Week 7 is full of huge games. All major national games will obviously affect the Buckeyes, though Ohio State’s rooting interests are clearer in some than in others.

First of all, as always, don’t overlook any games. Will South Carolina upset Georgia? Exceedingly unlikely. But it’s definitely good for Ohio State if the Gamecocks do. Any time any of the other 21 contenders I listed in CFP Implications loses, it only helps Ohio State. (Well, Penn State and Wisconsin staying strong until the Buckeyes play them is fine, also.)

At noon on Saturday, the Red River Rivalry will either eliminate Texas or put the whole Big 12 in a lot of trouble. It’s a win-win for Ohio State, but Oklahoma winning is probably better (more on that below).

The afternoon window is where things get crazy. Alabama visits Texas A&M while Florida State visits Clemson. An upset in either of those games would be huge for Ohio State’s perception (both happening would likely move the Buckeyes up to No. 1 in at least one of the polls). Also in that window, Wisconsin hosts Michigan State. Neither result in that game is bad for the Buckeyes, though Wisconsin winning makes their upcoming game against Ohio State a blockbuster matchup.

Also, don’t forget about Cincinnati. The Bearcats just missed out on being ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll, but did get into the AP Poll at No. 25. They visit Houston, and the game will be on ESPN2. The more positive press and performances Cincinnati pulls out, the better it is for the Buckeyes. Remember, Ohio State didn’t play any Power 5 teams out of conference, so Cincinnati rising up and being a ranked team is very good for the Buckeyes.

At night, USC takes on Notre Dame. While Ohio State fans should usually wrote against contenders, here I think rooting for Notre Dame is best. It will further knock the Pac 12 out of the picture, which is only good for the Buckeyes. Notre Dame losing isn’t bad either, though, because the Pac 12 will probably beat itself up anyway.

Last week I spoke about the conflict in who to root for between Iowa and Michigan. Now that Iowa fell to the Wolverines, though, there’s no further conflict this week. Root for Penn State so that the November matchup between the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes is as high-profile as possible.

Which brings us to the final high-profile game of the night–Florida vs LSU. The Buckeyes don’t have a particular rooting interest here, though a blowout (for either team) is better than a close win. What Ohio State doesn’t want to see, though, is both Texas and LSU winning this week. If Texas is the best team in the Big 12, then an 11-1 LSU team (with a sole loss to either Alabama or Auburn) will be a serious contender for a Playoff bid, even if it doesn’t win the SEC. Ohio State will obviously be fine if it’s undefeated–that’s a standard I’ve been saying all year–but it doesn’t want to be fighting with an 11-1 LSU for a potential fourth spot. The Buckeyes need LSU’s resume to be weaker, or for LSU to lose multiple games.

Lastly, keep an eye on the late Pac 12 games. Not only are they incredibly fun, but losses by Utah (unlikely) and Arizona (likely) will all but wipe the Pac 12 out of the Playoff picture. Not worrying about the Pac 12 champion helps Ohio State–and it means more wiggle room if the Buckeyes eventually fall to Penn State or in the Big Ten Championship Game.