Another chaotic college football saturday on deck

The GIST: No Top-25 matchups tomorrow? No problem — that means more potential upsets. In spite of NIL naysayers’ predictions, ratings and parity are at an all-time high, so steel yourself for another chaotic Saturday.

No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers (2-0) vs. Florida Gators (1-1), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN): In the season’s first two weeks, the SEC — historically, college football’s powerhouse conference — has looked…kind of terrible? All eyes will be on the season’s first all–SEC matchup to see if Florida can fight or if Tennessee will rule the Gators in the Swamp.

Pittsburgh Panthers (1-1) vs. West Virginia Mountaineers (1-1), 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC): Is either team a likely CFP contender? No. But is the Backyard Brawl still going to be fun as hell? Absolutely. This regional rivalry’s the stuff of legend, and last year’s instant classic had the Panthers on top. Let’s take this out back, eh?

Wyoming Cowboys (2-0) vs. No. 4 Texas Longhorns (2-0), 8 p.m. ET (Longhorn Network): Texas, aka football’s hottest team, jumped seven poll spots with last week’s monumental win over No. 10 Alabama. But who’s better at wrangling Longhorns than Cowboys (who’ve already proven they can topple Texans this season)? Giddy up!

Colorado State Rams (0-1) vs. No. 18 Colorado Buffaloes (2-0), 10 p.m. ET (ESPN): Grab your hat and glasses because this intrastate battle just became personal for the highly favored Buffs, who’ll face a Rams roster that includes a sumo wrestler, a Strongman champion, a trailblazing openly gay defensive end, and a 31-year-old kicker with three kids in tow.