Our 10 most intriguing games this weekend

While wondering if Lee Corso will don Blue Devils or Fighting Irish headgear Saturday morning, we offer 10 additional intriguing college football games on tap this weekend involving North Carolina teams:

(To read more about Duke-Notre Dame, click HERE)

(Check out this week’s Fabulous 14 team rankings HERE)

1. Louisville (4-0, 2-0 ACC) at NC State (3-1, 1-0)

Friday | 7 p.m.

The mood seems subdued in Raleigh these days after the loss to Notre Dame and a skin-of-the-teeth victory in Charlottesville last Friday. The Wolfpack has been bitten by the injury bug and sits as a 3.5-point underdog at home.

But this is where State coach Dave Doeren has been at his best in the past: backs against the wall, counted out, expectations lowered to a minimum. Don’t sleep on NC State — or the impact the Carter-Finley crowd can make — in this Friday night affair.

2. Mars Hill (3-0, 2-0 SAC) at Limestone (2-2, 2-0 SAC)

Saturday | Noon

The Lions look to keep rolling and will have to corral another potent offense to keep their record unblemished. Mars Hill and Tusculum (see their game below) both sit at 2-0 in the SAC Mountain Division. The other four Mountain teams are 0-2, so the Lions could put some early distance between several division rivals with a victory.

3. Johnson C. Smith (3-1, 2-0 CIAA) at Elizabeth City State (1-3, 0-2 CIAA)

Saturday | 1 p.m.

The top two teams in the CIAA in total defense square off. Could be a low-scoring affair. Johnson C. Smith hasn’t won four games in a season since 2019 and hasn’t won more than four since 2013. The Bulls give up just 172 yards per game, so the Vikings will need to muster some offense to halt the JCSU train.

4. San Diego (1-3, 1-0 PFL) at Davidson (2-2, 1-0 PFL)

Saturday | 1 p.m.

While ACC teams fret about future games against Cal and Stanford, Davidson is preparing for its yearly cross-country showdown with conference foe San Diego, this year at home. Despite the distance, a solid rivalry has formed in recent years.

The two teams shared the Pioneer Football League title in 2021. Davidson won it during the COVID shortened 2020/21 season. San Diego took the previous six titles (sharing it one year with Dayton). Davidson has the only quarterback in the PFL to enjoy a 300-yard passing game, Coulter Cleland. San Diego has already picked off six passes and recovered six fumbles in four games.

5. Barton (3-1, 1-1 SAC) at Tusculum (2-2, 2-0 SAC)

Saturday | 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs will look to get running back Jordan Terrell back on track again after a season-low 47-yard performance at Mars Hill. Terrell earned SAC offensive player of the week honors two weeks ago. Tusculum’s Matthew Palazzo took that honor this past week, accounting for four touchdowns and 282 yards of total offense in a win against Catawba.

6. Brevard (1-3, 1-0 USA South) at Greensboro (0-4, 0-1 USA South)

Saturday | 2 p.m.

Another intrastate match-up. The Tornados finally broke through with a victory on Saturday after a couple of narrow defeats. It was an exciting finish, a 37-35 double-overtime triumph when quarterback Ethan Beamish found Adam Douglas on a two-point try,

Brevard could move to 2-0 in the USA South standings with a victory against an in-state rival. Greensboro is still looking for its first victory, one of four teams in the conference in that position right now.

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7. NC A&T (0-3, 0-1 CAA) at Norfolk State (2-2, 0-0 MEAC)

Saturday | 2 p.m.

It has been a rough start to the Vincent Brown coaching era. Last year’s 7-4 season and near Big South Conference championship likely feel a world away as the squad adjusts to new leadership, new players and new conference surroundings (the CAA).

A&T will step out of conference this week, though, to play a former MEAC rival. The Aggies won 49-24 against the Spartans a year ago, and a similar result this year could ease some of the angst created by early season struggles.

8. William & Mary (4-0, 2-0) at Elon (2-2, 2-0)

Saturday | 2 p.m.

Two of the CAA’s three league unbeatens collide. The Tribe will bring the conference’s top defense. Elon boasts one of the league’s top running backs in Jalen Hampton, who scored four touchdowns at Campbell a week ago.

William & Mary is ranked fourth and fifth in the two major FCS Top 25 polls. Elon upset the Tribe a year ago. A repeat performance would have the Phoenix sitting pretty in the early conference race.

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9. Campbell (2-2, 1-2 CAA) at NC Central (3-1, 0-0 MEAC)

Saturday | 4 p.m.

Duke-Notre Dame isn’t the only big game being played in Durham on Saturday. The Camels and Eagles, who compete in the FCS, will square off a few miles down the road from Wallace Wade.

Here is hoping the ESPN College GameDay crew will spend some time featuring NC Central during its Saturday morning broadcast. The reigning HBCU champions, currently ranked No. 13 in the FCS, have earned it.

Campbell had Central’s number last year, though, winning 48-18. Will the Camels and Irish both spoil the party in Durham this weekend?

10. Charlotte (1-3, 0-0 American) at SMU (2-2, 0-0 American)

Saturday | 7:30 p.m.

While it seems a bunch of high-profile schools want to leave their current conference for perceived greener pastures, the 49ers feel nice and cozy as new members of the American Athletic. Charlotte will travel to Dallas for its first official AAC contest this weekend.

The Niners have been plucky on defense, holding Florida to a bevy of field goals last week while recording three sacks, seven tackles for loss and two turnovers. Defensive end Eyabie Okia-Anoma had eight tackles and a strip sack against the Gators. In the last two games Charlotte’s ‘D’ has recorded 13 tackles for loss and five sacks.

BONUS: Virginia State (4-0, 2-0 CIAA) at Shaw (1-3, 1-1 CIAA)

Saturday | 1 p.m.

There are actually THREE college football games being staged in the Bull City this Saturday. Shaw plays its home games at Durham County Memorial Stadium. Virginia State will be a tough foe for the Bears, though.

Anyone out there daring enough to try the ultimate triple-header: College GameDay from 9 a.m. until noon. Virginia State-Shaw game at 1 p.m. Campbell-NC Central at 4 p.m. The Notre Dame-Duke showdown on 7:30 p.m.

Here is the full schedule for this weekend:

Week 5 Schedule