Note: Rankings reflect the SPLN Top 117 Poll results.
Saturday's games
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No. 1 MIAMI (FL) (2-0) at
TEMPLE (1-1) 12 p.m. ET, Franklin Field, Philadelphia, ESPN-Plus |
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| Once the smoke cleared in Gainesville, Miami clearly established that it was every bit as strong as last year, when it coasted to the national title. The next big test won't come until Oct. 12 vs. FSU. Until then, the 'Canes entertain themselves against the likes of Temple, which has failed to score against them in two of the past three meetings. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Temple defensive lineman Dan Klecko is one of the best in the Big East, but how will he fare against Miami's offensive line? If Klecko fails to get pressure on Ken Dorsey, it's more evidence that this year's O-line has the goods to help the Hurricanes to another championship. | Willis McGahee is now a full-fledged Heisman candidate, so it will be interesting to see how he handles the attention. McGahee gained more than 200 yards against the Gators but isn't even the team's leading rusher. That honor falls to backup tailback Jason Geathers, a converted wideout. | The 'Canes own the nation's longest winning streak (24 games), have won a Big East-record 17 consecutive conference games and have won their past 12 on the road. By the way, did anyone notice Florida A&M put up more points at Miami than the Gators managed against them at the Swamp? |
| Bottom line: With Miami's backups getting so much action, it might as well be fielding two teams. Hurricanes, 51-10. | ||
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UTEP (1-1) at No. 2 OKLAHOMA (2-0) 3:30 p.m. ET, Memorial Stadium, Norman |
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| OU escaped an Alabama team that abused it for most of the second half but lost starter Jason White in the process. Nate Hybl resumes a starting role against UTEP, which gave up 600 yards of offense in last week's 77-17 loss at Kentucky. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Renaldo Works bailed out the Sooners with his hard-nosed running and will get more action this week. Look for him and fellow tailback Kejuan Jones to see more playing time if teams keep coming up with ways to stop Quentin Griffin, who isn't a between-the-tackles type of runner. | Hybl has twice been beaten out by White and reclaimed the job because of injuries both times. Word out of Norman is that another QB controversy could pop up once redshirt freshman Brent Rawls is able to play. Rawls tore ligaments in his thumb during the team's first scrimmage. | UTEP coach Gary Nord counted 33 missed tackles in the loss to Kentucky, which led to roughly half of UK's 600-yard output. OU's Antonio Perkins is averaging nearly 20 yards per punt return and had a 91-yarder vs. Tulsa. Three of his eight returns have gone for more than 20 yards. |
| Bottom line: Oklahoma enters its bye week on a high as it prepares for tougher challenges. Sooners, 43-3. | ||
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No. 3 TEXAS (1-0) at
NORTH CAROLINA (1-1) 8 p.m. ET, Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, ABC |
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| The largest crowd in UNC history is expected for the return of Mack Brown, who left the program five years ago to fulfill his father's fantasy of him coaching at Texas. Brown has placed the Longhorns back among the national elite, while Carolina has fallen back to the pack after tasting great success in his 10-year reign. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Nathan Vasher put on a show in last year's meeting, establishing school and Big 12 records with his eight punt returns for 153 yards, setting up the Longhorns for easy scores. Vasher returned four punts for 123 yards in the opener against North Texas and his 30.8-yard average ranks second in the nation. | Eight starters are gone from last year's sturdy UNC defense, including NFL first-rounders Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims. It's no surprise that through two games, opponents are averaging 179 yards on the ground against the Heels, which gave up just over 100 yards per game last season. | Dan Orner kicked three field goals of more than 50 yards last week, tying an NCAA record. Texas won last year's meeting in Austin 44-14. This home-and-home series was actually scheduled when Brown was still coaching the Tar Heels. Texas is 33-0 under Brown when they outrush an opponent. |
| Bottom line: Benson's big night helps offset a gutty effort from UNC's Darian Durant and the Tar Heels' passing game. Longhorns, 35-27. | ||
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No. 5 FLORIDA STATE (2-0) at
MARYLAND (1-1) 7:47 p.m. ET, Byrd Stadium, College Park, ESPN |
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| For the 10th consecutive season, this matchup will feature the defending ACC champions, but for the first time, that team isn't Florida State. Despite losing last year's meeting in Tallahassee, Maryland's 7-1 record ended the Seminoles' stronghold on the conference. But FSU has re-emerged as the league favorite. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| LB E.J. Henderson keys a Maryland defense that will have to keep the Terps in games until their rebuilt offense gets going. Henderson has shown no ill effects from offseason back surgery and will be counted on to get pressure on QB Chris Rix and contain RB Greg Jones, who has a streak of four consecutive 100-yard rushing games working. | If the Seminoles rushing game is half as good as it was against Virginia, FSU has to be viewed as a legitimate title contender. Jones' career-high 173 yards keyed an attack that racked up 397 rushing yards against the Cavaliers and gives Bobby Bowden another weapon to an arsenal that also includes Rix and an impressive corps of receivers. | FSU is 10-0 against Maryland since joining the ACC, winning games by an average score of 51-15. The Seminoles stopped Virginia on 12 of 13 third downs in their 40-19 victory. Maryland's Bruce Perry, who emerged as one of the country's top tailbacks last season, is unlikely to suit up, but he's expected back by month's end. |
| Bottom line: Ralph Friedgen's offense continues to gel but still can't get close enough to topple FSU. Seminoles, 44-28. | ||
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No. 6 MICHIGAN (2-0) at No. 21
NOTRE DAME (2-0) 2:30 p.m. ET, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, NBC |
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| Tyrone Willingham is the first Notre Dame coach to start his tenure 2-0, a feat made even more impressive by the fact that his team has yet to score an offensive touchdown. If he beats Michigan, offer him a lifetime contract. The Wolverines are playing on the road for the first time and have struggled defensively. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Carlyle Holiday has played in some big games in his brief time at Notre Dame. But in many ways, none are bigger than this one. He seems to have a firm grasp of the West Coast offense. This could be the game where it all comes together, which could be very bad for Michigan. | The Wolverines defense has had numerous breakdowns the first two weeks, surrendering big plays through the air; the secondary was supposed to be the defense's main area of strength. Notre Dame has only turned the ball over once in two games and does a great job of chipping away at a defense. | The Fighting Irish defeated Purdue despite just one completion in the second half. Their defense has accounted for three touchdowns, and the special teams has added another. Michigan TB Chris Perry is averaging 5.9 yards per carry, while FB B.J. Askew chimes in with 5.4 yards per touch. These longtime rivals haven't played since 1999. |
| Bottom line: Notre Dame's offense scores! But once again, defense and special teams deliver victory. Fighting Irish, 23-20. | ||
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No. 7 NEBRASKA (3-0) at No. 24
PENN STATE (1-0) 8 p.m. ET, Beaver Stadium, State College, ABC |
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| Nebraska gets its toughest test yet as it hits the road for the first time. Penn State is looking to re-establish its status as a national power. The Huskers have coasted through their first three games, giving new quarterback Jamaal Lord time to get established. He has thrived but now gets his first look at a defense that specializes at stopping the run. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Defensive linemen Michael Haynes and Jimmy Kennedy are two of the nation's best at stopping the run. Their containment of Nebraska's option will ultimately decide this outcome. It's up to Kennedy to give Lord fits and force him into poor decisions. | The Huskers need to regain the aura of invincibility sacrificed in blowout losses to Colorado and Miami at the end of last season. Struggling to put away Troy State didn't help, but a big victory in Happy Valley would go a long way in re-establishing their rep as a bully. | Nebraska is coming off its most productive offensive outing, gaining 418 total yards against Utah St. With a sellout of more than 108,000 expected, the crowd will be the largest to watch a Nebraska game. These schools haven't met since 1983. Penn State holds a 6-5 series advantage. |
| Bottom line: Penn State's improved passing game puts them in position for the upset, but the "black shirts" hold off a final rally. Huskers, 27-24. | ||
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No. 13 WASHINGTON STATE (2-0) at No. 8
OHIO STATE (2-0) 3:30 p.m. ET, Ohio Stadium, Columbus, ABC |
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| This could be a possible Rose Bowl preview. Ohio State has dismantled Texas Tech and Kent State, averaging 48 points behind one of the nation's top rushing attacks. Washington State has similarly destroyed Nevada and Idaho, relying on a potent passing game authored by Heisman Trophy candidate Jason Gesser. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| It's hard not to root for Devard Darling. The FSU transfer lost his twin brother, Devaughn, last year after he collapsed during an offseason workout in Tallahassee. He has found a home in Pullman, thriving as the team's leading receiver this season. The first of his three touchdowns last week was dedicated to his brother, whom he calls his guardian angel. | Expect a truly great battle between the Cougars receivers and Ohio State's superb secondary. Besides Darling, WSU also fields Mike Bush, a 6-6 receiver who doubles as one of the basketball team's top scorers, and fellow seniors Jerome Riley and Collin Henderson. The Buckeyes boast a pair of All-America safeties in Mike Doss and Donnie Nickey. | Many people will be getting their first look at Maurice Clarett, who gained 175 yards and scored three TDs in his debut against Texas Tech. He's the first true freshman tailback to start for the Buckeyes. Ohio State has won all seven meetings against WSU. The Cougars have scored in 203 consecutive games since a 44-0 loss to the Buckeyes in 1984. |
| Bottom line: In a truly special game, Clarett continues his big splash. Buckeyes, 31-24. | ||
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No. 9 GEORGIA (0-1) at
SOUTH CAROLINA (1-0) 3:30 p.m. ET, Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, CBS |
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| Lou Holtz was still pulling his hair out over his team's seven turnovers in last week's loss at Virginia. The last team he wanted to see was Georgia, equipped with what he calls the best offensive line and receiving corps in the country. That said, the Gamecocks have won the past two meetings against their SEC East rival. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Young and ultra-talented, Georgia QB David Greene is nevertheless fighting for his job. Greene, last year's SEC freshman of the year, is trying to hold off D.J. Shockley, a superb redshirt freshman who threw for a score and ran for one in his collegiate debut against Clemson. Coach Mark Richt's handling of this situation is a quality sub-plot in this one. | Holtz is a master at directing a game's tempo, but he'll have little room for error. If Georgia establishes an early lead, South Carolina lacks the personnel to match up. QB Corey Jenkins is exciting, but he is without big-play receiver James Adkisson (knee injury). Plugging away on the ground with Andrew Pinnock won't get it done if the Gamecocks are down by more than one score. | South Carolina has dropped out of the national polls, in which they had appeared for 20 consecutive weeks, a school record. The Gamecocks haven't beaten Georgia in three consecutive tries. Jenkins leads the Gamecocks in both rushing and passing. Georgia senior receiver Terence Edwards owns the school's all-time record in TD receptions and ranks second in catches and receiving yards. |
| Bottom line: Georgia's dueling quarterbacks combine to lead another second-half comeback. Bulldogs, 30-24. | ||
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IDAHO (0-2) at No. 11 OREGON (2-0) 3:30 p.m. ET, Autzen Stadium, Eugene |
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| Oregon narrowly escaped Fresno State's upset bid last week. Things should get easier with Idaho coming to town. The Vandals have lost to WAC favorite Boise State and nationally ranked Washington State but have managed to move the ball well through the air. Despite the quality of competition, Idaho's passing attack ranks 21st in the country. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| There's little choice but to watch Smith, who has been a racehorse. While breaking in new quarterback Jason Fife, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti has opted to put the ball in Smith's hands more often, and he has averaged 31.5 carries and 124 yards through the Ducks' first two games. | Idaho QB Brian Lindgren threw for 637 yards in a game last season, the third-highest total in I-A history. The Vandals aren't shy about putting it up, but they aren't too adept at defending either. They gave up 40 or more points six times last season and are allowing a 43.5-point average through two games. This should be Saturday's highest scoring affair. | Lindgren is tied for third nationally with an average of 29 completions per game, and the Vandals are allowing an average of 510 yards. Oregon receiver Keenan Howry owns the nation's longest streak of games with a reception, 37. The Ducks have won 27 of their past 28 home games, including the past four. |
| Bottom line: Better trouble-shoot that scoreboard at Autzen to make sure it can hold up for this one. Ducks, 62-24. | ||
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OHIO (0-1) at No. 12 FLORIDA (1-1) 1:05 p.m. ET, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing |
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| Florida was outclassed by Miami last weekend but Ron Zook has his team focused on improving and seizing control of the SEC. The Gators will try to rid themselves of any lingering effects of last week's loss against an Ohio team that lost to I-AA Northeastern 31-0 last week. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Earnest Graham was one of the few Gators who excelled against Miami. Graham has had an up-and-down career at Florida but seems poised for a big senior year. He should flourish against a Bobcats defense that can't stop the run. | Despite last week's debacle, Florida is still a team to be reckoned with. The Gators will play a large part in the national championship race, playing at Tennessee later this month and at Florida State to end the season. | Through two games, Ohio has turned the ball over 11 times. The Bobcats have won only one game in 13 outings under second-year coach Brian Knorr. They've failed to score a point in the first half of their first two contests. Florida hasn't lost consecutive games since losing its final three in 1999. |
| Bottom line: The Gator Nation can really, really use this blowout to boost bruised egos. They'll take full advantage. Gators, 66-7. | ||
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CALIFORNIA (2-0) at No. 15 MICHIGAN STATE
(2-0) 12 p.m. ET, Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, ESPN2 |
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| Jeff Tedford has tasted immediate success at Cal, already leading the Bears to more victories than they had all last year. This is where the former Oregon offensive coordinator's job gets a little tougher. Michigan State, led by perhaps the nation's top receiver in Charles Rogers, represents the first of many big challenges for Tedford in a murderous seven-game stretch in which he'll face Air Force, Washington State, Washington, USC, UCLA and Oregon State. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Cal DE Tully Banta-Cain comes into this one as the Pac-10's sack leader, fresh off a 4.5-sack game against New Mexico State. The 6-4, 260-pounder has 9.5 sacks in his past three games, dating back to last season. He'll be counted on to get pressure on Spartans QB Jeff Smoker, who can be deadly when he gets time to throw. | Though Tedford deserves a lot of credit for Cal's resurgence, be sure to throw some Bob Gregory's way. He has fared superbly with a Cal defensive unit that allowed 30 or more points in all but two games last season. He's one of college football's rising coaching stars. | Cal is 2-0 for the first time in five years. After finishing 116th in the country with a minus-17 turnover margin, the Bears are a plus 5 thus far. MSU coach Bobby Williams wants to take a serious look at freshman Kyle Brown in this one, hoping he can step up on the opposite side of Rogers to keep teams from keying on him. |
| Bottom line: Cal has made noticable strides, but teams like Michigan State are still too much to handle. Spartans, 38-23. | ||
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WAKE FOREST (1-1) at No. 16 N.C. STATE
(3-0) 7 p.m. ET, Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh |
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| Led by Philip Rivers, the nation's leader in passing efficiency and emerging Heisman candidate, N.C. State opens its ACC schedule against Wake Forest, which is looking to make a push into the ACC's upper tier under second-year coach Jim Grobe. The Wolfpack have had little trouble with their first three foes, winning games by a combined margin of 133-33. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| The competition level should rise for Rivers, but the junior already has two years as a starter under his belt and comes off a superb game against Navy, in which he tied a school record with five touchdown passes. He has completed passes to 11 different receivers so far. | Thanks in part to junior Nick Barney's 8.2 yards per carry, the Demon Deacons have gained 525 rushing yards in their first two games despite the absence of Tarence Williams. Wide receiver Fabian Davis has chipped in 104 yards on just nine carries. Williams, the ACC's second-leading returning rusher, slowly works his way back from a broken foot. | Wake Forest's offense has yet to turn the ball over. Fullback Ovie Mughelli has scored five TDs; his 250-pound frame makes him difficult to stop around the goal line. N.C. State freshman tailback T.A. McClendon is listed as questionable with an injured shoulder. He missed the Navy game. Eleven of Wake's past 12 games have been decided by a touchdown or less. |
| Bottom line: N.C State dismisses the Deacs, not allowing them to hang around as they're accustomed to. Wolfpack, 34-16. | ||
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No. 20 SOUTHERN CAL (1-0) at No. 17
COLORADO (1-1) 3:30 p.m. ET, Folson Field, Boulder, ABC |
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| Senior QB Robert Hodge, a career backup, is expected to start for the Buffaloes in place of Craig Ochs, who suffered a concussion last week. Hodge's biggest weapon is his mobility; Southern Cal gave up 140 rushing yards in its season-opening victory over Auburn. QB Carson Palmer threw for 302 yards and ran for the game-winning score. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Tailbacks Chris Brown and Bobby Purify must have big games for CU to overcome the loss of Ochs. Brown ran for 175 yards and two TDs in last week's victory but has to hold on to the ball. His fumbles were one of the reasons for the Buffaloes' opening-game loss to Colorado State. | Ochs has suffered three concussions in the last 13 months and has been advised by one Denver neurologist to contemplate giving up the sport. He has undergone numerous neurological tests over the past week, and his career is in jeopardy. | Colorado WR Jeremy Bloom is listed as questionable with turf toe. Justin Fargas, a Michigan transfer who hasn't played at tailback since 2000, should see some action for USC spelling starter Sultan McCullough. With a reception, Kareem Kelly will tie the USC record for consecutive games catching a pass (37). |
| Bottom line: This could be the game of the day. If Hodge passes it well enough to keep USC honest, Colorado scrapes by. Buffaloes, 24-23. | ||
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LOUISVILLE (1-1) at No. 22 COLORADO STATE
(2-1) 9:30 p.m. ET, Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, ESPN2 |
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| A matchup of two of the top non-BCS schools in Colorado State's home opener. The Rams surrendered a pair of late touchdowns in losing at UCLA last weekend but remain nationally ranked on the strength of victories over Virginia and Colorado. Louisville was surprised by rival Kentucky in its opener, but blasted Duke 40-3 last Saturday. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| In last year's 7-2 loss at Louisville, CSU QB Bradlee Van Pelt, making just his second career start, looked lost at times, unable to capitalize against the Cardinals pressure. He looks quite comfortable now, playing with a linebacker's mentality instilled in him by his father, former NFL standout Brad Van Pelt. | The majority of attention Louisville receives is directed towards standout QB Dave Ragone, a certain future pro, but defense will be the reason it earns its third consecutive C-USA crown. The Cardinals secondary leads a unit that kept Duke from recording a first down for the first 28 minutes. | Louisville TE Ronnie Ghent, Ragone's favorite target, caught a career-high 10 passes last week. CSU standout tailback Cecil Sapp didn't play in last year's meeting because of a torn ACL. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of this year's three starts. |
| Bottom line: A healthy Sapp provides the difference in another defensive struggle. Rams, 19-17. | ||
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No. 23 BYU (2-0) at
NEVADA (0-1) 4:05 p.m. ET, MacKay Stadium, Reno |
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| BYU visits Reno for the first time since 1939 as the team's culminate a home-and-home series. The Cougars routed the Wolf Pack last season, going up 38-0 by halftime in cruising to a 52-7 victory. Beware Nevada: despite the loss of standouts Brandon Doman and Luke Staley, Gary Crowton's offense looks just as potent as last year's. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Sophomore Marcus Whalen has taken over where Doak Walker Award winner Staley left off, rattling off big gains and becoming a frequent visitor to the end zone. Whalen has scored a team-high three touchdowns and has run for 140 yards in each of the Cougars' first two wins. | Nevada's own stud sophomore tailback, Chance Kretchmer, hasn't practiced all week because of the lingering effects of a concussion sufferred against Washington State. He's expected to be cleared to play, but the lack of practice time could hurt the nation's leading returning rusher. | Wolfack DE Jorge Cordova, the team's co-captain, is expected to start after missing the Washington State game with an ankle injury. BYU QB Bret Engemann has been picked off only once in his 100 pass attempts. Nevada has never beaten BYU, tying the Cougars twice and losing four of the six meetings. |
| Bottom line: The Wolf Pack puts up more of a fight than they managed last year-- but still falls well short. Cougars, 44-17. | ||
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No. 25 UCLA (1-0) at
OKLAHOMA STATE (1-1) 7 p.m. ET, Lewis Field, Stillwater, FSN |
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| Akil Harris and Manuel White combined for 146 yards and three touchdowns, effectively replacing DeShaun Foster, in UCLA's upset of Colorado State, which helped the Bruins slide back into the national polls after starting the year unranked. Oklahoma State is excited to welcome in their first marquee non-conference foe in quite some time and comes in fresh off a 45-10 win over I-AA Northern Iowa, one of the top three teams in that classification. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Rashaun Woods is the best receiver you've never heard of, even though it was his terrific play that sparked the Cowboys to last year's monumental upset of Oklahoma. Woods has 19 receptions for 301 yards already this season, emerging as the favorite target of OSU sophomore QB Josh Fields. | UCLA receiver Junior Taylor scored the first time he touched the ball, weaving through CSU's defense on a reverse for a 49-yard score that should stand up as one of the top plays of the 2002 season. He's the first true freshman to find the end zone for the Bruins since Foster scored four times against USC in 1998. | Oklahoma State is 3-0 against teams from California in its 101-year history. UCLA has won eight consecutive non-conference regular season games. In the season opener, QB Cory Paus passed Troy Aikman and Tommy Maddox into third on the Bruins career passing yardage list (5,372). |
| Bottom line: OSU pulls another upset, shutting down UCLA's offense and getting enough big plays to seal the win. Cowboys 17-16. | ||
