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Deion Sanders, Colorado under microscope this weekend against Oregon

It’s college football’s version of Super Saturday.

There will be six games featuring two top-25 opponents this Saturday, and that doesn’t even include the ACC showdown between Clemson and fourth-ranked Florida State in Death Valley.

It’s a fascinating day, which starts with the Florida State-Clemson showdown at noon, includes Deion Sanders and No. 19 Colorado meeting 10th-ranked Oregon at 3:30 p.m. and wraps up with a top-10 meeting between Ohio State and Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., at 7:30 p.m.

The Post’s Zach Braziller gets you ready for the monster day below with six players, coaches and teams under the microscope:

Deion Sanders

We start with Sanders, because of course we do.

He has been the biggest story of the college football season, a bombastic, flashy and outspoken Hall of Fame cornerback who has Colorado off to an impressive 3-0 start.

A win over Oregon would be even more impressive than the Buffaloes’ Week 1 stunner at TCU. The undefeated and explosive Ducks are 21-point favorites, and Colorado will be without two-way standout Travis Hunter (lacerated liver).

Tellingly, Sanders struck a different chord this week, praising his opponent rather than using the no respect card, as he had in recent weeks.

He knows what he’s up against.

Deion Sanders faces his toughest test yet.AP

Sam Hartman

Notre Dame quarterbacks threw 25 touchdown passes all of last year.

Hartman already has 13, igniting a Fighting Irish offense that is averaging more than 50 points per game.

The Wake Forest transfer has lived up to the hype so far, but Saturday will be when we begin to really find out about him. Beat No. 6 Ohio State at home, and he will become a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, and No. 9 Notre Dame will emerge as a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.

The spotlight will be on the super-senior. He chose Notre Dame for opportunities like these.

Nick Saban

The whispers are slowly growing louder: The legendary coach has lost a step at the age of 71.

Alabama is headed in the wrong direction.

The home loss to Texas two weeks ago was one thing.

But the panic move of benching quarterback Jalen Milroe against South Florida was another.

Neither Tyler Buchner nor Ty Simpson was the answer at quarterback in an ugly 17-3 victory last Saturday, and now Saban has gone back to the athletic Milroe, who is clearly his best option.

A loss at home to No. 15 Mississippi and former Saban assistant Lane Kiffin would all but eliminate the Crimson Tide from playoff consideration in September, unheard of for the powerhouse program.

It would also set unwanted history: The last time the Tide lost two straight games at Bryant-Denny Stadium was 2007, Saban’s first season in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Nick Saban’s Alabama squad is not as strong as in past years.Getty Images

Clemson

The Tigers are unranked, but an argument can be made that, after Alabama, they have the most on the line Saturday.

A victory over visiting Florida State would put Clemson back in the playoff mix and in position to reach the ACC championship game.

A loss would make the rest of this season about salvaging a lost year that began with a loss to Duke, which is still undefeated.

Dabo Swinney’s team has responded well to that opening defeat, notching back-to-back blowout victories over Charleston Southern and FAU.

Most importantly, quarterback Cade Klubnik has been impressive, throwing for seven touchdowns in those two games. If that is a sign the former top recruit has found his game, Clemson can beat Florida State, which has shown slippage of late coming off a near disastrous loss at Boston College.

A noteworthy stat: Swinney’s team is a home underdog for the first time since a game against Lamar Jackson and No. 3 Louisville on Oct 2, 2016. Clemson and Deshaun Watson prevailed that day, and went on to win the national championship.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

After a quiet opener, Harrison has found his stride, catching 12 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns the last two weeks.

Ohio State’s superstar wideout can wreck games, but he will face a stiff test from Notre Dame cornerbacks Cam Hart and Benjamin Morrison.

Marvin Harrison Jr. plays a key role in the Ohio State offense.Getty Images

In the matchup last year, the Fighting Irish held Harrison to five catches for 56 yards in a 21-10 loss to the Buckeyes. Keep your eye on how Notre Dame deals with Harrison.

It could determine the winner.

Cameron Rising

The loaded Pac-12 just got better with the expected return of Utah’s star quarterback.

Rising, who produced 32 touchdowns a year ago, is expected to start for the 11th-ranked Utes after he missed the first three games while recovering from ACL surgery.

He’s coming back at the right time, as Utah hosts surprising UCLA ahead of a trip to No. 14 Oregon State next weekend.

Cameron Rising is coming back to the field at a crucial time.USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

Utah already has two wins over power five opponents Florida and Baylor, and now it is getting back its best player.

USC, Washington and Oregon are ranked higher nationally, but Utah won the conference last year and can absolutely repeat with a healthy Rising.

Drew Allar

There has been ample hype in State College, Pa., surrounding Allar, Penn State’s sophomore quarterback.

He has backed it up so far during the Nittany Lions’ perfect start, showcasing a big arm with no interceptions yet in 88 passing attempts.

Now, Allar will face his first legitimate opponent, No. 24 Iowa, which is allowing just 12.3 points per game and features a robust secondary led by cornerback Cooper DeJean and safety Quinn Schulte.

It will be interesting to see how Allar fares, and it could offer some insight into Penn State’s chances against Big Ten East powers Ohio State and Michigan.



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