College football Week 10: The most intriguing game in each conference

Each week, On3 takes a look at the most intriguing matchup in each Power 5 conference, along with a Group of 5 game worth keeping an eye on. Here’s our Week 10 edition, excluding our game of the week — No. 13 Auburn at No. 14 Texas A&M.

All games are Saturday and all times are Eastern.

ACC: No. 9 Wake Forest (8-0) at North Carolina (4-4)

Time/TV: Noon, ABC
Despite being undefeated, Wake Forest enters as a 2.5-point underdog. The game features two of the top quarterbacks in the nation — Wake’s Sam Hartman, the first quarterback in school history with four consecutive 300-yard passing games, and UNC’s Sam Howell, who accounted for 432 yards (341 passing, 91 rushing) and two touchdowns in a 44-34 loss to No. 10 Notre Dame last week. It was the latest example of Howell showing off his dual-threat ability. Howell, who ran for 128 yards total through his first two seasons as the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback, has run for at least 90 yards in five of North Carolina’s past seven games. This is a non-conference game this season. These teams are not in the same division in the ACC, so they no longer play annually; this is part of an agreement reached between the schools in 2015 to play a home-and-home non-conference series.

Big 12: No. 11 Oklahoma State (7-1, 4-1) at West Virginia (4-4, 2-3)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Even after its loss to Iowa State in Week 8, Oklahoma State remains in the thick of the Big 12 title race. Oklahoma State and Baylor each have one Big 12 loss and are the only Big 12 teams aside from undefeated Oklahoma with fewer than two conference losses. The Cowboys are led by a defense that’s eighth-best nationally (295.0 yards per game). West Virginia is on a two-game winning streak and is coming off a win over Iowa State, which beat Oklahoma State in Week 8. The Cowboys are a 3.5-point favorite.

Big Ten: No. 3 Michigan State (8-0, 5-0) at Purdue (5-3, 3-2)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC
Purdue pulled off a top-five win a few weeks ago when it upset then-No. 2 Iowa. Now, it gets another opportunity. One of the biggest challenges for the Boilermakers will be trying to slow Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State’s Heisman-candidate running back. Walker has run for an average of 168.5 yards in the Spartans’ first six games against Power 5 opponents. Michigan State is a three-point favorite.

Pac-12: No. 4 Oregon (7-1, 4-1) at Washington (4-4, 3-2)

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ABC
Since losing to Stanford on October 2, Oregon has won three in a row and put itself back into the College Football Playoff conversation. Washington also is on a winning streak (two in a row) and is coming off a win over Stanford. The Ducks are a seven-point favorite.

SEC: No. 17 Mississippi State (5-3, 3-2) at Arkansas (5-3, 1-3)

Time/TV: 4 p.m., SEC Network
Mississippi State is the first three-loss team to be ranked in the top 20 of the initial College Football Playoff rankings. The Bulldogs have won three of their past four games, including wins over No. 14 Texas A&M and No. 18 Kentucky. Still, Mississippi State is a 4.5-point underdog against Arkansas. The Razorbacks, who started 4-0, are looking for their first win over an SEC team since September 25.

Group of 5: Liberty (7-2) at Ole Miss (6-2)

Time/TV: Noon, SEC Network
Hugh Freeze returns to Oxford to face his old program with one of the nation’s top Group of 5 teams and a potential first-round pick at quarterback in Malik Willis. Both are ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring — Liberty 16th and Ole Miss 12th. The Rebels, who lost to Auburn last week, are a 9.5-point favorite.