Another week is upon the college football watching public, and things are starting to heat up now midway through November and only a few games left in the race for conference titles and of course ultimately the College Football Playoff.

In this state, the Alabama Crimson Tide face a massive test at home against Oklahoma with a desperate Sooners team trying to avoid a third loss. Given Oklahoma has one of the nation’s best defenses and Alabama has struggled to run the ball, it is going to take a lot to overcome.

For Auburn, it’s a bye week with Mercer on the horizon next week before all sights are set on the Iron Bowl. Outside the state though, there’s a few games that simply must be paid close attention to. Here are three to monitor closely:

#9 Notre Dame @ #22 Pittsburgh

11:00 a.m. CST

One of the only ranked matchups outside the SEC this week, this one has a ton of playoff implications. Given that the Irish have Syracuse and Stanford waiting on deck for them the next two weeks, this is the final real test in their path to the playoff, and if they do pass it, Notre Dame likely snags a spot in the field.

The Irish are favored by just under two touchdowns and should on paper be able to handle Pitt, but it will be a tough road environment and one to where Notre Dame must be on their game if they want to avoid what would essentially be a season-ending upset.

Florida @ #7 Ole Miss

6:00 p.m. CST

Strictly in terms of playoff implications, this one doesn’t have a ton of juice — unless of course the Rebels were to find a way to lose — but it’s no secret the main story here is going to be Lane Kiffin going up against the program he very well might be coaching next season.

Kiffin has been linked to the Gators job since before it even officially became open, and while he has avoided answering the question during his press conferences, but the tension when actually facing Florida is going to be tough to avoid. Thus far, he’s done a wonderful job keeping his Ole Miss team focused and ready to go on the task at hand with just one loss and looking like a playoff team, but this will be the biggest challenge yet in terms of distractions.

#10 Texas @ #5 Georgia

6:30 p.m. CST

The marquee game of the week across college football is a top-ten matchup in Athens with everything on the line for the Longhorns. Having already taken two losses and still a game against undefeated Texas A&M on the docket. The Bulldogs on the other hand have found a way to survive time and time again this season and are as good as anyone when it comes to these close one possession games.

With Arch Manning seemingly having found something here late in what has been a tough season, this will be his biggest game yet as he tries to keep Texas alive and in the playoff hunt and rip off what would be a signature win this season in his career. It should be a tremendous one with Georgia favored by less than a touchdown.