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Happy Halloween! Nothing is spookier than hacked helmet comms …
Helmet Comms Flaw?
New equipment might need a fix
Let’s break down what’s going on with CFB’s new helmet communication and a potential flaw with it.
What happened? The new coach-to-player communication might not be as secure as we originally thought. The Athletic reported yesterday that Power 4 conferences notified their schools that their helmet communication equipment needed to be updated to address security concerns. It was discovered during the Texas A&M-Arkansas game last month that it was possible — although not easy — for the radio frequency of the helmet comm to be accessed with a scanner by someone not authorized. At the time, personnel from all P4 conferences were made aware, but ADs across multiple conferences told The Athletic that word hadn’t made it to them until this week.
What’s next? The SEC said in a statement yesterday that it hadn’t found any instances of communications being compromised. The Big 12 on Thursday announced the same thing. A Big Ten spokesperson said the league has not had any issues. So while P4 administrators were surprised at the findings, it’s unlikely this leads to any juicy cheating scandal or controversy.
Read more here.
Week 10 Schedule
Friday night lights
🚨 Before we get into the weekend’s schedule … we have a weird score alert. Sam Houston (7-2, 4-1 CUSA) beat Louisiana Tech (3-5, 2-3) on Tuesday 9-3 — the lowest scoring output in an FBS game this season. The Bearkats did it with a first-quarter safety and third-quarter TD. Should this result hold as the lowest-scoring game of the season, Sam Houston will be 2-for-2 in being involved in the lowest-scoring game of the year as an FBS member (the Bearkats’ 10-7 win over FIU was the lowest of 2023).
Now … on to Friday’s game to watch (all game times in ET):
Saturday Slate
Here’s the schedule of every ranked matchup on Saturday. You’ll notice that the schedule strategically did not take advantage of this weekend’s extra hour and has no marquee late games. As always, the darker the highlight = the higher the intrigue.
Early
Most important game: No. 4 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) at No. 3 Penn State (7-0, 4-0). Penn State hasn’t beaten Ohio State since 2016 as the Nittany Lions have been continuously defined by their inability to show up in big games. Yet ironically, Ohio State’s Ryan Day might be under more pressure to win this one. With a loss to Oregon already, the Buckeyes essentially would be knocked from Big Ten title contention if they don’t win. Even though their CFP potential would remain alive, Ohio State didn’t build this roster to slide by. Oh, and if you’re mad this game’s at noon, well that’s just the way CFB goes.
Most underrated game: Minnesota (3-2, 5-3 Big Ten) at No. 24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2). Bret Bielema’s squad remains in the Top 25 despite getting blown out by Oregon last week 38-9. After a result like that, I can see this weekend going one of two ways for the Illini: getting revenge and wreaking havoc on Minnesota or … spiraling. The Golden Gophers have won three straight, including an Oct. 5 contest against USC. Minnesota QB Max Brosmer has thrown 12 TDs and only four INTs this season, including a 4-to-0 ratio in a drubbing of Maryland last week. Bielema is 10-0 all-time against the Gophers, but Minnesota enters this one on a roll.
Afternoon
Most important game: Florida (4-3, 2-2 SEC) vs. No. 2 Georgia (6-1, 4-1). The Gators are in better shape than many expected them to be and have won three of their last four games. But now comes the real gauntlet: Georgia, at Texas, vs. LSU and vs. Ole Miss before a trip to Florida State to close the season. Billy Napier’s seat is still hot and could start burning if Florida is uncompetitive down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Dawgs, coming off a bye week, hope to get Trevor Etienne rolling against his former team.
Most underrated game: No. 12 Indiana (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) at Michigan State (4-4, 2-3). I’ll be honest, the afternoon window felt lacking in underrated games, so I’m slotting in America’s team here. The Hoosiers continue to legitimize themselves as real contenders. They should keep that up this week against a Spartans team that had a lot of life sucked out of it in losing to Michigan. It looks like Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke should be back from his thumb injury, too.
Night
Most important game: No. 18 Pitt (7-0, 3-0 ACC) at No. 20 SMU (7-1, 4-0). While Miami and Clemson have dominated most of the talk at the top of the ACC, Pitt and SMU have loomed in the shadows with undefeated conference slates. It’s time we start taking the Panthers more seriously after they picked off Syracuse QB Kyle McCord five times in a 41-13 win last week. A win here for Pat Narduzzi’s squad — assuming it holds off Virginia next week — would set up a defining moment against Clemson on Nov. 16.
Most underrated game: No. 10 Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC) at South Carolina (4-3, 2-3). There are a few underrated games in this window, so I picked the one I see the most upset potential in. The Aggies took sole possession of first place in the SEC with a win against LSU, but they’ll have to move on from that emotion quickly for a road game in Columbia. Texas A&M’s switch to Marcel Reed at QB sparked the offense last week, but the Gamecocks defense (fourth in the SEC in yards allowed) will be a tough test. The SEC has given us some of the season’s best upsets. Why not continue that this weekend?
Check out the complete Week 10 schedule.
Need tickets? Go here. Stream the games on Fubo for free.
Quick Snaps
The first Playoff rankings reveal is just days away. Participate in The Athletic’s college football bracket challenge here.
Penn State needed to nail its offensive coordinator hire last offseason to capitalize on its potential. So, James Franklin turned to Andy Kotelnicki to snag the most creative mind in the sport.
Oregon’s last visit to Michigan marked the informal launch of the Ducks’ national power potential. Now, No. 1 Oregon makes its way back to the Big House with that status secured.
For Week 10 picks, listen to the “Until Saturday” podcast.
You can buy tickets to every college football game here.
For streaming info on Fubo, click here.
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(Top photo: Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)
