The college football weekend got off to a fascinating start on Thursday night. Florida State, the defending national champion and the No. 2 team in the first College Football Playoff rankings, survived a huge scare in Louisville.

The Seminoles trailed 21-7 at the half but erupted in the second half for five touchdowns and beat the Cardinals 42-31. FSU has had to come from behind several times this season. Jameis Winston passed for 401 yards and three touchdowns, but was also intercepted three times.

Several games will impact the next round of rankings for the four-team playoff, especially No. 3 Auburn at No. 4 Ole Miss, which is ranked No. 7 by the AP, further confusing us all. Someone’s stay in the top four will be short, appeasing the anti-SEC crowd. We’ll use the CFP rankings here.

GAMES WE’RE WATCHING ON SATURDAY

 
No. 3 Auburn (6-1) at No. 4 Ole Miss (7-1): This is the first of three games against teams in the top nine for Auburn. Ole Miss comes off a tough 10-7 loss to LSU. Auburn rushed for 395 yards in a win over South Carolina.

No. 7 TCU (7-1) at No. 20 West Virginia (6-2): TCU scored 82 points in its last game and the Horned Frogs lead the nation in scoring (50.4 points per game). The Mountaineers are no slouches, though. Clint Trickett has passed for 2,763 yards and 17 touchdowns.

No. 12 Arizona (6-1) at No. 22 UCLA (6-2): The Bruins are trying to avoid losing three straight games at home for the first time since 1971. The Bruins have won a couple of close games in their last two outings and they’ve beaten the Wildcats twice in a row.

Today’s question

Which games will you be watching, and why?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .