU at Memphis – 12 PM on ESPN2

SMU can clinch a spot in the American title game with a win, and Memphis can force a three-way tie for second if it wins. This one promises to be fast and pointsy — worth a spot in your quad box. 

Saturday Midday:

Utah at Arizona – 2:30 PM on Pac-12 Network

Duke at Virginia – 3 PM on The CW

Bethune Cookman at Florida A&M – 3:30 PM on ESPNU

Georgia at Tennessee – 3:30 PM on CBS

Which scene of 2022 will we see repeated on Saturday: Georgia absolutely whipping an overmatched Tennessee offense, or Tennessee’s crowd coming alive and carrying the team to an iconic win?

Illinois at Iowa – 3:30 PM on FS1

The Traditional Unwatchable Big Ten Network Noon Game of the Week continues in the midday slot, with an encore on FS1. 

Louisiana at Troy – 3:30 PM on NFL Network

NC State at Virginia Tech – 3:30 PM on ACCN

North Carolina at Clemson – 3:30 PM on ESPN

UCLA at USC – 3:30 PM on ABC

UNLV at Air Force – 3:30 PM on CBS Sports Network

Channeling my inner John Lakeman here to say that UNLV might make the conference title game, which is pretty cool, and Brennan Marion’s go-go offense is pretty cool. 

Wake Forest at Notre Dame – 3:30 PM on NBC

I don’t know why all season and offseason I never really contemplated that Wake Forest might be on Notre Dame’s schedule, making for an awkward reunion with Sam Hartman. 

Minnesota at Ohio State – 4 PM on BTN

New Mexico State at Auburn – 4 PM on SECN

Hugh Freeze might have nightmares about Diego Pavia from his time at Liberty; the New Mexico State quarterback scored six touchdowns last year as his Aggies defeated Freeze’s Flames. Freeze must have been crestfallen to see NMSU on this year’s schedule, although at least he now has an SEC roster to back him up. 

Oklahoma State at Houston – 4 PM on ESPN2

Oregon at Arizona State – 4 PM on Fox

Saturday Purgatory:

UCF at Texas Tech – 5 PM on FS2

Saturday Prime Time:

Cal at Stanford – 6:30 PM on Pac-12 Network

North Alabama at Florida State – 6:30 PM on The CW

Boise State at Utah State – 7 PM on CBS Sports Network

Kansas State at Kansas – 7 PM on FS1

This is the Petros Papadakis Game.

FIU at Arkansas – 7:30 PM on ESPNU

Florida at Missouri – 7:30 PM on ESPN

Missouri, the official team of MOYCFW, has a chance to win 10 regular season games this year, if the Tigers hold serve in their next two in which they are heavily favored. That’s wild. The hire of Kirby Moore as offensive coordinator has been a home run for the program, as Eli Drinkwitz has pivoted from an ineffective run as head-coach-as-coordinator to a tremendous job as program CEO. The breakout star has been former Division II transfer Cody Schrader, whose record-setting performance against Tennessee last week has drawn all kinds of attention. And don’t forget about a quality defense and star wide receiver Luther Burden III, who is all that and a bag of chips. 

Kentucky at South Carolina – 7:30 PM on SECN

Nebraska at Wisconsin – 7:30 PM on NBC

Let’s make it a triple-header, shall we!? The Traditional Unwatchable Big Ten Network Noon Game of the Week in primetime on over-the-air, rabbit ears television. 

Washington at Oregon State – 7:30 PM on ABC

Oregon State is second in the country in rushing success rate, and Washington is bottom five in that metric. Yes, the Huskies can and will sling it around, but the Beavers are ready to gnaw through this plywood Washington defense. 

Georgia State at LSU – 8 PM on ESPN2

Not many chances left to watch Jayden Daniels play college football. Make sure to tune in to one of the most spectacular talents of recent years. 

Syracuse at Georgia Tech – 8 PM on ACCN

Texas at Iowa State – 8 PM on Fox

Saturday Late Night:

New Mexico at Fresno State – 10:30 PM on FS1

San Diego State at San José State – 10:30 PM on CBS Sports Network