College Open Thread - Oct. 13, Early Games

OMG YOU GUYS. RED RIVER SHOOTOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT. IT'S EVERYTHING I WANT AT ONCE. THE FOOTBALL. THE NEW FRIED FOODS. THE DALLAS. OH, DID YOU NOT KNOW I AM FROM DALLAS? I AM FROM DALLAS . THAT'S WHERE THIS GAME IS PLAYED. ITISAWESOMEOHWHEREAREMYPANTS.

#15 Texas v. #13 Oklahoma (12 p.m., ABC)

OH, YOU THOUGHT I WAS DONE? HELL NAW. I-35 PARTY SCENE IN THAT FACE OF YOURS.

Ok, enough. Most draft heads will follow the Texas DEs, Alex Okafor and Jackson Jeffcoat. Rams fans need to get a look in at Kenny Vaccaro. As much as I've talked up USC's T.J. McDonald, Vaccaro might be the best safety in the country. Junior guard Mason Walters should be on Rams fans' watchlists as well. True sophomore CB Quandre Diggs looks like a hell of an athlete, and might be someone to scout if you're looking for potential future NFC Westers.

As for the Sooners (boooooooo), they don't have a ton of elite talents this year, unless you're buying on QB Landry Jones. For Rams fans, FS Tony Jefferson, WR Kenny Stills and OT Lane Johnson are all potential Rams targets. I think OLB Corey Nelson is a sleeper option as well. And check out #79 RT Daryl Williams, a RS sophomore. He's playing much bigger than his 300-pound frame right now. If he can put in a good game against Okafor, he'll start picking up draft steam.

#17 Stanford at #7 Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., NBC)

This is all about the Notre Dame defense. In their last three games aginst then-#10 Michigan St., then-#18 Michigan and an unranked Miami team, the Irish gave up 12 points. Total. It starts up front. NT Louis Nix III, is a monster. Alongside him are senior DE Kapron Lewis-Moore (a day three 3-4 DE option) and sophomore DE Stephon Tuitt. Rams fans need to get a look at Tuitt. Big enough to play 4-3 DT, he's on track to be a top 10 pick IMO, largely because of that versatility. ILB Manti T'eo is one of the best players in the country. Rams fans need to get looks on C Braxton Cave and SS Zeke Motta. I'd include safety Jamoris Slaughter here, but he injured his ACL and is out for the year.

On the Cardinal's side, they're a bit light in the wake Andrew Luck left out in Palo Alto. ILB Shayne Skov is back in top form, but Rams fans should be eying OLB Chase Thomas. Stepfan Taylor is a fine RB prospect...but yall know how I feel about RBs. Ty Montgomery's coming along as a young WR, but he might sit out with a knee injury. Left tackle David Yankey is eligible to come out as a RS sophomore, though I expect him to stay at Stanford for at least another year. The two sophomores at the back of the defense are turning into impressive players as well: FS Ed Reynolds and SS Jordan Richards. In all, they're building up for a strong 2013 run. If QB Josh Nunes can soak up some tutelage throughout the year, they'll be in line for a legit Pac-12 run next year.