AP Top 25 Preview: Florida State, Vanderbilt have a chance to reset discussion around title chases

This week's schedule isn't loaded the same way, but there are a lot of games with the potential to change the conversation around conference title chases and, yes, the CFP.

Top games to watch

— No. 3 Miami (4-0) at No. 18 Florida St. (3-1). Two old rivals with a long history of crushing each others’ national title hopes meet in an ACC clash. A loss for the Hurricanes is probably less crushing than it would be for the Seminoles, who look to add to their CFP resume with a win. Nice QB showdown with Miami's Carson Beck facing Tommy Castellanos. BetMGM Sportsbook: Miami by 4.5 points.

— No. 10 Alabama (3-1) vs. No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0). The Commodores can become bowl eligible with a win — we know! — but no one in Tuscaloosa is overlooking these guys after Vanderbilt knocked off the top-ranked Tide a year ago. A loss here would not be ideal for Alabama in the CFP hunt and Vanderbilt's schedule ahead includes other chances for big wins with the likes of No. 13 LSU, No. 19 Missouri, No. 9 Texas and No. 15 Tennessee. Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia added some bulletin-board material, telling reporters: “The crowd, I think, is going to be a big factor in the game. But we just have to play within the white lines. If we do that, if we play our game, it won’t be close.” BetMGM Sportsbook: Alabama by 10.5.

The undercard

— No. 6 Texas A&M (4-0) vs. Mississippi State (4-1). Texas A&M is flying somewhat under the radar but the Aggies already have wins over Notre Dame and Auburn and a chance to rise in the rankings depending on the teams ahead of them. Blake Shapen and the Bulldogs have a single loss, in OT to Tennessee. BetMGM Sportsbook: Texas A&M by 15.5.

— No. 9 Texas (3-1) at Florida (1-3). QBs Arch Manning and DJ Lagway have been disappointing so far after preseason Heisman Trophy hype. This SEC showdown gives them a chance to shine. The Longhorns cannot afford a loss here and shouldn't be looking ahead to next week's Oklahoma rivalry game. BetMGM Sportsbook: Texas by 7.

Games of note

— No. 14 Iowa St. (5-0) at Cincinnati (3-1). It is the first weekend of October and Iowa State can become bowl eligible with a victory over Cincinnati, winners of three straight. BetMGM Sportsbook: Cincinnati by 1.5.

— No. 24 Virginia (4-1) at Louisville (4-0). Virginia has gone from being picked to finish 14th in the ACC to cracking the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2019. Tough matchup at undefeated Louisville, which BetMGM Sportsbook lists as a 6.5-point favorite.

— Washington (3-1) at Maryland (4-0). The Huskies were held to two field goals by top-ranked Ohio State and then had to travel across the country to play a talented Terrapins team that has already matched its win total from last season. BetMGM Sportsbook: Washington by 6.5.

Coaching intrigue

— Clemson (1-3) at North Carolina (2-2). This game is interesting for one reason and one reason only: Clemson's Dabo Swinney against North Carolina's Bill Belichick in a matchup of coaches for two underperforming teams. BetMGM Sportsbook: Clemson by 14.

— Colorado (2-3) at TCU (3-1). Two years ago, Deion Sanders got a win in his first game coaching Colorado, a 45-42 stunner at TCU, a team coming off a loss in the national championship game. These up-and-down Buffaloes are nothing like that one and faces a Horned Frogs team with a single loss to Arizona State on a late field goal. BetMGM Sportsbook: TCU by 13.5.

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