As matters unfolded, however, a couple of the anticipated marquee contests aren’t exactly looking like game-of-the-century candidates or even games that will impact the College Football Playoff.

It took Joe Paterno — the winningest Division I coach in college football history — three years to turn a 5-5 team into an unbeaten club that finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.

South Carolina nearly pulled off a massive upset last week against Alabama, but a late collapse in the fourth quarter halted those hopes.