The 7 biggest games to watch in college football today

Network and Time: ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET

Records: West Virginia (3-0), Texas Tech (3-1)

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: West Virginia (13), Texas Tech (20)

Why it is important: Texas Tech thumped Oklahoma State on the road a week ago to get into the Big 12 title race. Now they have to do it again. The loser of this game is likely out of the playoff picture.

Network and Time: ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET

Records: Baylor (3-1), Oklahoma (4-0)

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: Oklahoma (5)

Why it is important: The Sooners needed overtime to beat Army. Luckily for the Sooners, hardly anybody saw the game with the only broadcast on pay-per-view. People still saw the score, and now OU needs to show once again that they are the class of the Big 12.

Network and Time: Fox, 4:30 p.m. ET

Records: Michigan (3-1), Northwestern (1-2)

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: Michigan (11)

Why it is important: Michigan has a stretch coming up where they will play three ranked teams in a row over four weeks. Going on the road against a Northwestern team that is better than their record feels like a spot that might be more dangerous than the Wolverines realize.

Network and Time: ABC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Records: Both teams are 4-0

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: Ohio State (4), Penn State (6)

Why it is important: Simply put, the winner of this game will emerge as the favorite to win the Big Ten and the best shot to represent the B1G in the playoff.

Network and Time: NBC, 7:30 p.m. ET

Records: Both teams are 4-0

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: Stanford (10), Notre Dame (9)

Why it is important: The other marquee game of the day will take place at the same time as Penn State-Ohio State. If Stanford loses here, the Pac 12 will be in serious danger of not getting a team in the playoff. Notre Dame could survive one loss, but it would put them in a huge hole.

Network and Time: Fox, 8:30 p.m. ET

Records: Both teams are 3-1

CFB Playoff Power Rankings: Washington (8)

Why it is important: This game will get buried by the Ohio State-Penn State and Stanford-Notre Dame games that will be going on at the same time. If things break right, you should be able to catch the fourth quarter of this matchup. BYU has already played spoiler with a win over Wisconsin. A win over Washington would eliminate the Huskies from playoff contention.