Week 9 college football TV schedule and open thread

Wake up folks. It’s Florida-Georgia day! The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is upon us.

Let’s get it started.

Both College GameDay and SEC Nation are broadcasting live from Jacksonville this morning, at 9:00 a.m. on ESPN and SEC Network, respectively, ahead of Florida’s top-ten tussle with the Bulldogs, airing at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.

While you anxiously await the Gators’ time in the spotlight this afternoon, or when you’re watching other games this evening and (hopefully) basking in the post-game glow, feel free to hang out in this thread while watching any of today’s games.

Here are our picks for today’s viewing windows:

Early (12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern)

Clemson at Florida State (12:00 p.m., ABC): The noon shift isn’t bringing its A game this week. I suppose there is a possibility that the ‘Noles could get up for this one and catch the No. 2 Tigers sleepwalking? FSU has been mostly a mess on offense but is periodically competent on the other side of the ball.

Texas Tech at Iowa State (12:00 p.m., ESPN2): The Cyclones knocked off a previously undefeated West Virginia, stymieing the Mountaineers. Can they do it again against the Red Raiders’ efficient offense?

Vanderbilt at Arkansas (12:00 p.m., SECN): I told you it’s slim pickings in the noon viewing window. These two teams have a combined five wins and not a conference victory among them - but one lucky program will get their first SEC pelt today!

In other games: At noon, Purdue follows up their Ohio State upset with a date at Michigan State (ESPN) and No. 20 Wisconsin visits Northwestern (FOX). At 12:20 p.m., North Carolina is at Virginia (ACCN) in a game which is legitimately significant in the ACC Coastal race.

Afternoon (3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern)

You will of course be watching Florida vs. Georgia at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.

In other games: At 3:30 p.m., one-loss No. 18 Iowa visits two-loss No. 17 Penn State (ESPN), and undefeated No. 21 USF gets tested at Houston (ABC). At 4:00 p.m., No. 12 Kentucky visits Florida’s next opponent, Missouri (SECN), needing a win to keep pace with the Florida-Georgia winner in the SEC East race.

Evening (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern)

Texas A&M at Mississippi State (7:00 p.m., ESPN): The No. 16 Aggies are in Starkville for a date with the offensively challenged Bulldogs, who will be looking to get the taste of a loss to LSU out of their mouths.

Washington State at Stanford (7:00 p.m., PAC12): Playoff expansion proponent Mike Leach is back on the field with the one-loss No. 14 Cougs after their win over Oregon last week. This Saturday evening, Wazzu visits the No. 24 Cardinal.

Texas at Oklahoma State (8:00 p.m., ABC): After a week off, the No. 6 Longhorns begin a tough stretch of their schedule with a visit to Stillwater. The status of Texas QB Sam Ehlinger is still unclear, though it appears he may attempt to give it a go against the Cowboys.

In other games: At 7:00 p.m., No. 22 NC State is at Syracuse (ESPN2). Tennessee visits South Carolina at 7:30 p.m. (SECN), in a battle of two thoroughly mediocre SEC East opponents. There’s also No. 3 Notre Dame at Navy (8:00 p.m., CBS), a game which I cannot bring myself to care about.

And here is your schedule table for today’s games.