The most epic weekend of the 2026 college football season is here.

Week 10 features seven matchups between teams in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings. And six of those games involve teams in the top 18.

This weekend is so good that we had to expand our featured games list to six. How could we not preview a game between top-20 teams? If Saturday lives up to expectations, we're in for a fantastic day.

Let's get to it.

No. 9 BYU at No. 3 Utah

A 10 a.m. Holy War? Sure, why not.

While the appeal of a prime-time game between two top-10 rivals is understandable, given the two games that are being played in prime time this week, you can also understand why this game deserves a chance to have a bigger portion of the spotlight.

Utah was at No. 3 in Tuesday night's rankings thanks to a blowout win over Cincinnati in Week 9. The Utes traveled east after a big win over No. 17 Houston to a team that had just taken down No. 15 Texas Tech. It was a game that seemed ripe for a trap. Instead, Utah scored TDs on all four of its offensive possessions before halftime and had two defensive scores before the break too.

The Utes' offense continues to be the most efficient in the country at 6.9 yards per play. RB Wayshawn Parker has 726 yards and nine touchdowns on just 109 carries, while QB Devon Dampier has scored 23 touchdowns.

However, BYU could exploit Utah's turnover propensity. While Utah has forced two turnovers in five of its eight games so far this season, the Utes have also turned the ball over twice in each of the last four games. BYU, though, has forced just five turnovers since Utah Tech turned the ball over four times in Week 1.

Could LJ Martin be back for BYU? The Cougars' star rusher has missed the last four games because of a lower body injury and returned to practice this week. If he's able to go — and is healthy enough to be effective — he'll be a huge boost to the BYU offense. QB Bear Bachmeier has been forced to be the hub of the offense and has shouldered that responsibility. But after BYU rushed for 177 yards against Iowa State, the Cougars have 96 carries for 284 yards over the last three games.

No. 7 Texas at No. 18 Missouri

The stakes in this one are pretty simple. The loser will need to win its last three games to have any faint hope of making the 12-team CFP field. Mizzou has No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Kentucky looming over the next two weeks and Texas has No. 15 LSU next week.

Yeah, it's almost an elimination game.

The Longhorns could be significantly shorthanded, too. RB Hollywood Smothers is unlikely to play and edge rusher Colin Simmons is still recovering from the ankle injury he suffered against Florida. Wide receivers Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman are also dealing with shoulder injuries, and tackle Trevor Goosby is out for the rest of the season after the knee injury he suffered against Ole Miss.

The Longhorns' offense is still averaging just 5.5 yards per play after its 31-3 win over Mississippi State. With Smothers sidelined, Raleek Brown has become Texas' primary back. He has 452 yards and five touchdowns. Arch Manning averaged over 11 yards a completion against the Bulldogs and had one of his most efficient passing games of the season. Can he repeat that performance against a Missouri defense that hasn't allowed a passer to complete more than 60% of his throws since Aaron Philo did in the Tigers' blowout win over Florida?

Missouri RB Jamal Roberts ran all over the Gators in that game and could have more help from Ahmad Hardy on Saturday. Hardy made his return to the field against Arkansas and rushed just two times. His workload figures to increase with each passing week. Mizzou QB Austin Simmons again made some spectacular throws in the Tigers' Week 9 win over Arkansas and has another prime opportunity to show why he can be a top-10 pick in a suddenly muddled class of 2027 draft-eligible quarterbacks.

No. 5 Alabama at No. 14 LSU

Like Texas, Alabama may have more playoff cushion than we initially realized given Tuesday night's rankings. The Crimson Tide and Longhorns were both significantly higher in the CFP committee's evaluations than they are in the AP Top 25. Both teams look possible — and even probable — to be playoff participants with a third loss.

The picture is much murkier for LSU, which probably needs to beat all three of Alabama, Texas and No. 13 Tennessee to feel good about its playoff chances. The Tigers went to Auburn in Week 9 and got an easy win on the heels of a massive game from WR Jackson Harris.

After grabbing nine passes for 178 yards and two scores against the Tigers, Harris has 36 catches for 634 yards and seven touchdowns in 2026. Harris' emergence helps unlock an LSU passing offense that has been a bit clunky at times. Sam Leavitt has thrown eight interceptions in eight games, though he hasn't tossed a pick since an Oct. 10 loss to Kentucky.

Alabama rebounded from back-to-back losses to Georgia and Tennessee with a 31-20 win at home over Texas A&M in Week 9. QB Keelon Russell threw for 311 yards and three scores without Ryan Coleman-Williams as Rico Scott had six catches for 156 yards. Can Scott and Lotzeir Brooks continue to step up in Coleman-Williams' absence? Opposing quarterbacks are throwing for just 173 yards a game against the LSU defense. A big day from Russell and his receivers could ensure that Lane Kiffin's first season in Baton Rouge will end without a playoff appearance.

No. 6 Kentucky at No. 13 Tennessee

We're about to find out just how real Kentucky's first eight weeks are. Saturday's game against the Volunteers is the first of three straight against ranked opponents. Florida visits Lexington in Week 11 before a trip to Missouri in Week 12.

Even if the Wildcats drop a game or two in November, it's been a season beyond expectations under coach Will Stein. He's the prohibitive favorite for any and all coach of the year awards at the moment as the Wildcats have already authored two comeback overtime wins.

After losing the Notre Dame starting job to CJ Carr in 2025, Kenny Minchey almost transferred to Nebraska. He went to Kentucky instead after Stein was hired from Oregon, and Minchey is putting up efficient numbers like you'd expect from a former Ducks QB, with a 69% completion percentage, 14 TDs and just one interception.

The Wildcats have done a great job of not making offensive mistakes. Kentucky has turned the ball over just five times all season and averages fewer than five penalties per game. It's a big reason why UK has just one loss despite being ranked 40th in points per game and 70th in points allowed per game.

Tennessee is expected to start George MacIntyre at QB for a third straight game. MacIntyre has thrown just two touchdowns and three interceptions over 103 pass attempts, though he's averaging more yards per attempt than Faizon Brandon, the quarterback he replaced.

As the Volunteers' passing game has been pedestrian with two young quarterbacks, running back DeSean Bishop powers the offense even more than he did a season ago. In 2025, Bishop rushed for 1,076 yards and 16 TDs. A strong game on Saturday could see him surpass that yardage total and he already has 11 rushing scores through eight games.

No. 1 Miami at No. 11 Notre Dame

A matchup of top-five teams in the AP Top 25 suddenly turned into a must-win game for Notre Dame with Tuesday night's rankings reveal.

The Irish are No. 4 in the AP poll but found themselves on the outside of the top 10 in the CFP committee's eyes thanks to a schedule full of underwhelming opponents. And, unfortunately for Notre Dame, that schedule continues to be underwhelming after Miami. The Irish's final three games are against Boston College, SMU and Syracuse.

Notre Dame could really miss the College Football Playoff with a 10-2 record two years in a row.

To beat Miami, Notre Dame will have to give CJ Carr some support with the run game. And opponents have found it very difficult to run on the Hurricanes all season. Florida State is the only team to have more than 78 rushing yards against Miami, and even then it took the Seminoles 34 carries to get 138 yards. Nolan James Jr. has emerged as Notre Dame's top rusher, while freshman Jonaz Walton is averaging nearly 7 yards a carry. However, Walton has rushed just 17 times for 56 yards over the last two games after erupting for 181 yards against Stanford.

Star CB Leonard Moore missed Notre Dame's win over Navy but should be ready to roll on Saturday night. His job becomes easier with the news that star Miami receiver Malachi Toney is out with an ankle injury suffered in practice.

Toney, who has 73 catches for 1,027 yards and 13 TDs, will reportedly miss 4-6 weeks. He's hoping to be back for the College Football Playoff.

With Toney sidelined, QB Darian Mensah is going to have to find his other receivers and lean on a run game that's been boosted by true freshman Javian Mallory. Behind Toney, Cooper Barkate has 28 catches for 372 yards and four scores, while Daylyn Upshaw and Elija Lofton are the only other two Hurricanes with more than nine catches.

No. 2 Georgia at No. 10 Ole Miss

Can we get a third straight thriller between the Bulldogs and Rebels?

A season ago, Georgia scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter on the way to a 43-35 comeback win at home in the regular season. Ole Miss got its revenge in the Sugar Bowl, as the teams combined for 30 fourth-quarter points in a 39-34 Rebels win.

Both of those games were showcases for Trinidad Chambliss. He had three total touchdowns in the regular-season loss before throwing for 362 yards and two scores in the CFP win. He's probably going to need to deliver another big performance in an Ole Miss win to have any shot at the Heisman Trophy this season.

Chambliss' odds are at 15-1 following his three-interception performance against Texas on Oct. 24. Chambliss has accounted for 25 touchdowns already this season as Ole Miss hasn't been able to rely on Kewan Lacy like it did a season ago. After getting over 330 touches in 2025, Lacy has missed two games due to shoulder issues and has rushed for 388 yards. He's been ruled out for Saturday's game.

Though the Rebels shut down Missouri's run game and held Auburn to 63 yards on 27 carries in Week 9, Florida rushed for over 300 yards on Ole Miss in Week 4 and Texas had 207 rushing yards in Week 8. It's not a coincidence that both of those games are Ole Miss losses. And Georgia is well-equipped to follow that blueprint.

The Bulldogs are averaging 200 rushing yards a game. Dwight Phillips Jr. is averaging 7.5 yards a carry and a healthy Nate Frazier is averaging over 6 yards a carry with six touchdowns. Four different Bulldogs running backs have over 35 carries this season; Georgia will have no shortage of fresh rushers.

Other games to watch

No. 8 UCLA (-5.5) at Minnesota (Noon ET, Fox): Is this the weekend the Bruins' undefeated season ends, or will the improbable run continue? Minnesota gave Indiana all it could handle before falling in overtime in Week 9. If UCLA can get another win, the Bruins have a fantastic chance of being 10-0 ahead of a trip to Michigan on Nov. 21.

No. 23 Oregon at No. 12 Ohio State (-7.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS): The Ducks are heading to Columbus without running back Jordon Davison and are already starting QB Dylan Raiola in Dante Moore's absence. Saturday's game is the second start for Ohio State QB Luke Fahey and another loss assuredly drops the Buckeyes from College Football Playoff contention.

No. 19 Iowa at Northwestern (-2.5) (7:30 p.m. ET, Fox): Both teams are still on the periphery of the playoff and the Big Ten title race — especially if a team like UCLA, Ohio State or USC falters. This could also be a sneakily high-scoring game. Iowa put up 30 points against Wisconsin a week ago.

Oklahoma at No. 24 Florida (-6.5) (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network): Will Oklahoma have a new quarterback? Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said everything was on the table after making a change at offensive coordinator earlier in the week. With Ben Arbuckle gone, former Dallas Cowboys TE and Sooners TE coach Jason Witten will make his debut as the team's play caller.

Source: Yahoo Sports