College Football Saturday Game Times, TV Schedule: Iowa v. Michigan State, ISU v. Kansas State, UNI v. S. Illinois

Oh, if only Michigan State v. Iowa on Saturday was as big a game as it should be. The game is a big Big Ten matchup, to be sure. But it could be bigger if not for Iowa’s meltdown against Central Michigan, which gave them the Hawkeyes their second loss of the year.

Still, as Bleacher Report points out, a rivalry has been brewing for a few years now: “These two programs recruit the same areas, play the same style of football, are in the same division and, historically, have similar records.

What Iowa lacks in importance, though, is made up for in potential excitement as Iowa State faces No. 6 Kansas State in a Big 12 matchup at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

K-State got off to a slow start last Saturday before ratcheting thing up in the second half to beat rival Kansas, 56-16.

The Cyclones are coming off a 37-23 win last week at then-No. 15 TCU, which pushed ISU up to No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll for the first time since 2005.

At this point, UNI is playing for pride. They’re 1-4 coming into Saturday’s game against 3-3 Southern Illinois.

Game times and television schedule:

Iowa State v. Kansas State, 11 a.m., televised on FX
Iowa v. Michigan State, 11 a.m., televised on ESPN
UNI v. S. Illinois, 2 p.m., not televised

Where to watch in West Des Moines:

• The Chicken Coop Sports Bar & Grill,
• 34’s Sports Bar
• 3 Bag
• 5th Street Pub
• Westport Lounge
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• The Longest Yard
• Saints Pub & Patio
• Stadium Grill
• Legends American Grill
• The Lounge Filling Station
• Cattoor’s  On Grand
• Wellman’s Pub & Rooftop
• Champps
• Bradley’s Pub
• Ocean Beach Bar and Grill
• Maddy’s Again
• Hooters