The Saturday Slaughter: Why Only Two Games Actually Matter

Let's be honest: the College Football Playoff field is a chaotic mess right now. As CBS Sports first reported, we've seen Kentucky slide toward the bracket's edge and Notre Dame lock in their spot after taking down No. 1 Miami. Last week, No. 19 Ole Miss and No. 20 Ohio State likely played themselves out of the playoff following losses. But if you want to know who actually survives the Saturday slaughter, stop looking at the projections and focus on two specific collisions.

**Opinion: The Only Games That Matter**

While the analysts want to talk about the whole slate, the reality is that No. 18 USC at No. 9 Indiana and No. 6 Texas at No. 21 LSU are the only games with real survival stakes. Everything else is just noise.

According to CBS Sports, the matchup between the Trojans and the Hoosiers is, for all intents and purposes, a CFP elimination game. USC has found some momentum after upsetting Ohio State and currently holds a position with only two losses. However, they are still haunted by a 24-7 blowout loss to Wisconsin. They face an Indiana squad that has locked down the game, holding their last five opponents to under 20 points. Despite that defensive dominance, Indiana has tumbled five spots in the CFP Rankings. Because USC is the final ranked opponent on Indiana's schedule, CBS Sports notes that Saturday is a must-win for the Hoosiers.

Then there is the trip to Baton Rouge. No. 6 Texas is heading into a pivotal road game against No. 21 LSU. The Longhorns are currently undefeated against ranked opponents and, per CBS Sports, could potentially leapfrog Alabama in the standings with a victory. For LSU, this isn't just a game—it's a fight for their postseason lives. The Tigers have dropped three straight games against ranked opposition. While they still have games against Texas and No. 8 Tennessee coming up, CBS Sports reports that LSU needs dominant wins to stay viable.

**The Rest of the Noise**

For those who still care about the periphery, CBS Sports highlights several other matchups that are more about 'crashing the party' than surviving it. No. 12 Texas Tech faces No. 25 Oklahoma State, where the Cowboys—led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker—could use an upset to move toward the 'Oregon tier.'

In the ACC, No. 13 Wake Forest, led by quarterback Gio Lopez, faces SMU's Kevin Jennings in a game that determines who gets the inside slot for the ACC Championship Game against Miami. Meanwhile, No. 7 Miami is trying to recover from offensive struggles seen in their Notre Dame loss as they face a surging Duke team.

Finally, the Group of Six battle features No. 24 Boise State against Oregon State. While the Beavers will be without quarterback Braden Atkinson, they still feature star receiver Jesse Legree. Boise State is fighting for the lone Group of Six auto-bid, though their defense has struggled recently, giving up 73 points across two games against Colorado State and Texas State. Rounding out the day is No. 10 BYU, who needs to win out to stay in the field, facing a Baylor team currently led by interim coach Joe Klanderman.