The 6 best college football games to watch in Week 7

Last weekend was far and away the wildest of the 2026 college football season, and it's left us with another fun slate for Week 7. We're at the halfway point of the season, and the games keep getting bigger and more pivotal week by week.

This part of the season matters so much as we enter the stretch run, when everyone will be jockeying for position in their respective conferences.

Here at Sooners Wire, we're going to have our eyes all over the home SEC opener for the Oklahoma Sooners , as the Kentucky Wildcats come to Norman on Saturday night for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff. It's a very important game for both teams, even if it is overshadowed by some of the even bigger matchups this week. That's how impressive the slate for this Saturday is.

Here are the top six games to watch in Week 7.

Ohio State and Indiana look like the two best teams in the Big Ten right now, and this could preview the league's title game, a rematch from last season. These two teams are talented enough to win it all this year. The Buckeyes already have a loss on the season, but they've been rock-solid since that point. Head coach Ryan Day knows that a win on the road this week can push his team right back to the top of the pecking order in the country. Quarterback Julian Sayin will have to play mistake-free football against a very sound defense.

The Hoosiers are one of just two unbeaten teams left in the Big Ten, and they escaped with a close win on the road last week over Nebraska. Now, head coach Curt Cignetti's team comes back home to Bloomington, looking to add another win to the nation's longest winning streak. The offense, led by quarterback Josh Hoover, will have to keep up with the juggernaut on the other sideline.

Notre Dame and BYU will both enter this week undefeated, and neither team has been tested this season like they will be on Saturday. Two teams that narrowly missed the College Football Playoff last season are determined to make it this year. The Fighting Irish have breezed through a less-than-challenging schedule through the first half of their season, making short work of just about everyone they've faced. Quarterback CJ Carr runs the show on offense, and head coach Marcus Freeman has a very talented squad that will have to play well on the road this week.

The Cougars will also get a severe jump in competition this week, and Provo should be a great environment on Saturday night. A physical offense led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier will be tested at home, and head coach Kalani Sitake's team hopes to take the next step with a huge statement win in a highlight game.

Missouri and Ole Miss are right in the thick of things in the SEC standings , and each team has just one loss entering Week 7. This game can catapult one school toward contention in the conference. The Tigers are red-hot, having knocked off Florida and Texas A&M in dominant fashion in consecutive weeks. Now, a road test awaits head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and the Tigers. Quarterback Austin Simmons will face his former school this week, after he was replaced as the signal-caller last year by Lane Kiffin in favor of Trinidad Chambliss. He's been excellent through the first month and a half of the season.

The Rebels were stunned on the road against Florida a few weeks ago, and they've been a bit out of the spotlight since. However, they're still very much a threat in the SEC, especially with their high-powered offense. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who took the starting job from Simmons early last season, leads the way, and this game could turn into a shootout. Head coach Pete Golding hopes to lean on what should be a great crowd in Oxford.

Alabama and Tennessee will meet in the "Third Saturday in October" rivalry matchup. It's another big-time matchup featuring a pair of one-loss SEC schools. The teams have split the last four meetings, which have produced some epic moments in recent years. The Crimson Tide lost a very close game last week against Georgia, and they'll look to take out some of that frustration in this game. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has a very good team, and a big road win would put them right back in the hunt. Quarterback Keelon Russell has been a star this season, and he'll have to play well against a good defense led by defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.

The Volunteers have two close wins in the last two weeks, but they'll need to play better this week to pull off the upset. Head coach Josh Heupel faces a decision on his starting quarterback. Both Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre have had their good moments this year, but the offense needs one of them to step up, stay healthy, and make the job theirs. They have a great opportunity to do that this week at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

5. Mississippi State at LSU, 11:00 a.m. CT

This could turn into a CFP elimination game for Mississippi State and LSU, as both teams took it on the chin in their most recent games. For the Bulldogs, a disappointing loss to Alabama two weeks ago marked their first loss of the season. Head coach Jeff Lebby has found success with speed on the outside and the play of their quarterback, but Kamario Taylor's status is up in the air ahead of their showdown in Baton Rouge. Parker Puckett could be under center against LSU this week.

The Tigers lost on the road to Kentucky, and they'll return to Death Valley with two losses and their backs against the wall. Head coach Lane Kiffin and his team entered the year with high expectations, but they could come crashing down with another loss this week. Quarterback Sam Leavitt will look to keep that from happening in Tiger Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

6. Oklahoma State at Houston, 6:30 p.m. CT

Oklahoma State and Houston are trying to see where they stack up in the Big 12 at this point in the season, and this game will be a good measuring stick for both teams in a wide-open league. The Cowboys have won four straight games, as many as they did in the 2024 and 2025 seasons combined. New head coach Eric Morris has been successful so far, and his team scores in bunches. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker runs the show and is receiving buzz as the top quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Cougars have won three straight games, and they've had an impressive season ahead of this week's test. Head coach Willie Fritz will need a strong defensive performance to win at home, and he'll need his offense to keep pace if it turns into a high-scoring affair. At the controls on that side of the ball is quarterback Conner Weigman, who has been great for the Cougars after transferring over from Texas A&M. It's a crucial game in the Big 12 for both schools.

Week 0 - Featured Game: North Carolina vs. TCU (in Dublin, Ireland)

Week 1 - Featured Game: Louisville vs. Ole Miss (in Nashville, Tennessee)

Week 2 - Featured Game: Ohio State at Texas

Week 4 - Featured Game: Texas at Tennessee

Week 5 - Featured Game: Ohio State at Iowa

Week 6 - Featured Game: Georgia at Alabama

Photos from Oklahoma's improbable win over the Texas Longhorns

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