SALT LAKE CITY — With only four spots available in the College Football Playoff, every week is huge. A loss in Week 3 could keep a powerhouse team out of the playoffs. Here are a few of the biggest games this week that could have the strongest implications down the line.

No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0) at No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels (1-1)

Alabama is the favorite to win the national championship. Ole Miss had a 38-13 win against FCS Wofford last week, but the Rebels are still reeling from the meltdown they experienced against Florida State in Week 1. The last two seasons, Ole Miss has beaten Alabama. Head coach Nick Saban hasn’t lost to the same team three times in a row since coming to Alabama. Alabama is looking for revenge, and Ole Miss is looking to tap into that magic it had in the past.

No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0) at No. 14 Oklahoma Sooners (1-1)

The Sooners are desperate, with their backs against the wall. After dropping their season opener to nationally-ranked Houston, the Sooners need to win this game to have a shot at the playoffs. If the Buckeyes win this game, the Sooners' season is over in just three weeks. Ohio State is a young team, but it has proven to be a great team the last two weeks. The Sooners are the first tough competition of the season for the Buckeyes, but the defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown all season. Urban Meyer is 18-0 on the road while at Ohio State.

No. 2 Florida State Seminoles (2-0) at No. 10 Louisville Cardinals (2-0)

A rising dark horse for the Heisman Trophy winner this season is Louisville quarterback Lamar Houston, who’s been putting on a show the past two weeks. Houston is one of the most efficient runners in college football, even dating back to last season. He has seemingly been able to run over any team at will except Florida State. Last season, the Seminoles shut down Houston, holding him to 32 yards on 17 carries. Florida State has one of the most explosive offenses in college football, but this game will be decided by the defense.

North Dakota State Bison (2-0) at No. 13 Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)

No team has been more dominant at the FCS level the past few years than North Dakota State, which has won the FCS Championship every year since 2011, while destroying teams along the way. The Bison, who are currently ranked No. 1 in FCS, have lost only five games during that five-season run, including an undefeated season in 2013. Former NDSU quarterback Carson Wentz received the honor of being the highest-ever selected FCS quarterback with the No. 2 selection in the 2016 NFL Draft. On the other side of the ball, Iowa shocked everyone last season by going 12-0 before getting edged out by Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship, taking a playoff spot that would have likely been Iowa’s. They’re both very potent programs, so this game will be fascinating.

Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) at No. 4 Michigan Wolverines (2-0)

There was a time when Colorado was seen as one of the top programs in the nation. Those times are no more. Colorado now finds itself as the doormat of the Pac-12. However, this season, Colorado has turned heads a bit by putting away its first two opponents — hated in-state rival Colorado State and Idaho State — by a combined score of 100-14. There’s no reason to believe the Buffaloes will win the game, but there’s also no reason to think it won’t be a tough game for the Wolverines. This one could be closer than you think.

No. 17 Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) at Auburn Tigers (1-1)

Although Texas A&M is ranked and undefeated, Auburn is the favorite. Auburn started the season by losing to then No. 2 Clemson Tigers by only six points. If Auburn finds a way to run the table and beat hated rivals Alabama and LSU, a playoff spot is potentially in its future. But it starts this week. Texas A&M, however, started the season by putting away then No. 16 UCLA Bruins. Both of these teams are in the SEC, and if either of them can run the table they have a shot at a playoff spot. If Auburn loses this game, its season is over in terms of the playoffs.

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