Being content is the secret to happiness.
Don’t believe me? Consider this: what makes you unhappy? More often than not, I bet the answer to that question will be some variant of “I don’t have [insert something here], and I want it.”
We see and hear of and imagine others with more things than us, different things than us, better things than us. Whatever the reason, we envy what others have. And sometimes, if we can’t find others to envy, we envy hypothetical versions of ourselves that made one or two different choices and are now, we presume, better off than us. Not even the richest, most blessed, most well-off person in the world is immune to this self-torture.
Nothing is perfect. Everything can be better. So, in our chase for that next greater, thing we press ever on in a never-ending scramble that lasts until we die. Sounds terrible, doesn’t it?
What if you accepted where you were was good enough, in this present time? Even for a moment, what if you just decided to rest, to lay your striving down for a second? With time to look around at your surroundings, examine your circumstances anew, would you perhaps see the chinks of goods shining through the cracks of your life, lighting it up?
Only you can answer that question, but bottom line: I’d encourage you to accept this college football Saturday as it stands. It’s not the most stacked, but basking in its glow can lead you to simple appreciation. We have football. A good chunk of it should be fun. Come join me in contentedness.
Evening
I really waffled between the Early or Evening windows. But aside from the headliner, I don’t see much of note in this timeslot, so I’d take this rare chance to take your significant other on a wonderful date. The days are getting chillier, but they’re not quite cold, so maybe go for a dusky walk somewhere pretty after a yummy dinner. Or maybe you’re more the board-games-and-chill type. Pull out that giant checkers set you picked up at a Cracker Barrel on a road trip all those years ago and have some fun.
Early Games
Big Screen
Kentucky at Ole Miss
I could say Kentucky’s been a big surprise so far, but I’d be lying. The Cats’ big win was over a Florida team that looks more meh every week. Will Levis has looked the usual amount of dominant, but he’s not getting much help from the backfield. Ole Miss is Bizarro Kentucky, with a solid run attack and disappointing passing. Jaxson Dart needs to live up to his last name and throw more of them. Both defenses have been balanced. Time to see which team’s a contender, and which is a pretender.
Small Screen
Oklahoma at TCU
After falling victim to the resurgent Adrian Martinez and his Wildcats last week, the Sooners need a palate cleanser. They will not get their wish. TCU’s been great on offense, but that secondary? Woof. Dillon Gabriel should take the Frogs’ coverage team for a ride, but can Max Duggan put the pieces together to make it a close one?
Watch The Score
Oregon State at Utah (2pm/1pm, PAC12N)
Texas Tech at Kansas State (12pm/11am, ESPN+)
Michigan at Iowa (12pm/11am, FOX)
Afternoon Games
Big Screen
Alabama at Arkansas
The sky is blue, the Pope is Catholic, and Alabama is good. Whoop-di-doo. Or so you’d think until you glance briefly at who it played. The Tide’s flagship win right now is a squeaker over the vaunted Texas Longhorns. They’re rounding into a really tough portion of their schedule now. We should be able to see whether Bama’s struggles in Austin were a fluke or a portent this week as it travels to Fayetteville. The Hogs are coming off a tough, close loss to Texas A&M in JerryWorld. KJ Jefferson still doesn’t look stupendously good throwing the ball, and the Razorback secondary has given up over 300 yards of passing a game. The variables here are intriguing.
Small Screen
Oklahoma State at Baylor
A rematch of last year’s Big 12 title game that the Cowboys lost by a literal inch. Oklahoma State has a really dangerous passing offense while lacking a serious pass defense. At least I think that’s true. It’s hard to tell when the only serious it has is a drubbing of Arizona State. Then there’s Baylor, which seems to have improved through September. No longer playing pickleball, Blake Shapen led an efficient attack while the defense shut down the run and (for the most part) contained the pass. This one has bad blood, and it’s a “gold-out” game in Waco. Yours truly will be there in person.
Watch The Score
Texas A&M at Mississippi State (4pm/3pm, SECN)
Iowa State at Kansas (3:30pm/2:30pm, ESPN2)
Late Games
Big Screen
NC State at Clemson
We’ve got a possible monsoon game brewing. Hurricane Ian should be a tropical depression hanging out just north of Clemson at game time, so weather could affect this one. NC State’s big win thus far was over feisty Texas Tech. The Wolfpack is having trouble gaining yards on offense, but Clemson hasn’t defended the pass terribly well, so maybe this is Devin Leary’s breakout game. NC State does have a rock solid defense that should stress DJ Uiagalelei by taking away the Will Shipley-led run game. Clemson worked hard to overcome a dangerous Wake Forest team last week… will there be a hangover effect?
Small Screen
West Virginia at Texas
Sure, I guess this one’s fine. Two .500 teams facing off in Austin. This would be a great time for Texas to show its fight. The Horns’ offense has really disappointed, and they’ve had trouble playing consistent defense. Hudson Card isn’t who Sark wants leading this team, but he’s splitting first-team reps in practice this week with Quinn Ewers, who might come back and give Texas a spark. And he could do well, as West Virginia struggles a bit in the secondary. But JT Daniels is commanding a decent Mountaineer attack that also boasts the 20th-best running game in the nation and gobbles up the clock, holding onto the ball well.
