College Football Weekend Watch Party: Georgia Tech-Notre Dame Goes Neoclassical

Editor's note: Every Friday, we'll use this space to tell you about the college football game you absolutely need to watch that weekend, even if it's flying under the radar. It might not always be the matchup of the two best teams, but it will definitely be the most entertaining contest. Because fun is what college football is all about, right?

If you want a blast from the past, this weekend's matchup between No. 14 Georgia Tech and No.8 Notre Dame is for you: a game featuring an offense from a half-century ago (the Yellow Jackets' triple-option) and the team of a half-century ago (sorry, Irish fans, but even "Rudy" is getting long in the tooth).

Of course, there are plenty of other storylines that make this contest a must-see.

Heading into the season, Notre Dame looked like the real deal. Yeah, the Irish get hyped up every year, but under a new offense led by quarterback Malik Zaire, this team had the chance to be special, and the optimism was validated by a 38-3 demolition of Texas in the season opener. Except star running back Tarean Folston was lost for the year in the Texas game, and then Zaire went down with a season-ending injury in a near-loss to Virginia. Suddenly, Notre Dame went from College Playoff contender to a team in major trouble.

Of course, the Irish are still 2-0, in part due to backup quarterback Deshone Kizer's heroics to lead them over Virginia. And Notre Dame still has an outstanding offensive line, weapons C.J. Prosise and Will Fuller on offense and a loaded defense led by Jaylon Smith, the best linebacker in the country. Question is, can the Irish's Plan B backfield hold up against elite opponents?

Georgia Tech almost never gets the love it deserves. Is it because of the Yellow Jackets' small fan base? Their lack of national prestige? Their funky, back-to-the future offense? Whatever the reason, Tech deserves better. The Yellow Jackets are ninth in the nation in rushing attempts per game, but lead the nation in yards per attempt with an astonishing 8.47 yards per carry. Nobody else is over eight. Opponents know Tech is going to run the ball on every down, yet it still averages close to a first down on every rush. That's insane.

The triple option—in which the quarterback decides whether to hand it off to the running back, keep it himself or pitch it to another back, depending on what he reads from the defense—is a thing of beauty when it's run well, and it's safe to say this version of Georgia Tech runs it well, possibly better than anyone ever has.

The key to stopping the triple option? A disciplined and athletic front seven, which Notre Dame certainly possesses. This game would have featured more talent had Zaire and Folston not gotten hurt, but it remains fascinating. Can Notre Dame's freshman quarterback lead his team to a win? Will the defense hold up? Will fans stage a coup against coach Brian Kelly if the Irish lose, despite all their injuries?

All that, and beautiful, idiosyncratic football. You have the rest of the season to watch cookie-cutter spread offenses. Treat yourself to something unique on Saturday.

Yeah, I'm obsessed with BYU, but I didn't lead you astray last week, did I? The Cougars have arguably the most impressive pair of wins through two weeks, beating both Nebraska (on the road) and Boise State (at home) on Hail Marys. (Editor's note: thrown by a quarterback named Tanner Magnum. Are you not entertained?) UCLA is really, really good, possibly the Pac-12's top playoff contender, and has a Heisman candidate in true freshman quarterback Josh Rosen. Still, BYU is going to win this one on another last-second heave. Just watch.

Auburn is by far the weirdest team of the past few years. The Tigers reached the national title game two seasons ago by beating Alabama on a returned field goal miss for a touchdown, and beating Georgia on a tipped pass that was nearly intercepted but instead was caught for a last-minute touchdown. Their games continued to be wild last year, and then last week, they almost lost to FCS Jacksonville State. So who knows what to expect from them?

LSU beat Mississippi State last week, and the Tigers–yes, both teams are the Tigers!—have a great running game and a great defense. On the other hand, I don't trust a team that can't seem to pass the ball. LSU is more consistent, Auburn probably has a higher ceiling, and I have no clue what is going to happen in this game. All the more reason to tune in.

Neither of these teams are particularly good, but this game is fascinating. Texas is going through a crisis: the team demoted its play-caller after the Notre Dame embarrassment, and the school that has its own sports network just fired its athletic director. Perhaps that's why Texas is a seven-point home underdog to Cal, a mighty coastal powerhouse … which has yet to make a bowl game under third-year coach Sonny Dykes. What a world. Given that Cal has an impressive offense and Texas can't score, Vegas may have the right idea.

Ole Miss handed Alabama its only regular season loss last year, and that game launched the Rebels to a berth in the Peach Bowl. Ole Miss was the best team in the country for the first two months of last year, and the Rebels might be one of the best again this year. They probably have a better shot than you think over big, bad Bama.

For some reason, this game is on ABC while the Ole Miss-Alabama game is on ESPN, which means the better contest will be available to fewer potential viewers. And by "better," I mean, way, way better. There's a 50 percent chance USC runs away with it, and if the Trojans don't, it means they will have been very sloppy, since Stanford has the most inept offensive strategy in college football. Stay far away.

Penn State can't score to save its life and there is no faith in the coaching staff. Rutgers' coach is suspended for trying to get a professor to change a player's grade, and doing so Clinton-style, outright telling the professor in an email that he was sending it from his personal account so as to avoid FOIA requests and potential public scrutiny. Good job, good effort, man. Oh and seven Rutgers players, including its best player, Leonte Carroo, have been suspended/dismissed for various crimes in the past TWO weeks.

DO NOT WATCH THIS GAME! Unless you enjoy laughing at people's pain. Then go ahead.