College football viewing guide, Week 11: Will Muschamp returns to the Swamp

In 2012, the 7-0 Florida Gators were upset by the 6-1 Georgia Bulldogs on a fateful late fumble into the end zone by one Jordan Reed. The loss effectively nixed any plans Will Muschamp would have had for a trip to Atlanta, the closest he ever came to an SEC Championship in his tumultuous tenure in Gainesville.

Georgia would go on to lose to ... [Googles 2012 SEC Championship Game] ... Alabama, 32-28, in the conference title game that year, because time is a flat circle or something.

Now, with his Gamecocks sitting at 3-4 and riding a three-game winning streak, a W over Florida in the Swamp this Saturday could set Muschamp on a collision course with the Georgia Dome (11 a.m. CT, CBS and live streaming at CBS Sports). Cocky of course needs Georgia, Kentucky and again Florida to lose a couple along the way to net everyone at 4-4 in conference play, but you better believe we’re rooting for Coach Rageface to yell-vomit all over the newly named Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on his way to a win.

Let’s pause here and relish the wonderful love triangle that potentially might explode on Saturday.

• Nov. 16, 2014: Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley announces that Will Muschamp would be stepping down at the conclusion of the season; the Gators had just lost in overtime, 23-20, to none other than Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks — in Gainesville.
• Oct. 12, 2015: Steve Spurrier excuses himself from coaching duties at South Carolina.
• Dec. 6, 2015: Muschamp is introduced as South Carolina’s new head coach.
• July 2016: Spurrier returns to work with Florida’s athletic department as a consultant and brand ambassador.
• Sept. 3, 2016: The playing surface in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — which up until then had only been called “Florida Field” — gains Spurrier’s eponymous namesake.

CAN YOU FEEL THE ENERGY IN THE BUILDING?

Here’s what else we’re watching on either side of the BACKUP QB BOWL in College Station this weekend, as ever with a hearty hat-tip to Jason Kirk’s watchability grid. There is a Friday night game between FSU and something called a “Boston College,” and it might be interesting with Derwin James reportedly done for the year, but you’re under no obligation to spoil your evening with such trash (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN2 and live streaming at WatchESPN). Enjoy.

Early Games

No. 16 West Virginia at Texas

11 a.m. CT, FS1 (live streaming at FOX Sports GO)

The Big 12 has all but erased itself from consideration for the College Football Playoff this year, but there’s no reason not to watch two teams moving in opposite directions. Charlie Strong’s defense is carrying the Longhorns through a two-win streak, with victories over Baylor and Texas Tech. The Mountaineers are still sitting at 7-1, but an ugly loss to Oklahoma State has many cooling on Dana Holgorsen’s club. Oddsshark is calling this one a push, with an over/under of 64.

Kentucky at Tennessee

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

DIRECT EFFECT ON THE SEC EAST LOGJAM ALERT. ALSO, IF KENTUCKY WINS, BUTCH JONES MIGHT GET FIRED ON THE SPOT. WISH THAT I WAS BACK ON ROCKY TOP.

Afternoon Games

No. 9 Auburn at Georgia

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

Kamryn Pettway is day-to-day with a reported leg injury, but even without him the Tigers should roundly subdue the Bulldogs in this annual fistfight. In any other given year, you should absolutely NOT indulge Georgia’s stubborn insistence on AUBURN’S A RIVALRY GAME, Y’ALL — which is especially the case in years when they lose to Florida — but with Kentucky-Tennessee and South Carolina-Florida wrapping up around the time Tigers-Bulldogs kick off, that whole #storylines bugaboo comes into play.

Texas Tech at No. 13 Oklahoma State

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

POINTS FOR EVERYONE. This is probably the most terrifying betting game of Week 11.

Army at Notre Dame

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

Just placing this here so that you know where it is and with the gentle reminder that the Irish are 3-6 currently.

Evening Games

No. 20 USC at No. 4 Washington

6:30 p.m. CT, FOX (live streaming at FOX Sports GO)

After Lane Kiffin committed arson on his former employer in Week 1, everyone sorta forgot about the Trojans, who are a decent football team right now. They’re ranked no. 13 in S&P+, and the defense is such that this trip up to Seattle could get scary for the Huskies. Still, Washington’s offense, which is averaging 46 points per game, is a Death Star in the making this season.

#Pac12AfterDark

No. 12 Colorado at Arizona

9:00 p.m. CT, FS1 (FOX Sports GO)

America’s team pays a little visit to a fledgling Rich Rodriguez. But wait, there’s more ...

Cal at No. 23 Washington State

9:30 p.m. CT, ESPN (live streaming at WatchESPN)

Oh yes, that’s more like it. Wazzu is fun as all hell to watch play football, and Cal is one of the most unpredictable teams in the most unpredictable conference in the country. Two years ago, this matchup yielded one of the greatest headlines in SB Nation history: CAL-WASHINGTON STATE WAS FOOTBALL WITH FLAMETHROWERS.