College Football: 5 Games to Watch This Weekend

OK, every weekend there are over 35 college football games that you can watch on television and even more if you factor in broadband. My goal each week is to give football fans a look at five games that are worthy of your time and consideration.

I will focus on games that are on national television or can be accessed by all fans via broadband. This way each week of the college football season fans can come here and find games worthy of their time.

College football Saturdays are very special and we do not want to waste a moment.

So this week the focus really moves to games being played in the Big 12, Big Ten and Pac 12. No game in the SEC, ACC or Big East really makes the list.

So without any further ado, let's look at the five games you should be watching come Saturday.

Saturday night in prime-time 8 p.m. ET on ABC

A month ago this figured to be a battle of the two best teams in the of Big Ten. Now it is a battle to remain worthy of the Top 25. Both Wisconsin and Nebraska have been less than stellar thus far this season.

Many recall that last year the Cornhuskers got a rude introduction to the Big Ten as Montee Ball rushed for 151 yards and four touchdowns in the Badgers' win.

Ball says he will play despite leaving last week’s game against UTEP with a concussion. We will see if he does, but this is a key game of survivor so early in the Big Ten season. 

So while both teams have yet to hit their stride, this game is well worth watching. 

Saturday night 10 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Network.  

Most fans at the start of the season knew that Oregon was going to be a force this year but Oregon State was a surprise.

With upsets over top-20 teams Wisconsin and UCLA, Oregon State deserves its ranking.

However, even with those big early-season wins there remains some doubt about the legitimacy of a team that went 3-9 a year ago.

Meanwhile, Arizona is 3-1 and always plays well at home. This will be a duel between quarterbacks who rank first (Sean Mannion of Oregon State) and second (Matt Scott of Arizona) in the Pac-12 in passing yards a game. 

If you like wide open offense, then this will be worth staying up late to see.  

Saturday night 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX

Texas at Oklahoma State is a marquee matchup but things in Austin have been tough over the past few years. 

After playing Alabama in the 2009 BCS title game, the Longhorns suffered two subpar seasons, going 6-11 in the Big 12, including a pair of decisive losses to the Cowboys in Austin. 

But Texas (3-0) is on the rebound behind sophomore quarterback David Ash,who has yet to throw a pick and ranks third nationally in passing efficiency.

Oklahoma State remains a team worthy of respect so we will see if Texas can stay undefeated.  

Saturday noon ET on FX

Baylor welcomes West Virginia to the Big 12 as the Mountaineers (3-0) play their first ever conference game in Morgantown.

This could be a potential shootout against the Bears who also are 3-0.

While West Virginia averages 47.3 points per game and ranks third in the nation in passing (370 ypg) behind Geno Smith, Baylor averages 51.3 points and 362 passing yards behind Nick Florence.  

If this game were in prime-time it might be the best game of the weekend. Who knows, a lunchtime battle in Morgantown might still turnout to be the most entertaining of the bunch. 

Saturday afternoon 3:30 p.m. on ABC 

In the embattled Big Ten, the best news as the top two teams in the conference meet is that...well, one has to win.

All the wins for Ohio State (4-0) have come at home and none in impressive fashion, although sophomore dual-threat quarterback Braxton Miller has emerged as a TimTebow-style Heisman candidate under Urban Meyer. 

Meanwhile Michigan State comes into the game after losing at home to Notre Dame last week and looking bad in the process.   

That said, the reason this is the top game to watch is because Michigan State would love nothing better than to hand Urban Meyer his first loss as the head coach of the Buckeyes.

This should be a good one to watch with State doing all they can to beat the Buckeyes.