🏈 Penn State, Tennessee Could Crack CFP Door

These games are where preseason pipe dreams either get fulfilled or dashed. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider with Martin Rogers: Penn-State-Michigan is what fans of college football’s door-knockers wish for … Cooper Rush’s presence means Dak Prescott won’t be rushed back … and more! If you’re one of college football’s door-knockers, the kind of program that goes into every season with a fan base that hopes – rather than expects – this is everything that springs to mind during those summer months of wondering. Those types of fans become masters over time at creating mental lists, sizing up and stacking together the collection of items that need to go right and get crossed off, just for that initial sliver of a chance at glory not to be squashed. Outside the bluest of blue bloods, it is the same kind of thought, for young and old, the same level of guarded optimism. The same feelings of "maybe." If maybe this could be the year. If maybe a sprinkling of stardust might fall gently, not just in the right way but also at the right time, onto the right shoulders, bringing some good fortune with it, too. Here’s what gets wished for. It’s what is happening this week in State College, where Penn State finds itself at 5-0 and with destiny an arm’s reach away, albeit accompanied by the giant caveat that the hardest bit is overwhelmingly ahead. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions are Michigan-bound on Saturday (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App), a trek to the Big House that comes loaded with delicious potential, in a matchup where many observers feel the visitors might have a structural makeup ideally designed to victimize the shortcomings of Jim Harbaugh’s group. "It is a difficult one for Michigan," FOX college football analyst Joel Klatt said on "The Herd." "Penn State has transformed. They are far different than they were a year ago. Their strengths are actually right where you need to be strong to face Michigan. From a matchup standpoint? This is a difficult matchup from the Michigan standpoint." This is what getting into position looks like, averting early season landmines and earning the right to attempt an upset, not for an upset’s sake, but with grander fantasies like a Big Ten title and even a College Football Playoff spot intact. For the rest of the story, [click here.]( [STORY IMAGE 1] [IN OTHER WORDS] - With Cooper Rush playing well, [the Cowboys aren't feeling rushed]( in having Dak Prescott return from his thumb injury too early, David Helman writes. - Can Penn State upset Michigan? Will Utah slow USC's Caleb Williams? RJ Young and Michael Cohen run through [college football’s top storylines]( in Week 7. - The Seahawks have found a gem in rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen, while the 49ers haven't missed a beat with Jeff Wilson Jr. at running back. Check out [whose stock is rising and falling]( in Eric D. Williams’ NFC West notebook. - With their wideouts struggling to make an impact, [the Giants' best option]( might be deploying Saquon Barkley more in the passing game, Ralph Vacchiano writes. - What are the CFP teams so far? Who are the top Heisman candidates? We surveyed FOX Sports staff for [their midseason picks](. - After shoulder trouble last season, 2020 Cy Young winner Shane Bieber is ready to face the Yankees on Friday in [the biggest start of his career]( Jake Mintz writes. For the latest news and updates, [click here.]( [VIEWER'S GUIDE] Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros (TBS, 3:37 p.m. ET) Luis Castillo takes the mound for the Seattle Mariners, while Framber Valdez gets the start for the Houston Astros in Game 2 of this ALDS matchup. Washington Commanders at Chicago Bears (PRIME, 8:15 p.m. ET) Carson Wentz leads the Washington Commanders into Chicago to take on Justin Fields and the Bears. For all of today's games and scores, [click here](. [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Alabama at Tennessee: Tennessee +7.5 From FOX Sports Betting Analyst Jason McIntyre: This is a showdown of undefeated, top 10 teams, but the Bryce Young injury looms large in this one. Alabama was able to escape Texas A&M 24-20 last week without its star QB, but Bama didn’t come close to covering as 24-point favorites. Now, the Tide are taking a road trip to Knoxville to face Hendon Hooker and the explosive Vols. Tennessee ranks second in the country in scoring (46.8 ppg), and the Vols lit up Florida for 38 points and LSU for 40. The Vols can score, but can they get stops? Last year they grabbed a 14-7 lead over Alabama after a quarter, only to give up 575 yards of offense in a 52-24 rout. The Vols haven’t beaten Alabama since 2006, when they scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to rally to victory. As the old saying goes, you’ve lost a lot of money fading Nick Saban over the years. But if Young is ruled out here, I’ll gladly take the home team and the hook. For the latest betting odds, [click here](. [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2022 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900