This week's college football weather forecast features extreme heat in the marquee matchup between Ohio State at Texas in Austin, and scattered showers and storms from the Plains to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic will be a headache for most Top 25 tailgates.

(MORE: Weather Labs football tailgate forecasts)

Extreme heat in Austin

Fans lining up for hours to score a spot at College GameDay will be dealing with brutal Texas heat well before kickoff. Temperatures are expected to climb into dangerous territory, so early arrivals and tailgaters should plan for:

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• Heat safety first – hydration, shade and frequent breaks are critical for anyone spending extended time outside the stadium.
• Timing your tailgate – the hottest stretch of the day will fall in the midafternoon, so morning and early evening tailgating will be more comfortable.
• Seek shade or shelter between tailgate activities during peak afternoon heat.
• Sun exposure – College GameDay crowds start lining up well before sunrise, so expect a sharp swing from cool morning temps to scorching midday heat. Sunscreen, light clothing and a refillable water bottle are must-haves.

(MORE: Heat can turn deadly fast. Here’s what your body is trying to tell you)

(MORE: 5 things you should know to stay safe during a heat wave)

Scattered storms from the Plains to the Mid-Atlantic

While Austin bakes, a major storm system is set to soak a huge swath of the country through the weekend — and it happens to cover most of this week's Top 25 matchups.

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Where the rain falls: Widespread showers and thunderstorms will stretch from Oklahoma across the Southeast, into the Mid-Atlantic and as far north as Pennsylvania.

Localized flash flooding is a concern for any areas hit by repeated rounds of storms — this includes parts of the Central Plains into the Mississippi Valley, where an elevated flash flood threat is expected Saturday.

Gusty winds with the stronger storms could lead to isolated power outages and downed trees, especially Friday into Saturday.

Cloud cover may cap Saturday's heat somewhat in the Southeast, but highs are still expected to reach the low 90s, with heat index values climbing into the upper 90s to low 100s.

The upside: For fans in areas that endured last week's brutal stadium heat, this system brings some welcome relief — scattered showers and cooler air are a fair trade-off for lower heat-illness risk, even with the flooding concerns.

Kickoff timing

With storms moving through at different points over the weekend, exact game-day conditions will depend heavily on timing:

• Early kickoffs may dodge the worst of the storm activity.
• Night games in storm-prone areas — especially in the Southeast — carry the highest risk for lightning delays.
• Fans should monitor local radar closely in the hours leading up to kickoff, since storm timing could shift.
• Have a lightning safety plan: If thunder roars, head indoors or to your vehicle.
• Secure tents and canopies — gusty storm winds could turn unsecured gear into a hazard.

Faiza Mohammed is a meteorologist intern at weather.com. She studied geography and worked with the Weather Dawgs team at the University of Georgia. She also received her master's in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.