College football viewing guide Week 9: RANKED ROAD TRIP MADNESS

A full 14 ranked teams play away this week, three of which are facing off against other ranked opponents. If Week 9 feels like the first ranked road trip test weekend of the season, that’s because it is.

Now that we all know what every FBS program’s head coach is earning this year, every matchup from here on out this season becomes a hilarious, if pointless, showdown of WHO’S EARNING THAT CHECK BETTER. Charlie Strong, for instance, is very probably coaching for his job Saturday as he welcomes No. 8 Baylor into Austin (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC and live streaming at WatchESPN) for one last attempt to convince Longhorn nation that he’s definitely worth his $5.2 million. Now read that sentence with a straight face.

Here’s what else we’re paying attention to while not paying attention to Auburn-Ole Miss. As ever, head on over to Jason Kirk’s watchability grid for the full weekend’s viewing advice.

Early Saturday games

No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State

11 a.m. CT, ESPN (live streaming at WatchESPN)

There are two reasons to keep this on in the background: (1) Last year’s installment in Ann Arbor ended on the second craziest play of the season (behind 4th-and-25, of course) and pushed Sparty past the Wolverines in dramatic fashion; (2) assuming something like that doesn’t happen again, a very, very, very angry Jim Harbaugh certainly has it in him to dump 85 points on Mark Dantonio’s club and thereby single-handedly vaporize Dantanio from B1G coaching forever.

Saturday afternoon games

No. 4 Washington at No. 17 Utah

2:30 p.m. CT, FS1 (live streaming at FOX Sports Go)

BIG TIME TEST for the CFP-hopeful Huskies on the road against a nifty Utah squad that’s playing spectacular football right now. College Gameday will be in the house, and there’s a high likelihood that this one comes all the way down to the wire. Taking Utah +10.5 in this game feels like free money.

No. 14 Florida “at” Georgia

2:30 p.m. CT, CBS (live streaming at CBS Sports)

If it’s Halloween weekend you can bet your ass that these two teams will be doing whatever it is they do in Jacksonville every damn year. Or, you could just head on down to Gainesville and catch THE FEST, since all of the students are out of town for a few days and Hot Water Music threatens a reunion show every year that never materializes. Whatever, somebody will definitely win this game.

Miami at Notre Dame

2:30 p.m. CT, NBC (live streaming at NBC Sports)

The Irish are 2-5 and Brian Kelly has only himself to blame, even if that’ll never happen. Kelly’s gonna get shitcanned when the season ends and he’ll still show up for work the next day out of pure, incredulous spite. Sorry, dude, we already changed the locks.

Samford at Mississippi State

2:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network (live streaming at WatchESPN)

BULLDOG BOWL. This places you under no obligation to watch this game, but maybe flick it on late in the fourth quarter for some possible (probable???) schadenfreude. Spooky!

Saturday evening games

No. 7 Nebraska at No. 11 Wisconsin

6 p.m. CT, ESPN (live streaming at WatchESPN)

Can Nebraska remain undefeated on the road in Madison? Are we ready for the specter of an 8-0 Nebraska?

No. 3 Clemson at No. 12 FSU

7 p.m. CT, ABC (live streaming at WatchESPN)

TAKE LOTS WITH ALCOHOL.

#Pac12AfterDark

Stanford at Arizona

10 p.m. CT, FS1 (live streaming at FOX Sports Go)

Complete Saturday schedule