Here's a look at games involving Top 25 teams:

No. 1 Florida (4-0) at No. 4 LSU (5-0), 8 p.m. (CBS)
Line: Florida by 8.
Series Record: Florida leads 29-23-3.
Last Meeting: 2008, Florida 52-17.
What’s at Stake
For Florida, maintaining its spot atop the national rankings. For LSU, to prove it belonged in the top 5 all along. The Tigers have scraped by in several victories. A lopsided loss could see them tumble in the rankings. Whatever the result, the possibility of a rematch in the Southeastern Conference championship game will remain. The Tigers also are looking to extend their streak of 32 straight Saturday night home wins, which began in 2002.
Key Matchup
LSU sophomore QB Jordan Jefferson against Florida’s veteran defense. Jefferson is making only his eighth career start, but he’s won his last six. Though he rarely turns the ball over, his poise could be tested by a Gators defense that has all starters back from last season’s national championship squad. Florida has allowed only 29 points through four games this season.
Players to watch
Florida: Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey comprise one of the best running back tandems in the SEC. Demps has surpassed 85 yards in three games this season and has four TDs. Rainey has averaged 8.4 yards per carry and has two touchdowns.
LSU: RB Charles Scott is coming off his best performance of the season at Georgia, where he rushed for 95 yards and a pair of impressive late scores to lead LSU to victory. S Chad Jones has 2 INTs and a 93-yard punt return for a score this season.
Facts & Figures
Florida and LSU have combined to win the last three national championships, with LSU winning in 2007 and Florida winning the other two. ... Florida has a 15-13 series lead in games played in Tiger Stadium, but the Gators have lost in their last two trips to Baton Rouge. ... The last time two teams with a combined higher ranking met in Tiger Stadium was 1959, when No. 1 LSU hosted No. 3 Ole Miss. ... This marks the second straight season LSU has hosted a No. 1 team. In 2008, then-No. 1 Alabama pulled out a 27-21 OT win. ... LSU is 2-8-1 all time against teams ranked No. 1 in the AP poll, with one win coming against Florida in 1997.
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No. 2 Texas (4-0) vs. Colorado (1-3), 7:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Line: Texas by 31›.
Series Record: Texas leads 10-7.
Last meeting: 2008, Texas 38-14.
What’s at Stake
Texas is looking every bit like the big dog in the Big 12 and wants to keep things rolling along heading into next week’s showdown with Oklahoma. For Colorado, the start of Big 12 play is a good reason to try to forget September.
Key Matchup
Colorado kick coverage vs. Texas returners Jordan Shipley and D.J. Monroe. Shipley and Monroe have already returned three punts and kickoffs for touchdowns.
Players to Watch
Colorado: Freshman DE Nick Kasa, the Buffaloes’ top 2009 recruit. Kasa missed the first three games with a left knee injury and returned for Colorado’s loss at West Virginia. Buffaloes will look to him to create a pass rush on Texas QB Colt McCoy.
Texas: WR Dan Buckner. Buckner has joined Shipley as a favorite target for McCoy with 23 catches and four touchdowns in the first four games.
Facts & Figures
Texas has outscored Colorado 181-41 in the last four meetings. The Buffaloes’ last win in the series was the 2001 Big 12 championship game that kept Texas from playing for the national title. ... Shipley is averaging nine catches per game and is on pace to join Kwame Cavil (100 in 1999) as the only Longhorns to catch 100 passes in a season ... Texas leads the nation in scoring at 49.5 points per game.
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No. 3 Alabama (5-0) vs. No. 20 Mississippi (3-1), 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Line: Alabama by 5.
Series Record: Alabama leads 45-9-2.
Last meeting: 2008, Alabama 24-20.
What’s at Stake
Relevancy in the SEC West. The Rebels are likely out of it with a loss and the Crimson Tide can continue its roll through the season with a big victory in what surely will be a tough environment. Alabama has dominated the series overall, but Ole Miss can show it’s turning the corner with a win.
Key Matchup
The Ole Miss offensive line vs. the Alabama defensive line. The Rebels have struggled with three new starters this season, including an unseasoned left tackle. Houston Nutt loves to run the ball and for Ole Miss to have any chance, the line must come together against All-American nose tackle Terrence Cody and some of the nation’s most talented linemen.
Players to Watch
Alabama: MLB Rolando McClain. Perhaps the best player in a game that’s full of future NFL talent, pay close attention to where McClain is. If he can shut down Ole Miss’ running game, this one will fall pretty easy for Alabama.
Ole Miss: WR-RB-QB Dexter McCluster has been quiet so far this season. He says he’s poised for a breakout. If he can hit it this week, the Rebels have a shot.
Facts & Figures
Alabama has won five straight since Eli Manning guided Ole Miss to a win in 2003. ... Ole Miss has scored on all 14 trips into the red zone (12 TDs, 2 FGs). ... Both teams are in the Top 5 of every defensive team category in the SEC. Ole Miss is second in scoring defense (10.8 ppg), while Alabama is third (14.4). ... Alabama is 4-2 against ranked teams that last 2 seasons, Ole Miss 3-2. ... Tide RB Mark Ingram has not lost the ball in 247 career touches.
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Boston College (4-1) at No. 5 Virginia Tech (4-1), 12:10 p.m. (Raycom)
Line: Virginia Tech by 13 1/2.
Series Record: Virginia Tech leads 11-6.
Last Meeting: Virginia Tech, 30-12, 2008 ACC championship
What’s at Stake
The Eagles have been one of the surprise teams in the ACC since losing at Clemson. They rebounded with home wins against Wake Forest and Florida State and are again in the thick of the Atlantic Division race they have won the last two seasons. Virginia Tech will be trying to end a three-game skid against BC in regular-season play and maintain its status as the favorite to win the Coastal Division and defend its back-to-back league titles.
Key Matchup
Boston College QB Dave Shinskie against the Virginia Tech defense. The 25-year-old true freshman and former minor league pitcher has seemingly settled in at quarterback and has impressed with his poise, but so had Miami’s heralded Jacory Harris before the Hokies hit him on the fifth play of the game and several more times in rolling to a 31-7 victory.
Players to watch
Boston College: TB Montel Harris could do a lot to keep the heat off Shinskie with a repeat of his 179-yard performance against Florida State. Harris capped his huge game with a game-winning 42-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as the Eagles prevailed, 28-21.
Virginia Tech: QB Tyrod Taylor. The Hokies can’t afford to lose Taylor with no ready backup and national championship dreams, but cutting him loose on a few designed runs opens things up offensively against good defenses. Taylor didn’t run last week at Duke, but threw for a career-best 327 yards and two scores. He may have to run a few draws in this one.
Facts & Figures
The Hokies are 36-9 against ACC opponents since joining the league, and a third of their losses have come in the last three regular season games against BC. The last two times, Virginia Tech avenged the loss in the ACC championship. ... Hokies TB Ryan Williams leads the ACC in rushing with 115 yards per game. ... Virginia Tech forced nine turnovers in splitting its two games with the Eagles in 2008. ... Shinski had a 24-30 record and a 4.61 earned run average during his six-year minor league baseball career. ... BC offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill had the same job at Virginia Tech in the 1994 season.
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No. 9 Ohio State (4-1) vs. Wisconsin (5-0), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Ohio State by 16.
Series Record: Ohio State leads 52-17-5.
Last Meeting: 2008, Ohio State 20-17.
What’s at Stake
Wisconsin feels slighted, since it remains unranked despite being unbeaten. Thirteen teams with losses, including Ohio State, are in the AP Top 25. The Buckeyes hope to stretch a three-game winning streak.
Key Matchup
Wisconsin RB John Clay and Ohio State’s defensive line. Clay, with 248 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame, leads the Big Ten in rushing. Ohio State’s defense, led by linemen Doug Worthington, Todd Denlinger, Thaddeus Gibson and Cameron Heyward, is No. 1 in the conference against the run. Something’s gotta give.
Players to Watch
Wisconsin: QB Scott Tolzien must handle the pressure and be accurate with throws when he’s rolling out. TE Garrett Graham could be a valuable relief valve for Tolzien when he’s in trouble. DE O’Brien Schofield needs to get in the OSU backfield and LBs Mike Taylor, Culmer St. Jean and Jaevery McFadden must prevent big plays.
Ohio State: QB Terrelle Pryor is coming off one of his best games (222 yards of offense at Indiana) and needs to take another step forward. TB Brandon Saine had his first 100-yard rushing game.
Facts & Figures
This game is almost a carbon copy of the 2008 game, with Ohio State coming in with only a loss to USC and unbeaten in the Big Ten and the Badgers overlooked but unbeaten. ... Wisconsin has won three of the last four meetings in Ohio Stadium, including wins in 1999 and 2001. ... The Badgers’ are plus-5 in turnover margin, which leads the Big Ten. ... Ohio State’s defense ranks among the top 15 in the nation in four categories: scoring defense (8th), total defense (9th), rushing defense (10th) and pass-efficiency defense (15th).
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No. 10 TCU (4-0, 0-0 MWC) at Air Force (3-2, 2-0) 5:30 p.m. (The Mtn)
Line: TCU by 10.
Series record: TCU leads 5-2-1.
Last meeting: Nov. 22, 2008, TCU 44-10 in Fort Worth, Texas.
What’s at Stake
The Horned Frogs are opening Mountain West Conference play at Air Force for the second time in three seasons. TCU lost 20-17 in overtime in 2007. TCU faces an Air Force team that’s coming off an overtime loss to Navy, giving the Midshipmen a leg up on winning another Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. The Falcons have dropped 11 straight games to ranked teams, a streak that dates back to a win over California in 2002.
Key Matchup
TCU’s defensive line vs. Air Force’s offensive front. DE Jerry Hughes has six sacks this season and 7› tackles for loss. He also is second on the team in tackles with 26. The Falcons rank second in the nation in rushing offense, averaging nearly 292 yards a game behind an offensive line that includes left guard Nick Charles, a first-team preseason all-MWC member.
Players to Watch
TCU: WR Antoine Hicks. Of his 10 touches this season, four have gone for touchdowns. He has rushed for two scores and caught two more, including the game-winner in a 14-10 victory over Clemson.
Air Force: DB Anthony Wright. For the second straight game, Wright intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. His return went for 67 yards against Navy, the only touchdown the Falcons would score.
Facts & Figures
Air Force has a 4-25-3 all-time record against teams in the top 10. The last time the Falcons beat a top-10 team was Notre Dame in overtime 13 years ago. ... Air Force has five defensive touchdown this season. .... Under coach Troy Calhoun, the Falcons are 12-3 when they have a player rush for at least 100 yards. ... Since 2003, TCU boasts a 28-13 record on the road. ... TCU junior Andy Dalton is third in school history in wins by a starting quarterback with 21. He’s eight away from tying Hall of Famer Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, who played for the Horned Frogs from 1934-36.
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No. 11 Miami (3-1) vs. Florida A&M (4-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN360.com)
Line: No line.
Series Record: Miami leads 6-1.
Last meeting: 2006, Miami 51-10.
What’s at Stake
These are always the games that worry Miami a bit: Facing an in-state team with plenty of Florida-grown players on the roster, many of whom thought they were good enough to play for the Hurricanes. Miami can’t afford a slipup now, especially against a team from the Football Championship Subdivision, formerly known as Division I-AA.
Key Matchup
Miami kick and punt coverage vs. Florida A&M returner LeRoy Vann. In his last 16 games, Vann has run back 10 kicks for touchdowns, including four punts already this season.
Players to Watch
Miami: DT Joe Joseph might have played the best game of his career in last week’s win over Oklahoma, and if he can start performing at that level consistently, the Hurricanes will only get better as the year goes along. FAMU’s starting offensive line averages 312 pounds, so Miami will get a challenge.
Florida A&M: If Vann is the Rattlers’ most electric player, his roommate, QB Curtis Pulley, is their most important. Pulley has 21 TDs and four interceptions since last October, and also leads Florida A&M in rushing.
Facts & Figures
Edwin Pierre-Pata, the brother of slain former Miami defensive lineman Bryan Pata, is an assistant coach for Florida A&M. Bryan Pata was shot to death in 2006, a mystery that remains unsolved. ... FAMU’s lone win in the series with Miami was 30 years ago. ... The Hurricanes are seeking a 4-1 start for the second time in Randy Shannon’s three years as coach. ... Miami may try to get backup QB A.J. Highsmith some playing time this week if it can take a big lead: The Hurricanes have won the last six meetings against Florida A&M by an average of 51-6.
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No. 12 Iowa (5-0) vs. Michigan (4-1), 8:12 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Iowa by 8.
Series Record: Michigan 40-10-4.
Last Meeting: 2006, Michigan 20-6.
What’s at Stake
Iowa followed up a huge win over at Penn State with a lackluster home performance against Arkansas State. Michigan still hasn’t proven it can be a factor in the Big Ten race after barely beating Indiana and falling at Michigan State last week. A win here would change that.
Key Matchup
Michigan QB Tate Forcier vs. Iowa’s defense. As good as the Hawkeyes D has been so far, they’ve been burned at times by quarterbacks who can keep plays alive with their feet. The Wolverines will likely struggle to run the ball against Iowa’s formidable front seven, but Forcier’s playmaking ability could neutralize that.
Players to Watch
Michigan: DE Brandon Graham. If the Iowa offensive line doesn’t improve, expect Graham to be in quarterback Ricky Stanzi’s face all night. Graham ranks second in the nation in tackles for loss.
Iowa: RBs Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. The freshmen have combined for 628 yards and six touchdowns this season. With cold, windy conditions in the forecast, Iowa would love to control the game on the ground.
Facts & Figures
Michigan has won 11 of its last 13 night games. ... Iowa has allowed its opponents to score on their opening possession once in its last 18 games. ... Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz isn’t a big fan of deferring to the second half. The Hawkeyes have started 109 of 128 games on offense under Ferentz.
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No. 13 Oregon (4-1) at UCLA (3-1), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Oregon by 3 1/2.
Series Record: UCLA leads 39-23.
Last meeting: 2008, Oregon 31-24.
What’s at Stake
Oregon’s remarkable revival after a season-opening loss at Boise State gets a stiff test at the Rose Bowl, where second-year coach Rick Neuheisel believes his Bruins are primed for a victory that would validate the program’s return to title contention in the Pac-10. While UCLA likely will welcome back QB Kevin Prince, the Ducks might have to play without starting QB Jeremiah Masoli, who’s thought to be doubtful after missing two days of practice this week with a right knee injury.
Key Matchup
UCLA QB Kevin Prince vs. Oregon DE Kenny Rowe. Prince, the freshman who broke his jaw while leading the Bruins’ win at Tennessee last month, is expected to run UCLA’s offense. The strong-armed passer can’t afford to be hesitant or careless around Oregon’s opportunistic defense, which has held back-to-back Pac-10 opponents to fewer than 10 points for the first time since 1992. Rowe, a junior in his first year as a starter, has 4› sacks already this season while forcing two fumbles.
Players to Watch
Oregon: QB Nate Costa. If Masoli can’t play, the Ducks’ hopes will rest on Costa, the junior who missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. He threw seven passes during Oregon’s blowout win over California before relieving Masoli last week against Washington State. Costa doesn’t have Masoli’s running skills, but the more traditional pocket passer could confuse a UCLA defense expecting a different approach.
UCLA: LB Reggie Carter. Defending Oregon’s inventive offense often puts a heavy burden on the linebackers who must stop rushers and chase down quarterbacks while also helping out in pass coverage. Nobody with the Bruins does it all better than Carter, the gregarious senior who leads the team with 31 tackles, including 14 against Tennessee. He believes the game could be a showcase for his skills.
Facts & Figures
Oregon has lost three straight Pac-10 games in California since 2007, although the Ducks beat Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl last December. ... Neuheisel, the former Washington coach, had a 4-1 career record against Oregon before last season’s loss. ... In their last trip to the Rose Bowl in 2007, the Ducks used three backup quarterbacks in place of injured starter Dennis Dixon in a 16-0 loss. ... UCLA’s first four opponents have combined for just 19 second-half points this season. ... The Bruins have scored on their first drive in each game this season.
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No. 14 Penn State (4-1) vs. Eastern Illinois (4-1), 12:05 p.m. (ESPN Classic)
Line: No line.
Series record: First meeting.
What’s at Stake
FCS school Eastern Illinois gets a $450,000 payday to fill out Penn State’s weak nonconference schedule. The banged-up Nittany Lions hope to avoid more injuries, and a big early lead against a lower-division foe could get young reserves valuable playing time.
Key Matchup
Eastern Illinois QB Jake Christensen vs. Penn State defense. Christensen, a transfer from Iowa, shouldn’t be shellshocked about playing at massive Beaver Stadium. But there’s a significant talent gap between the Hawkeyes and the Panthers, especially going up against the Nittany Lions’ stingy D.
Players to Watch
Eastern Illinois: Christensen. He’s thrown for 11 touchdowns and 1,090 yards and completed 65 percent of his passes with just three interceptions this season.
Penn State: QB Kevin Newsome. A game that has the makings of a blowout could allow coach Joe Paterno to lift star starter Daryll Clark early and give freshman backup and heir-apparent Newsome some experience.
Facts & Figures
Penn State LB Sean Lee will sit out a third straight game as he recovers from a left knee sprain. ... The Panthers’ Bob Spoo has coached at Eastern Illinois since 1987, the fifth-longest tenure in Division I. Paterno tops the list, with a record 44 years as the lead Nittany Lion. ... Besides Christensen, Eastern Illinois also features another former Big Ten player in RB Jimmy Potempa, a transfer from Michigan. ... The Panthers’ O’Brien Field seats about 10,000 — or less than one-tenth the seating capacity of Beaver Stadium (107,282).
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No. 15 Oklahoma State (3-1, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Texas A&M (3-1, 0-0), 12:30 p.m. (CSS)
Line: Oklahoma State by 5 1/2.
Series record: Texas A&M leads 17-7.
Last meeting: 2008, Oklahoma State 56-28.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma State is trying to climb back into the national spotlight after a home loss to Houston on Sept. 12. The Cowboys’ quest to win the Big 12 begins Saturday at Kyle Field, where they’ve lost five of the last six meetings. The Aggies were 3-0 until they were routed by Arkansas. A&M is trying to snap a five-game losing streak to Big 12 South opponents.
Key Matchup
Oklahoma State’s defense vs. Texas A&M’s offense. The Aggies rank second nationally in total offense (545.25 yards per game) and fifth in pass offense (334 yards per game). But they went 7 for 18 on third down against Arkansas. A&M QB Jerrod Johnson has not thrown an interception in 169 attempts this season, but Oklahoma State has intercepted a pass in five straight games.
Players to Watch
Oklahoma State: QB Zac Robinson ranks eighth in the Big 12 in total offense. He’s thrown a school-record 57 touchdown passes, including three against A&M last season. The Aggies rank 71st in pass defense (222.25 yards per game).
Texas A&M: DE Von Miller leads the nation in sacks, averaging 2.25 per game. Miller has nine sacks in four games and is on pace to challenge Jacob Green’s school record of 20, set in 1979. The Aggies have 16 sacks, matching their total from last season.
Facts & Figures
Johnson hasn’t thrown an interception in 186 attempts dating to last season. He needs 28 more completions without a pick to set a Big 12 record. ... Texas A&M leads the nation in penalty yards per game (95.5).
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No. 16 Kansas (4-0) vs. Iowa State (3-2, 0-1 Big 12), 12:30 (Versus)
Line: Kansas by 20.
Series Record: Kansas leads 48-34-6.
Last meeting: 2008, Kansas 35-30.
What’s at Stake
The Jayhawks are striving for their first Big 12 North title, hoping to be unbeaten when they host Oklahoma on Oct. 24. Iowa State was off to good start under first-year head coach and must rebound from heartbreaking 1-point loss to Kansas State.
Key Matchup
Iowa State running attack vs. Kansas defense. The Jayhawks’ run defense is No. 3 in the nation, yielding only 59.25 yards per game. Cyclones QB Austen Arnaud is a run threat but getting speedster Alexander Robinson back from injury would help.
Players to Watch
Kansas: QB Todd Reesing, who needs only 85 yards passing to move past Brad Smith for No. 6 on Big 12 career chart. Reesing has thrown a touchdown pass in 22 consecutive games, the best of any active NCAA quarterback. Freshman RB Toben Opurum will start if senior Jake Sharp’s unspecified leg injury is not healed. Opurum leads Big 12 with seven TDs.
Iowa State: RB Alexander Robinson, who rushed for 100 yards or more in three straight games before sitting out most of last week’s loss to Kansas State. Arnaud has been sacked only once in five games, the best in the nation.
Facts & Figures
Last year at Iowa State, Kansas erased a 20-point deficit in the second half to win 35-33. ... Arnaud has established himself as a dual threat, rushing for 322 yards and throwing for 787 through five games. ... Paul Rhoads was the first Iowa State head coach to start 3-1 since George Veenker in 1931.
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No. 17 Auburn (5-0) at Arkansas (2-2), noon (ESPN)
Line: Auburn by 2›.
Series Record: Auburn leads 10-7-1.
Last meeting: 2008, Arkansas 25-22.
What’s at Stake
Auburn moved into the Top 25 this week and can validate its ranking with another win. Arkansas hoped for a big improvement after going 2-6 in Southeastern Conference play last year. A loss to the Tigers would drop them to 0-3 this year in conference.
Key Matchup
Auburn RB Ben Tate vs. the Arkansas front four. Tate is second in the SEC in rushing, and if he’s able to have success against the Razorbacks it will open up the passing game against Arkansas’ inexperienced secondary.
Players to Watch
Auburn: WR Kodi Burns. As a high school player in Arkansas, Burns was one of the state’s top quarterbacks. He’s listed at a different position now, but he’ll still take an occasional snap out of the Wildcat formation.
Arkansas: RB Michael Smith. Smith ran for 176 yards in a win over Auburn last year, but now that the Razorbacks have other options on offense, he’s carried only 32 times this season. Will this be another breakout week for Smith?
Facts & Figures
Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn held the same position at Arkansas in 2006. ... Auburn hasn’t lost at Arkansas since 2001. ... This will be Auburn’s first day game of the season. ... Auburn has scored 207 points this year, one fewer than the Tigers scored all of last season. ... Nine different receivers have caught touchdown passes for Arkansas this year.
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No. 18 BYU (4-1) at UNLV (2-3), 9 p.m. (The Mtn.)
Line: BYU by 16›.
Series Record: BYU 12-3.
Last Meeting: 2008, BYU 42-35.
What’s at Stake
BYU is trying to avoid any hiccups before an Oct. 24 showdown at home with No. 10 TCU. UNLV is coming off an embarrassing loss to rival Nevada last week, when the Rebels allowed 773 yards of offense in a 63-28 blowout. Since winning the season opener against Sacramento State, UNLV has lost three of four.
Key Matchup
BYU’s offense vs. UNLV’s defense. The Cougars rank second in the Mountain West in offense (432.6 yards per game) and the Rebels are last in total defense, allowing an average of 449 yards in the first five games.
Players to watch
BYU: RB Harvey Unga has topped 100 yards rushing the last two games and is averaging 6.2 yards per carry this season.
UNLV: WR Ryan Wolfe is the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards (3,155) and catches (245) with seven games still to go in his college career.
Facts & Figures
BYU has won the last four meetings and never lost to the Rebels in Las Vegas. ... The Cougars were also ranked No. 18 last year when they hosted the Rebels. ... This will be the seventh time BYU has played at Sam Boyd Stadium in the last five seasons. The Cougars have played in the last four Las Vegas bowls. ... UNLV’s last win in the series was in 2004.
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Baylor (3-1) vs. No. 19 Oklahoma (2-2), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Oklahoma by 25.
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 18-0.
Last meeting: 2008, 49-17.
What’s at Stake
Oklahoma tries to bounce back from its second loss of the season and gain some momentum for its annual rivalry game against No. 2 Texas next week in Dallas. Without injured quarterback Robert Griffin, Baylor seeks a breakthrough win in a series dominated by the Sooners.
Key Matchup
Oklahoma WRs vs. Baylor secondary. Already without tight end Jermaine Gresham, the Sooners struggled on offense after losing top receiver Ryan Broyles to a hairline fracture in his shoulder blade last week. The unproven group will go against a Bears defense that ranks second in the Big 12 and 19th in the nation against the pass (166 ypg).
Players to Watch
Baylor: WR Kendall Wright. After a slow start, Wright has 230 receiving yards in his last two games. He had a career-high nine catches for 125 yards against Kent State last week and scored two TDs the week before.
Oklahoma: RB DeMarco Murray. Murray ran for 80 yards and a touchdown last week against Miami on 23 carries, his most since he had a career-high 26 rushes against Baylor last season. He could also factor into Oklahoma’s plans to replace Broyles in the slot.
Facts & Figures
Sooners coach Bob Stoops didn’t plan to decide whether Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford (shoulder) would start against the Bears until later in the week. He has missed the last three games. ... DE Jeremy Beal has made three sacks in each of his last two games, becoming the first Oklahoma player ever with three sacks in a game twice in the same season. ... Oklahoma DE Jeremy Beal has made three sacks in each of his last two games. ... Baylor has at least one rushing touchdown in 16 straight games, the second-longest streak in school history. ... The Bears have lost 18 straight games against ranked foes.
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No. 22 Georgia Tech (4-1) at Florida State (2-3), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Florida State by 3.
Series Record: Florida State leads 12-8-1.
Last Meeting: 2008, Georgia Tech 31-28.
What’s at Stake
Plenty, starting with Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who is under fire from fans, some columnists and his own board of trustees chairman after the Seminoles slowest start in 33 years. The 79-year-old Bowden, who is the second most winning coach behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno in major college ranks, got a vote of confidence to finish the season on Wednesday from the school’s president.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, needs a win to stay in the thick of the battle for the Coastal Division title in the Atlantic Coast Conference. For the Seminoles, an 0-3 start in conference play would all but make it impossible to reach the league’s December title game and give more momentum to those who want Bowden to retire.
Key Matchup
Usually it’s stopping the Georgia Tech running game, but Florida State coaches are far more worried about their own secondary that hasn’t stopped much of anything this year and they’ll be facing the Yellow Jackets Demaryius Thomas, who leads the league with an average of 107.2 receiving yards a game and an eye-popping 22.3 yards per catch. To make things worse for the Seminoles, their most experienced cornerback — Patrick Robinson — is hobbled by a sprained ankle.
Players to Watch
Georgia Tech: Jonathan Dwyer scorched Florida State’s defense for 145 yards on 13 carries, including touchdown runs of 66 and 36 yards in the Yellow Jackets 31-28 win in Atlanta. The junior tailback is the third leading rusher in the ACC this season, but his 6.3 yards per carry average is the best among the leaders.
Florida State: Christian Ponder, who didn’t have a good game in last year’s loss to the Jackets, has been red-hot this season. The 6-3, 220-pound junior quarterback from Texas is completing two-thirds of his passes and leads the ACC in passing and total offense. Ponder ranks 10th nationally with an average of 305.8 yards total offense a game.
Facts & Figures
Florida State had won 12 in a row in the series before last year’s loss ... it’s been 10 years since former Tech quarterback Joe Hamilton put on one of the greatest individual performances by a visitor at Doak Campbell. In the second game of its undefeated 1999 season, the Seminoles escaped with a 41-35 win in a game where Hamilton completed 22 of 25 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another ... Marcus Sims, whose fumble at the goal line in the final minute let Tech escape with a 31-28 win last year, transferred to North Alabama along with several other former Seminoles. North Alabama is coached by Bowden’s son, former Auburn coach Terry Bowden ... No. 11 Miami defeated both Florida State and Georgia Tech last month.
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Kentucky (2-2) vs. No. 25 South Carolina (4-1), 12:30 p.m. (FSN)
Line: South Carolina by 9›.
Series Record: South Carolina leads 13-6-1.
Last meeting: 2008, South Carolina 24-17.
What’s at Stake
South Carolina joined the rankings for the first time this past week and wants to keep alive its best start since 2007. Kentucky goes against its third straight ranked opponent after losing to No. 1 Florida and No. 3 Alabama the past two weeks to start its Southeastern Conference season.
Key Matchup
South Carolina RBs vs. Kentucky’s defense. The Gamecocks were last in SEC rushing in 2008, averaging fewer than 95 yards. Brian Maddox, Kenny Miles and Jarvis Giles have helped South Carolina gain nearly 60 yards more a game this season. The Wildcats are last in the conference, and 106th in the Football Bowl Subdivison, against the run this season.
Players to Watch
Kentucky: RB Derrick Locke. Kentucky’s junior tailback leads the SEC in all-purpose yards at 173 per game. He was the team’s top rusher its past two games, gaining 111 yards combined against Florida and Alabama.
South Carolina: QB Stephen Garcia. The Gamecocks third-year sophomore has limited his mistakes and begun to show off the arm that made him one of the top high-school prospects in 2006. Garcia’s thrown just two interceptions this year through five games. He had eight interceptions in eight games last season, only three of them starts.
Facts & Figures
Kentucky expects to play without both its starting cornerbacks. All-SEC defensive back Trevard Lindley has a high ankle sprain, while Paul Warford has a strained quadricep muscle. ... South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has never lost to Kentucky, going 16-0 as coach at Florida (12-0) and the Gamecocks (4-0). ... Spurrier can match Lou Holtz (33 wins) for sixth-place on South Carolina’s alltime victories list with a win on Saturday. ... South Carolina will be without starting tight end Weslye Saunders, out with an ankle injury.