The world of college football is beginning to heat up after the College Football Playoff Selection Committee released its first rankings Tuesday. As the season enters its tenth week, here are some matchups to keep an eye on this weekend.

Tulsa at #6 Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m. CT

All eyes are on the Cincinnati Bearcats, now more than ever before. With the latest CFP rankings now available, Cincinnati currently sits at the No. 6 spot in the nation, to the chagrin of those within the college football community. Despite being unbeaten at 8-0, Cincinnati trails the Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes and Alabama Crimson Tide, all of whom have suffered a loss already this season.

As ESPN’s College GameDay will be broadcasting from the University of Cincinnati, the Bearcats will look to keep their streak rolling as they take on their American Athletic Conference rival in the 3-5 Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. Their most recent matchup saw the two teams fight down to the wire in the 2020 AAC Championship game, which Cincinnati won on a field goal in the final seconds.

With Cincinnati attempting to remain undefeated and earn their spot in the top four as the season draws to a close, the Bearcats are the overwhelming favorite to win and continue making their case for a National Championship bid with a 9-0 record after ten weeks.

Liberty at #16 Ole Miss, 11 a.m. CT

A Saturday afternoon game between the 6-2 Ole Miss Rebels and the 7-2 Liberty Flames is set to feature a duel between two quarterbacks in the conversation to win the Heisman Trophy. Liberty’s Malik Willis will seek to help the Flames secure a spot in the national rankings.

Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze is also set to make his return to Oxford after resigning from his position as head coach of the Rebels in 2017 amid a personal scandal. In his time with Liberty, Freeze has brought the program massive success since taking the reins in 2019, leading them to a 25-8 record thus far.

In what should be a competitive bout, the talent that Ole Miss has on its roster along with a potential first-round quarterback in Matt Corral simply outmatches that of Liberty University. That considered, the Rebels should earn their seventh victory of the year in front of their home crowd.

#13 Auburn at #14 Texas A&M, 2:30 p.m. CT

The #14 Texas A&M Aggies will host the Auburn Tigers in a conference matchup and attempt to leapfrog #13 Auburn in the rankings. Entering Saturday’s game, the Aggies are riding on a three-game win streak that began with their upset victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide on Oct. 9.

On the opposing sideline, the Tigers will seek to extend its unbeaten record on the road against the Aggies at Kyle Field. Auburn quarterback Bo Nix will be a major player to watch on the Tigers with a streak of impressive performances in recent weeks after a sluggish start to his season. Since falling to the Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 9, Nix and the Tigers have earned two major victories over Arkansas and Ole Miss. 

With both teams’ CFP ranking at stake, the contest between the two Southeastern Conference rivals should be one that remains close throughout. However, the momentum that Auburn holds going into Saturday’s game and the hot arm of Bo Nix suggest that the Tigers will continue their streak of dominance at Kyle Field.