It’s the first college football Saturday since the season’s initial playoff rankings were released Tuesday night. And while the rankings will be fluid from week to week for the rest of the regular season, they also help clarify the work that contenders need to do to secure their spots in the final bracket when it is released Dec. 7. This week’s schedule of televised games includes one head-to-head matchup between teams in the field of 12, plus others featuring a playoff team that can’t afford to lose if it wants to maintain its spot.
