MC&J: Week 7 in college football features Ohio State seeking revenge on Indiana

Last week ATS: 10-6 (5-3 National, 5-3 B1G)

Season ATS: 70-53 (26-20 National, 44-33 B1G)

What a start to the season it has been for MC&J. I can’t remember being so many games over .500 near the halfway point of the regular season.

Of course there is still plenty of work to be done, since I know a couple bad weeks could erase all the gains we have worked so hard for.

There are plenty of tasty matchups on this week’s schedule. Two top-10 battles, three games in the SEC between ranked teams, Pat Fitzgerald coaching against his alma mater and former employer, and much more.

National Games

No. 6 Alabama (-8.5) v. No. 14 Tennessee – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC

The Third Saturday in October has arrived.

Alabama is coming off a tough loss to Georgia, where an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty essentially cost the Crimson Tide the game. Despite the loss, quarterback Keelon Russell is still one of the most dynamic players in the country.

Following their loss to Texas, Tennessee has rebounded with two straight wins. The Volunteers haven’t exactly looked impressive in those victories, though. Quarterback George MacIntyre started last week after freshman Faizon Brandon suffered a shoulder injury against the Longhorns and was ineffective against Auburn. It is currently unknown who will start in Knoxville on Saturday.

No matter who starts for Tennessee, I’m not convinced the Volunteers can keep up with Alabama. The loss to Georgia will only make the Crimson Tide hungrier for another crack at the Bulldogs, and that starts on Saturday with a convincing win over one of their rivals.

Alabama 38, Tennessee 24

No. 13 Missouri v. No. 9 Ole Miss (-6.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET – SEC Network

This should be a fun one in Oxford. Former Rebels Austin Simmons and Cayden Lee return to where they started their college careers. Simmons has tossed 14 touchdowns and only one interception for the Tigers so far this year. Along with an explosive passing attack, Missouri has one of the best running backs in the country in Jamal Roberts.

Ole Miss shook off an ugly loss to Florida a few weeks ago with a blowout of Vanderbilt last week. Running back Kewan Lacy is back healthy, giving the Rebels a lethal combo in the backfield with quarterback Trindad Chambliss. The problem for Ole Miss is they have no defense, which will be a problem this week.

I just feel like Missouri is the better all-around team in this one. Ole Miss might be able to match the points the Tigers put on the scoreboard for most of the game but the stop or two the Missouri defense gets will end up being the difference.

Missouri 35, Ole Miss 31

No. 2 Notre Dame (-10.5) v. No. 8 BYU – 7:30 p.m. ET – ABC

Saturday night in Provo is going to be wild. This is one of the biggest home games in BYU history. The winner of this game has a leg up in earning a College Football Playoff spot.

We are going to find out a lot about both teams in this game, since they both have had pretty easy schedules to start the season. BYU has a strong defense, allowing less than 20 points in all but one game this season. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier is coming off the win over Iowa State where he threw for over 300 yards and went for over 100 on the ground.

The defense of the Cougars will have their work cut out for them not only trying to slow down quarterback C.J. Carr but also stopping a running game that is gaining confidence. Laying 10.5 points with the Fighting Irish feels like a little too much in a game that has the feeling like it will still be up for grabs late in the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame 27, BYU 24

B1G Games

No. 4 Ohio State (-3.5) v. No. 5 Indiana – 12:00 p.m. ET – FOX

Saturday in Bloomington will feature a slugfest between the last two national champions. Imagine telling someone that five years ago. They would have laughed at the thought of the Hoosiers winning it all. Now Indiana enters this game with a 22-game winning streak.

The Hoosiers almost saw their winning streak end last week in Lincoln. Indiana needed two Nick Marsh fourth quarter touchdowns to stay undefeated since the start of the 2025 season. Throwing the ball to Marsh and Charlie Becker is TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who has yet to throw an interception this season.

Ohio State will counter with Jeremiah Smith and Julian Sayin. Smith has already set all of the school’s receiving record and now has his eyes on the Big Ten marks. The junior wide receiver is looking like the favorite to win this year’s Heisman Trophy, and a strong performance against an undefeated Indiana squad will only strengthen his case to win the golden stiffarm.

Indiana doesn’t quite feel like they are the juggernaut they were last season. Nebraska gave Ohio State a bit of a blueprint on how to beat the Hoosiers. The only difference is the Buckeyes have a better track record at closing out games than the Cornhuskers do. Plus, Ryan Day and company will have revenge on their mind after losing the Big Ten Championship Game to Indiana last year.

Unlike earlier in the season when Ohio State squandered a second half lead against Texas, this time the Buckeyes close out a top-five opponent on the road.

Ohio State restores some order in the series after Indiana earned their first win over the Buckeyes since 1988.

Ohio State 30, Indiana 23

No. 25 Northwestern (-7.5) v. Michigan State – 12:00 p.m. ET – Peacock

Emotions will undoubtedly be high in East Lansing on Saturday as Michigan State head coach will face his alma mater and the program who employed him as their head coach for 17 years before firing him before the 2023 season because of a hazing scandal. As if that wasn’t enough, Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles will be taking on his former team.

Northwestern has had quite a season so far. Along with opening their new stadium, the Wildcats are 4-1 with their only loss coming by six points at Indiana. Chip Kelly has the Northwestern offense humming. Not only can Chiles beat teams with his arm, the rushing attack of the Wildcats is strong.

I’m not putting a whole lot of stock in Michigan State pushing Illinois to overtime last week since the Fighting Illini are a mess right now. Northwestern knows they are putting together one of the best seasons in school history, which will continue with them taking down one of the legends of the program.

Northwestern 31, Michigan State 17

Wisconsin v. No. 12 UCLA (-2.5) – 7:30 p.m. ET – NBC

UCLA and Wisconsin meet in Pasadena on Saturday night in a rematch of the 1994 and 1999 Rose Bowls, both of which the Badgers won. These are two of the most surprising teams in the Big Ten this year, as the two teams have combined to post a 9-1 record.

After winning four straight games following their season-opening loss to Notre Dame, Wisconsin had last week off to charge their batteries. The Badgers have some impressive defensive stats, but aside from the Fighting Irish it isn’t like they have been playing offensive juggernauts.

Despite entering this game undefeated, UCLA faces a lot of questions following the news quarterback Nico Iamaleava would miss the rest of the regular season. At least new starting quarterback Ty Dieffenbach has a strong ground game to lean on. Running backs Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods, and Jaivian Thomas have combined to rush for 1,019 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

I trust Bob Chesney a little more than Luke Fickell in this game. I’m not sold on Wisconsin as a top-tier team in the Big Ten, while there’s something special about former James Madison coaches in recent years.

UCLA 27, Wisconsin 20

Rapid Fire Picks

National

Florida v. No. 7 Texas (-10.5) – 12:00 p.m. ET – ABC

Texas 34, Florida 21

No. 16 Mississippi State v. No. 22 LSU (-14.5) – 12:00 p.m. ET – ESPN

LSU 35, Mississippi State 31

Arizona State v. No. 10 Texas Tech (-14.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET – FOX

Texas Tech 38, Arizona State 20

Florida State v. No. 3 Miami (FL) (-21.5) – 7:00 p.m. ET – ESPN

Miami (FL) 45, Florida State 21

No. 15 Kentucky v. Oklahoma (-6.5) – 7:30 p.m. ET – SEC Network

Oklahoma 24, Kentucky 17

B1G

Washington v. Purdue (-3.5) – Friday 8:00 p.m. ET – FOX

Washington 24, Purdue 20

Rutgers v. Maryland (-4.5) – 12:30 p.m. ET – BTN

Rutgers 31, Maryland 28

Penn State v. Michigan (-6.5) – 3:30 p.m. ET – CBS

Michigan 27, Penn State 17

Nebraska v. Oregon (-7.5) – 11:00 p.m. ET – FOX

Nebraska 28, Oregon 24