Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 showdowns impact playoff race

FILE - This Dec. 8, 2013, file photo, shows Michigan State's Denicos Allen holding up the trophy following the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis. Just as No. 13 Ohio State has been waiting for 11 months for another shot at Michigan State, watchers of the Buckeyes have been waiting to see what they might do against a team with comparable talent. After six straight games beating up on lesser opponents, now the Buckeyes, and their doubters, will see just how good they are. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File) FILE - This Dec. 8, 2013, file photo, shows Michigan State's Denicos Allen holding up the trophy following the Big Ten Conference championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis. Just as No. 13 Ohio State has been waiting for 11 months for another shot at Michigan State, watchers of the Buckeyes have been waiting to see what they might do against a team with comparable talent. After six straight games beating up on lesser opponents, now the Buckeyes, and their doubters, will see just how good they are. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)

By Associated Press November 7, 2014 4 min read

As college football’s regular season heads into its stretch run, plenty of intriguing plotlines are developing each week.

Revenge motives. Playoff implications. Clashes of style. Matchups of two-way players.

Here are some of the top things to watch this week:

BUCKEYES’ BIG CHANCE: No. 13 Ohio State continues to pay dearly for its early-season home loss to Virginia Tech, which has gone 2-5 since. The price of that defeat is evident from the Buckeyes’ No. 14 position in the College Football Playoff rankings.

Ohio State can make a statement to the selection committee – and earn a measure of revenge – when it travels to No. 7 Michigan State (No. 8 CFP). The Spartans beat Ohio State 34-24 in last year’s Big Ten championship game to ruin the Buckeyes’ national title hopes.