Afternoon Open Thread: SEC action outside South Bend

Sure, we’re all most excited for Georgia’s kickoff against Notre Dame tonight at 7:30 (NBC). But there’s some decent college football going on between here and there.

Indiana state visits Tennessee at 4:00 (SEC Network). The Vols have moved into the rankings at #25 after Butch Jones outlasted Paul Johnson on Monday in a contest to see who could go the longest without making a really stupid coaching decision.

Pitt visits #4 Penn State in the first of many opportunities this season for poll voters and Nittany Lion fans to remember that James Franklin is perhaps the most profoundly overrated coach in major college football (ABC, 3:30).

Fresno State comes to Bryant-Denny Stadium at 3:30 to take on the Crimson Tide for those of you who like slasher flicks but can’t find your VHS copy of 976-EVIL (ESPN2).

And #23 TCU is at Arkansas in what should be an entertaining matchup with solid quarterback play.

Also, a brief programming note. You’ve probably noticed that tonight’s Bulldog game happens at the same time as a couple of other pivotal national matchups (Clemson vs. Auburn, and Oklahoma vs. Ohio State). The plan in these parts is to have a separate open comment thread for the other big night games to keep the conversation around the game in South Bend on topic.

Hope you all have a great Saturday afternoon. If you find yourself in or near the path of Hurricane Irma know that you’re in our thoughts and prayers.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

*On a related note, Miami had been scheduled to play at Arkansas State today. However due to concerns about the team’s ability to get back to Miami (which, as you may have noticed, is in the path of a major hurricane), and staffers’ need to help their families prepare/evacuate, that game has been cancelled. But, it did provide us another reminder that Rick Neuheisel remains one of the low-key worst human beings in college football.