College football TV schedule: How to watch today’s games

LSU visits Mississippi State, which is 2-0 in its first season since the death of former coach Mike Leach. The Bulldogs ran the ball 25.5 percent of the time in Leach’s three seasons but have seemingly adopted a new offensive identity under Coach Zach Arnett, running it 60.5 percent of the time through two games. It’s not entirely clear whether this tactic is working: Mississippi State averaged 7.6 yards per carry in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana of the Football Championship Subdivision but only 3.7 per attempt in last weekend’s overtime win over Arizona, which last season had one of the worst rushing defenses in the country (the Wildcats allowed 5.59 yards per carry in 2022 to rank 126th nationally). LSU’s rushing defense hasn’t looked great. Opponents have gained at least 10 yards on 13 running plays through two games (No. 112 nationally), and one of those games was against FCS Grambling, which had eight carries gain 10 or more yards. Five of them came in the first half when the game — an eventual 72-10 LSU blowout — was at least marginally in doubt. … Kansas State and Missouri resume a rivalry that was forged in the old Big Eight. They played last year, a 40-12 Wildcats win that was interrupted by a significant weather delay. Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott seems to think the Tigers used the weather as an excuse for their loss. “I have heard it’s the weather’s fault,” Sinnott told the Wichita Eagles this week. “I have heard it’s rainy, we couldn’t warm up, we couldn’t get ready. I mean, the weather isn’t the one who is playing on the field. It’s the actual players who are out there. Both teams are dealing with the same exact environment, so hearing any excuses about the weather is pretty funny.” …

Two-time defending national champion Georgia faces South Carolina and perhaps gets its first challenge of the season. The Bulldogs have beaten Tennessee Martin and Ball State by a combined 93-10, but both games were marked by slow starts. Georgia punted on three of its first four possessions against the FCS Skyhawks and missed a field goal and punted on its first two against the Cardinals. But the Gamecocks also sleepwalked through the early going of last Saturday’s win over FCS Furman, falling behind 14-7 in the second quarter and not taking the lead for good until just before halftime. South Carolina also has allowed 23 tackles for a loss this season, which is better than only two FBS teams. Again, one of the Gamecocks’ games was against an FCS team, and now they have to play Georgia? Not great! … Both Minnesota and North Carolina are battling with the NCAA over transfer eligibility. Tar Heels Coach Mack Brown forcefully took the NCAA to task for denying the eligibility of wide receiver Tez Walker, who transferred to North Carolina (the second transfer of his college career) to be near his ailing grandmother. Minnesota has appealed the NCAA’s decision to declare defensive back Craig McDonald ineligible after he transferred from Auburn (he started his college career at Iowa State). …

Syracuse and Purdue meet again after last season’s 32-29 Orange win, one of the more exciting games of 2022. It featured six lead changes overall and two touchdowns in the final 51 seconds, the last an Oronde Gadsden II touchdown catch with seven seconds left that gave Syracuse the victory. Gadsden set the Orange record for receptions and receiving yards by a tight end last season but suffered a left foot injury on the second play of the game last weekend against Western Michigan. It’s unclear whether he plays against the Boilermakers. … Ahead of this weekend’s renewal of the Rocky Mountain Rivalry between Colorado State and Colorado, Rams Coach Jay Norvell appeared to take a shot at Buffaloes Coach Deion Sanders. “When I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and my glasses off,” Norvell said on his weekly coach’s show. “That’s what my mother taught me.” The two in-state rivals have not played since 2019, and the Rams last defeated the Buffaloes in 2014.