College football: Mississippi State, Alabama set for showdown

Five things to watch this week in college football:

1. Mississippi State puts its No.1 ranking on the line with a season-defining trip to Tuscaloosa on Saturday. Alabama kept its playoff hopes alive with a 20-13 overtime win at Louisiana State. The Crimson Tide has been dominating at home, winning four games by the total score of 194-33.

2. Nebraska had a terrific weekend as it moved up four spots in the Associated Press media poll, to No. 11, without playing. The Cornhuskers will definitely need to play next weekend when they visit Wisconsin in a critical game in the Big Ten West division.

3. Florida State’s national title fate probably will be decided in the state of Florida, starting with Saturday’s critical Atlantic Coast Conference game at improved Miami. The only other “watch out” game on Florida State’s schedule is Nov. 29 against Florida in Tallahassee.

4. San Diego State at Boise State might be the Mountain West game of the year … for Colorado State (9-1). The Rams must win the conference to be considered for a College Football Playoff at-large bowl but are currently boxed out in the Mountain division because of its loss to Boise.

5. Ohio State’s emphatic win at Michigan State propelled Urban Meyer’s team back into the national title race, but the Buckeyes now face a tricky rebound game at vastly improved Minnesota. The Gophers improved to 7-2 with Saturday’s 51-14 win over Iowa.