usatoday
The sixth week of the college football season commences with a quartet of Thursday night games on October 10, preceding the bulk of Saturday's action. At 7 p.m. ET, Sam Houston travels to Liberty while Missouri State visits Western Kentucky. Then at 7:30 p.m. ET, South Florida faces UTSA and South Alabama takes on Arkansas State.
The American Athletic Conference showdown between UTSA and South Florida holds significant implications for the league standings. Both squads enter the contest with only one loss apiece. Although Memphis is currently viewed as the favorite to capture the conference title, the Roadrunners and Bulls are considered leading contenders to challenge the Tigers for a spot in the AAC championship game. That title matchup could ultimately decide which team secures a bid to the College Football Playoff.
Liberty, sporting a 4-1 record, squares off against Sam Houston. The Flames' lone setback occurred in Week 1, a 20-13 defeat at the hands of undefeated James Madison. Liberty aims to sustain its winning momentum as it pursues a conference championship and potentially a New Year's Six bowl invitation.
Key Analysis
Thursday night games frequently offer an early preview of conference races, and this week's lineup is no different. The UTSA-USF clash could have broad ramifications for the Group of Five's New Year's Six representative, as the AAC champion is expected to be in contention for that prestigious spot. Meanwhile, Liberty's outing against Sam Houston will reveal whether the Flames can keep their strong start going.
How to Watch
- Sam Houston at Liberty: 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU (streaming on ESPN app, Fubo)
- Missouri State at Western Kentucky: 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network (streaming on Fubo)
- South Florida at UTSA: 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (streaming on ESPN app, Fubo)
- South Alabama at Arkansas State: 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 (streaming on ESPN app, Fubo)
All games can be streamed via the ESPN app with a valid cable login, or through Fubo, which offers a free trial. The ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and CBS Sports Network will broadcast the games.
Originally reported by usatoday.