As we approach the end of October, conference tournament berths still need hashing out — especially in major conferences. The next week should be a crucial one in piecing everything together, especially for sides that don’t necessarily have the kind of signature wins that can guarantee an NCAA Tournament spot. Here’s a look at five matchups that might offer some clarity.

Thursday, October 20

Notre Dame at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. (ACCN Xtra)

Virginia Tech is a difficult side to judge. There are passages where the Hokies can hang with the best in the ACC; their upset win over North Carolina showed as such. But there have also been moments of inconsistency, highlighted by some defensive mistakes to lose a half time lead against Virginia. They will need to be at their best to beat a resurgent Notre Dame side. Korbin Albert and Olivia Wingate have been tearing teams apart in recent weeks — and will look to do so once again. Stopping them will be key for a Hokies side that appears to be on the bubble.

North Carolina at Florida State, 8 p.m. (ACC Network)
Another week, another massive ACC matchup. Florida State got its statement win last week, depositing Duke at home. That victory opened up a three point gap between the Seminoles and the rest of the field heading into the final week of ACC play. But they have one more big game ahead. Although North Carolina has fallen victim to a series of injuries, coach Anson Dorrance still has talent abound — and enough experience to knock off a conference leader.

TCU at Oklahoma, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)

TCU finds itself looking up in the Big 12 standings, trailing a rampant Texas team. To push for the regular season title, a win over Oklahoma is vital. But the Sooners won’t make things easy. They’ve shown a penchant for competing with conference rivals, beating Baylor and Iowa State — and snatching a tie against Oklahoma State. History is certainly on the Horned Frogs’ side — they’ve won this fixture six times a row. But a Thursday night road game can cause problems for any team.

Saturday, October 22

Portland at Santa Clara, 4 p.m. (WCC Network)
Santa Clara endured a torrid start to the season, reeling from a handful of injuries in the early goings. Since then, though, things have picked up. Striker Izzy D’Aquila looks like one of the best forwards in the nation, while a previously vapid defense has awoken. The Broncos are undefeated in conference play, with big wins over San Francisco and Saint Mary's highlighting their strong run. Portland represents the next big obstacle. The Pilots are in need of a win after falling to BYU last weekend, and will certainly be up for this one as they look to beat Santa Clara for the second year in a row.

Rutgers at Michigan State, 2 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Michigan State is one of the surprises of college soccer this year and has steadily gone about beating some of the best sides in the Big Ten — and now leads the conference. Rutgers is the next challenger — and might be the trickiest test yet. The Scarlet Knights are 5-1-2 in conference play without reaching their true potential. Still, they can be devastating going forward, and are talented defensively, too. A Michigan State win might guarantee the regular season title. And Rutgers would love to spoil that party.

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