ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

What to watch from Notre Dame in Saturday's home game against Navy:

1. Michael Floyd: Apart from a victory, the No. 1 topic for the Irish this week is the return of receiver Michael Floyd, who broke his collarbone in Week 3 against Michigan State. Floyd likely will be eased into things this week, but he'll be needed next week against Pittsburgh. How does he respond to his first hit, and how quickly can he shake any potential rust off?

2. Stopping the triple-option: That's the challenge for any team playing Navy and its unorthodox offense. The attack becomes more dangerous with quarterback Ricky Dobbs back from injury, as he can run it or throw it. The Irish have injected more speed into their defense, but they're also using some inexperienced players like linebacker Manti Te'o and sophomore Darius Fleming. Will they be able to avoid mistakes against a team that lives to make you pay for missing your assignment?

3. The Notre Dame running game: Navy's defense has been strong this season, but if Notre Dame can't line up and win the battle in the trenches, then something's wrong. Armando Allen didn't play last week and has a bad ankle. Robert Hughes has been chugging along without him. This would be a good week to pound it some on the ground and keep that Navy offense off the field.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

1. Focus: That's the key word this week, as the top three contenders in the Big East all are heavy favorites at home. Showdowns between Cincinnati, Pitt and West Virginia loom on the calendar ahead. But for those to matter, they need to take care of business this week against the heavy underdogs and not start thinking ahead to the stretch run.

2. Cincinnati's receivers vs. the UConn secondary: The Huskies got burned by Tim Brown on an 81-yard pass play to lose this week, but they've been pretty good against the pass this year and have the league's two co-leaders in interceptions (Robert Vaughn and Robert McClain). They will face a major challenge this week against the Bearcats' Mardy Gilyard, Armon Binns and D.J. Woods. Syracuse had some small success slowing Cincinnati down last week by trying to keep everything in front of the defense. UConn might also want to make the Bearcats prove they can sustain long drives.

3. Attack of the backup Zachs: Cincinnati looks likely to go with Zach Collaros again at quarterback as Tony Pike continues to recover from his left forearm injury. Collaros has been outstanding the past two and a half games, though this will be the best team he's started against thus far. UConn's Zach Frazer is back at quarterback now that Cody Endres is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Frazer has been way too erratic this season, including three more interceptions last week at Rutgers, and can't afford those mistakes against the Bearcats.

4. Lindsey Witten vs. Jeff Linkenbach: Witten is tied for second in the nation in sacks with 10.5. Linkenbach has developed into the best left tackle in the Big East, in my opinion. If UConn can't get pressure on Collaros, it could be a long night at Nippert Stadium for the Huskies. Witten needs to bring the heat.

5. Dion Lewis: The Pitt freshman tailback was named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award this week and floats on the periphery of the Heisman race. Syracuse has been surprisingly stout against the run this season, ranking first in the Big East with just 88.9 yards allowed per game on the ground. Another big game by Lewis against this defense should vault him into the lead for Big East player of the year and other award honors.

6. Paulus and the passing game: Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus was booed at home last week and then received a passionate defense by his head coach Doug Marrone. Paulus has struggled in Big East play, and he just lost his best and maybe only big-play receiver in Mike Williams, who quit the team on Monday. How do he and the Orange offense respond?

7. West Virginia's pass defense: The deep pass has hurt the Mountaineers the past few weeks and much of the season. Louisville has the worst scoring offense in the Big East but is capable of pulling off some big plays in the passing game with guys like Scott Long, Trent Guy and Doug Beaumont. If West Virginia can tighten that part of its defense up, it should have little trouble at home against the last-place Cardinals.

8. Louisville's quarterback derby: Three guys -- Justin Burke, Will Stein and Adam Froman -- have started, and it's anybody's guess who will get the call this week. Coach Steve Kragthorpe said earlier this week that Burke and Froman, who were both hurt at Cincinnati, should be available for practice. If they're all good to go, Froman likely gets the nod. But West Virginia has to prepare for all three just in case.

9. Speed on the edge: The main difference between West Virginia and Louisville the past two years was that the Cardinals didn't have the defensive speed on the perimeter to contain the Mountaineers' playmakers unlike, say, South Florida. Pat White got outside with ease in last year's game in Louisville, and the Cardinals' quickness hasn't gotten significantly better. Expect at least one huge run, if not several, from Noel Devine and maybe even Jarrett Brown or Jock Sanders.

10. Cincinnati's competition: We're not talking about UConn, but the other contenders for the national title. Keep an eye this weekend on Alabama against LSU, Iowa against Northwestern, Boise State at Louisiana Tech and TCU against San Diego State. Any of them faltering would help the Bearcats' national title chances.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Ten for (Week) 10.

1. Terrelle Pryor going country: Pryor wasn't a huge fan of Happy Valley during the recruiting process, and he probably won't warm up to it on Saturday as No. 16 Ohio State visits No. 11 Penn State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Penn State fans will be waiting for Pryor, and the Buckeyes quarterback expects a rough reception when he takes the field at Beaver Stadium. Pryor has performed better since the Purdue loss but needs to elevate his overall game against the nation's fifth-ranked defense. His return to his home state adds more flavor to an already intriguing matchup.

2. Iowa aims for perfect 10: The Hawkeyes (9-0) felt the need to defend their perfect record again this week, but they can ease doubts with a convincing performance against Northwestern. This is a game that has folks in Iowa City a bit worried because of Northwestern's back-to-back wins at Kinnick Stadium and its 7-5 record against Iowa since 1995. The Hawkeyes should be able to attack a banged up NU secondary with wideouts Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Marvin McNutt. An Iowa win sets up next week's showdown in Columbus against Ohio State.

3. Michigan in must-win situation: Missing the postseason at Michigan is bad enough. Missing it two years in a row could be really damaging for Rich Rodriguez and his program. Michigan needs to snap its four-game Big Ten losing streak against Purdue (Big Ten Network, noon ET) and reach bowl eligibility. With upcoming games against Wisconsin (road) and Ohio State (home), the Purdue game appears to be Michigan's best chance for win No. 6. Quarterback Tate Forcier hasn't accounted for a touchdown in four games, while the Michigan defense must rebound after allowing 500 yards to Illinois.

4. Juice vs. Weber: Illinois' Juice Williams and Minnesota's Adam Weber entered the season as two of the Big Ten's most accomplished quarterbacks. Both players have struggled for most of the fall, but both also come off impressive performances in big wins last week. Williams hopes to gash Minnesota's defense with the zone-read, while Weber takes aim against an Illini secondary that ranks ninth in the league against the pass. Weber played through a knee injury to beat Illinois last year, while Williams turned in a huge performance against Minnesota in 2007.

5. Hard-luck Hoosiers aim for upset: Indiana is hurting a bit right now after squandering fourth-quarter leads in back-to-back weeks against Northwestern and Iowa. But the Hoosiers have another chance to redeem themselves Saturday against No. 21 Wisconsin (Big Ten Network, noon ET). It won't be easy, as Wisconsin has crushed Indiana under head coach Bret Bielema, winning three games by a combined score of 140-40. The Badgers come in hot, having posted their first shutout in Big Ten play in a decade last week against Purdue.

6. Getting defensive in Happy Valley: Penn State and Ohio State combined for only 19 points last year at The Shoe, and Saturday's game figures to be a defensive struggle as well. The Nittany Lions lead the nation in scoring defense (9.33 ppg) and rank fifth in total defense (254.8 ypg), while the Buckeyes own three shutouts this season and rank sixth nationally in both scoring (11.2 ppg) and total defense (260 ypg). Ohio State forces a ton of turnovers, while Penn State locks down in the red zone. First team to 14 wins?

7. Spartans must bounce back vs. MAC: A Sept. 12 loss to Central Michigan altered the course for Michigan State's season, one that began with BCS aspirations. Sitting at 4-5, the Spartans can't afford another setback against a MAC opponent, this time Western Michigan. The Broncos struggled against Michigan and Indiana and rank 108th nationally in total defense (426 ypg), but they boast a strong quarterback in Tim Hiller. Michigan State must get more efficient in the red zone on both sides of the ball. A loss Saturday (Big Ten Network, noon ET) likely knocks MSU out of the postseason.

8. Mike Kafka's health: The senior quarterback is expected to play against Iowa, but how his left hamstring holds up remains to be seen. Kafka relies on his legs and can be extremely effective on the move, but he left last week's loss to Penn State in the second quarter and didn't return. Iowa's defensive linemen will try to get in his face, and Northwestern's offensive front needs to protect well. Northwestern's upset hopes against Penn State vanished when Kafka left the field, so the Wildcats need their signal caller as close to full strength as possible.

9. Clay off and running again: Wisconsin running back John Clay has been brilliant in Big Ten play, eclipsing 120 rush yards in three of five games. Clay rushed for a season-high 112 yards last year at Indiana and aims for another big performance Saturday (Big Ten Network, noon ET). Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark is the frontrunner for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year honors, but Clay could close the gap with a strong finish.

10. Purdue tries to end Big House blues: The Boilers take an 11-game road losing streak to Ann Arbor, where they haven't won since 1966. Though Michigan certainly is beatable this season, Purdue comes off a dreadful performance in Madison and can't afford a hangover. The long losing streak at the Big House should serve as motivation. "They're fully aware of it," Boilers coach Danny Hope said of his players. "To me, it makes it more exciting. It makes it a greater challenge. It makes it a bigger coup, a bigger stake." A Purdue win keeps its faint bowl hopes alive.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

Ten things to consider, underline or anticipate heading into the weekend.

1. California OTs vs. Oregon DEs: The California offensive line is expected to be missing three injured starters and a backup who would have started Saturday against Oregon. While left tackle Mitchell Schwartz has been a steady performer all year, the redshirt freshman will have his hands full with Nick Reed, the Ducks' relentless pass rusher. On the other side, Donovan Edwards, a JC transfer who signed in the late summer, will make his first start and will square off against the underrated Will Tukuafu, who has six sacks. Oh, by the way, it also appears that redshirt freshman Justin Cheadle will be stepping in for Noris Malele at right guard.

2. Mark Sanchez will have his way with the Washington pass defense: USC quarterback Mark Sanchez has been inconsistent this year, particularly on the road -- see his uneven effort at Arizona. But he's not on the road Saturday, and visiting Washington will offer him the most inviting pass defense of any BCS conference team. Moreover, the Huskies probably will be missing injured starting cornerback Mesphin Forrester. Sanchez should put up big numbers and then sit out the second half.

3. Will Washington State open up the offense for quarterback Kevin Lopina?: Lopina completed just 6 of 9 passes for 28 yards against USC in a 69-0 humiliation. It seemed like the Cougars coaches opted for a noticeably conservative game plan because they were worried about getting Lopina hurt and didn't want to risk him re-injuring his back in a game they weren't going to win. With the decision to no longer redshirt J.T. Levenseller -- coach Paul Wulff said Levenseller would play at Stanford -- perhaps the handcuffs will be off Lopina and he will run the entire offense.

4. Does Rudy have any magic left? Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter will make his 39th consecutive start at Oregon State with a bum ankle, no running game and a decimated receiving corps. Last year, he was brilliant in leading the Sun Devils back from a 19-0 deficit against OSU, passing for 361 yards with four touchdowns in a 44-32 victory. It's hard to imagine things will go as well in Corvallis against a high-pressure Beavers defense that probably wants redemption.

5. USC's defense will miss safety Kevin Ellison: Ellison, our midseason defensive MVP, is out two-to-four weeks with a torn MCL, so the nation's best defense is without its headiest player for a few games. That won't matter against the Huskies, but it could in upcoming games with California and Notre Dame. Ellison, who will be replaced by junior Will Harris, is the second starter to go down in the Trojans secondary. Earlier, top cover cornerback Shareece Wright was lost to a season-ending neck injury.

6. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard will regain his form against Washington State: Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard was mostly awful in the loss to UCLA, completed just 5 of 12 passes for 51 yards with an interception. Enter the Washington State defense, which makes everyone look good. While the Cougars are incompetent stopping the run -- 266 yards per game -- their likely attempt to gang up against Stanford's power running game will mean opportunities for Pritchard in the passing game.

7. Moevao and Rodgers: First-team All-Pac-10? Why the heck not? If true freshman running back Jacquizz Rodgers and quarterback Lyle Moevao, the conference's most improved player, continue to put up big numbers, why wouldn't this pair lead the All-Pac-10 team? Rodgers, in fact, with a conference-leading 116 yards rushing per game, is almost a shoo-in. Moevao leads the conference with 254 yards passing per game, but he likely will need to outplay Arizona's Willie Tuitama and USC's Mark Sanchez down the stretch. But if the Beavers make a run at the Rose Bowl, who's to say he won't?

8. Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli may need to throw to beat Cal: It's been a mostly dry fall in Eugene -- as we all know it NEVER RAINS IN AUTZEN STADIUM! -- but it looks like it's going to be a wet one Saturday in Berkeley. While such conditions may not encourage passing, the Ducks' run-heavy, spread-option offense may find the going tough if it is one-dimensional vs. Cal's 3-4 defense. This is a homecoming for Masoli anyway, so know that he'll want to put the ball in the air to impress family and friends.

9. Will Washington play hard for lame-duck coach Tyrone Willingham? It might not matter if the winless Huskies give USC their best shot -- the Trojans are better at every position. Yet it will be fairly obvious in the early-going how much Willingham's players still care. Will they show some pride and fight for themselves and their outgoing coach? A season's best performance might cause some to wonder where the effort was when it could still help Willingham, but if that is indeed what happens know that a team is tipping its helmet to its coach.

10. Quarterback Kevin Riley's mobility will keep Cal in the game with Oregon: It's safe to assume Cal's makeshift offensive line won't be able to consistently handle the Ducks defensive front. If slow-footed Nate Longshore were the Bears quarterback, that would be a huge issue. But Riley can make plays with his feet -- both with rollouts and with scrambles. If the conditions are sloppy, Riley's improvisation skills could become a key element in the game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

When I left Jacksonville Municipal Stadium late last Oct. 27, I knew it was on. Georgia had beaten Florida 42-30 several hours earlier in a great college football game, and I knew then that a rivalry that had really been pretty boring was just starting to take off again. Here we are a year later, and both teams are on the scent of an SEC championship, not to mention eyeing a trip to Miami to play in the BCS National Championship Game. This game means something. It's not just a three-day party anymore. Well, it still is, but the game is the central attraction again and it takes center stage on the national scene Saturday along with Texas vs. Texas Tech. Somehow, I get the feeling it's going to be this way for years to come. Here's a look at what to watch this week in the SEC:

1. Florida or Georgia?: You talk about a city divided. Try spending this weekend in Jacksonville, Fla. There's red and black, and then there's orange and blue. There's woofing like a dog every time you walk into a restaurant, and there's that familiar Gator chomp when you sit down and order a cold one. There's been some talk in the past from Georgia coach Mark Richt about moving this game back to the campuses, at least for a couple of years, but here's hoping that never happens. Yeah, the game's played in the state of Florida, but it's still a neutral setting. The tickets are split right down the middle, and the scores of Bulldogs' fans in South Georgia love having this game so close by. Outside the Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas every year in Dallas, there's really not another rivalry just like it. Simply, this game belongs on the banks of the Saint Johns River. And, no, I'm not going to tell that old joke about why the Saint Johns River flows north.

2. Love and the polls: Watch the polls closely on Sunday. This is the Florida-Georgia winner's chance to make a move, to pass Southern California and to pass Oklahoma. Texas and Texas Tech play this weekend, so one of those teams is going to drop. Florida fans and Georgia fans have been looking for more love from the pollsters all season. Well, win this Saturday, and there's a good chance you'll be nestled comfortably in the top 5, which means you'll also shoot up in the BCS standings. It's probably in the SEC's best interest that Texas Tech knocks off Texas this weekend, because Texas Tech still has to play Oklahoma State at home and Oklahoma on the road. And with Penn State sitting there unbeaten, the SEC would benefit more than ever now by the Big 12 beating up on one another.

3. That first touchdown: OK, we all know there's not going to be any crazy celebration this season after the first touchdown is scored in the Florida-Georgia game, not after the stink Urban Meyer and the Gators raised about it and Georgia coach Mark Richt later saying he apologized to Meyer about the whole escapade. Of course, nobody's talking about it leading into Saturday's game. Did it even happen? Both teams have done a good job of downplaying it. You could tell the Florida players had been warned this week about making it the focus in the media. And, really, it's not. The Gators didn't lose the game last season because the Bulldogs somehow got in their heads with that end zone stomp. They lost the game because they couldn't tackle Knowshon Moreno. That said, none of us will take our eyes off the end zone Saturday after that first touchdown.

4. Moreno vs. Spikes: Knowshon Moreno is the perfect prototype for a tailback -- fast, powerful, elusive and fiercely competitive. Spikes is the perfect prototype for a middle linebacker -- big, strong, fast and fiercely competitive. Moreno and Spikes figure to meet up a few times on Saturday. If Moreno gets off to a hot start, that's bad news for Florida. If Spikes and the Florida defense take Moreno out of the game early, that's bad news for Georgia. The Bulldogs are 11-0 over the last two seasons when Moreno gets at least 18 carries in a game. The Gators are at their best defensively when Spikes is at his best, and he's playing and leading at an extremely high level right now.

5. How ready is Florida's defense?: Brandon Spikes says the Gators still haven't played their best game defensively. They're probably going to need it Saturday against a Georgia offense than can strike from several different fronts. Knowshon Moreno is just 75 yards away from joining Herschel Walker as the only running backs in Georgia history to rush for 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, while Matthew Stafford to A.J. Green is one of the best long ball combinations going right now in college football. The Bulldogs have 49 plays this season of 20 yards or longer, which is the most in the SEC and seventh most in the nation. The Gators, though, have allowed just 15 such plays, which is tied for second fewest in the nation. The other thing Florida's defense has done this season is chomp down on teams early. The Gators have allowed just two first-half touchdowns, but they've yet to face an offense anywhere near as diverse as Georgia's.

6. Fulmer vs. Spurrier: It's not exactly like old times, not with Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer fighting to save his job and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier fighting for a little respectability in the Eastern Division. Fulmer and Spurrier meet for the 14th time on Saturday night in Columbia, but this is the first time they've faced each other when at least one of the teams hasn't been nationally ranked. Spurrier owns an 8-5 record against Fulmer. While at Florida, Spurrier was 7-3 against Fulmer. But Fulmer has won three of his last four meetings with Spurrier dating back to the Head Ball Coach's last game at the Swamp in 2001.

7. Streaking Tide: Nobody's ready to return Alabama to the top of college football's hierarchy just yet, but the No. 2 Crimson Tide are making more believers by the week. It's hard to watch how physical they've been on the offensive line and how dominant they've been on defense and not think this team has as good a chance as any to win the BCS national championship this season. The Crimson Tide can go to 9-0 this Saturday against Arkansas State and add to their rich tradition along the way. Their winning streak would reach 10 games dating back to last season, the 21st winning streak of 10 or more games in Alabama history. That's easily the most in major college football. Michigan and Nebraska are tied for second with 16 streaks of 10 or more wins.

8. Smith's rush to 1,000 yards: Arkansas junior tailback Michael Smith needs 80 yards this Saturday against Tulsa to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark. He's trying to make it three consecutive seasons that a Razorback has led the SEC in rushing after Darren McFadden did it the last two seasons. Smith, who's played most of this season weighing less than 170 pounds, has carried the ball 109 times in his last four games and played last week against Ole Miss despite suffering a concussion the week before against Kentucky. Smith has been the heart and soul of the Arkansas running game, accounting for 89.2 percent of the Hogs' rushing yards this season.

9. Cobb's debut at quarterback: Kentucky coach Rich Brooks joked earlier this week that he'd like to have five players just like Randall Cobb. Maybe then Cobb could throw it to himself, hand off to himself and even spring himself with a block. Cobb, a true freshman, will take over the
Wildcats' starting quarterback duties this Saturday against Mississippi State. It's not so much a desperation move by Brooks as it is an attempt to get his most dynamic player's hands on the ball every play. Cobb gives Kentucky a chance to move the ball even if the players around him are just so-so. He has a big-time arm and can scramble out of trouble. His predecessor, Mike Hartline, didn't have the same ability to make something happen when things broke down. Cobb has shown he can be a playmaker in this league at receiver. Now, he gets his shot at quarterback. If he plays well, it's likely where he'll stay.

10. Can Auburn stop the bleeding?: Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville got public support this week from the president pro tempore of the school's board of trustees, and Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs said that Tuberville's entire body of work would be considered during the evaluation process at the end of the season. It's not necessarily the dreaded vote of confidence that is often times a coach's worst nightmare, but it does sound as if Tuberville is going to have to make more staff changes on offense if he does survive. The best thing he could do is win some more games, starting with Ole Miss on Saturday. If the Tigers (4-4, 2-3 SEC) lose their fourth straight this weekend, it's difficult to see a scenario where they'd finish with a winning record. Tuberville admits he made a mistake in hiring offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. How the Tigers fare the rest of this season may determine whether he's around next season to clean up the mess.

Posted by ESPN.com's Heather Dinich

1. Florida State's young offensive line against Georgia Tech's veteran defensive line. The game will be won or lost here. The Seminoles will need their best run blocking effort considering that's the foundation of their offense.

2. Florida State running backs Antone Smith and Jermaine Thomas. They both expect to play, but their health, especially Smith's, will be key to winning the football game. Smith had injured his ribs and elbow, and Thomas had a concussion.

3. Georgia Tech's quarterbacks. Paul Johnson has said this week he might play both Josh Nesbitt and Jaybo Shaw, but if Nesbitt is able to limit his turnovers, he might not have to. The better protection the line gives him, the less likely he is to be forced into a mistake.

4. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller. The dynamic return man will play at Boston College after missing the past seven quarters with an injured hamstring, but how much of a boost can he give a running game that combined for just 72 rushing yards in the past two games?

5. Turnovers in Chestnut Hill. It's something Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski has been talking about all week, as his Eagles have now surrendered the ball eight times in their past two games. But they're not the only ones. Clemson turned it over six times in its loss to Georgia Tech.

6. Miami's run defense. It hasn't been entirely convincing this season, giving up 113.9 yards per game and 10 touchdowns. The Hurricanes will have to give their best effort in order to slow Virginia running back Cedric Peerman.

7. Bowl eligibility. Only Maryland and North Carolina are bowl eligible, but Florida State, Miami, Boston College, Georgia Tech and Virginia can change that this week. Problem is, half of 'em are playing each other.

8. Wake Forest's ability to create turnovers. In the first three games of the season, Wake secured 15 takeaways (five at Baylor, three against Ole Miss and seven at Florida State). They were undefeated and No. 15 in the nation. In the past four games, they have only five takeaways. It's no coincidence they've lost three of the past four.

9. The Demon Deacons' ability to create offense. For six games they tried a spread offense. For their seventh they lined up in the I-formation. This game they'll probably mix it up, but will it work?

10. Clash of the Coastal in Charlottesville. Virginia has won 15 of its past 17 homecoming games and needs to win this one in order to stay atop the Coastal Division standings. But Miami needs to win in order to say in the mix. If the Hurricanes pull off the road win, get ready for some confusion in the Coastal.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Both Penn State and Ohio State are off this week, but plenty of interesting subplots remain throughout the Big Ten. Here's your weekly checklist to follow as you watch the games on Saturday.

1. Illinois' response to head coach Ron Zook -- The Zooker wasn't pleased after last week's loss to Wisconsin and said personnel changes would be forthcoming against Iowa (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET). Illinois has been the league's least consistent team, and it needs to beat the Hawkeyes to boost its bowl hopes. Running back Daniel Dufrene might not be available, so quarterback Juice Williams and others need to step up. Zook is looking for his first win against Iowa.

2. Purdue's quarterback situation -- Head coach Joe Tiller said Curtis Painter will make the call on whether he can play against Michigan after sustaining a first-degree separation of his throwing shoulder last week. Painter has struggled this season but still seems like Purdue's best option. Backup Justin Siller has spent most of the season practicing at running back, and the Boilers are coming off their worst passing performance (109 yards) in Tiller's 12-year tenure.

3. Northwestern's new-look offense -- Running back Tyrell Sutton (wrist) will miss at least the rest of the regular season, and quarterback C.J. Bacher (hamstring) is questionable for Saturday's game at No. 17 Minnesota (ESPN2, noon ET). If Bacher can't go -- a strong likelihood given his limited participation in practice -- junior Mike Kafka would start for the first time in two years. Kafka gives Northwestern another rushing threat, but his inexperience could prove costly against an opportunistic Gophers defense.

4. Michigan bowl streak in jeopardy -- The nation's longest current streak of consecutive bowl appearances (33) could end Saturday at Purdue. A Michigan loss ends the run and ensures the team's first losing season since 1967. First-year coach Rich Rodriguez maintains that no one has quit, but Michigan's repeated struggles to put together a complete game have to be taking a toll on the players.

5. Shonn Greene vs. Brit Miller -- Arguably the Big Ten's top running back takes on one of the league's most productive defenders at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Greene is slowly gaining national attention but needs another big performance against Illinois to fuel his Heisman campaign. The 235-pound Iowa junior has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in all eight games this season. Miller leads the Big Ten in tackles and ranks third in tackles for loss, but he'll need help from other defenders to slow down Greene.

6. Mystery man leads Indiana offense against Central Michigan -- Hoosiers head coach Bill Lynch has a tough decision to make at quarterback. Junior Kellen Lewis is expected back from a high ankle sprain that ended his streak of 27 consecutive starts. Sophomore Ben Chappell filled in nicely last week, leading Indiana to its first Big Ten win and committing no turnovers against Northwestern. Lewis has struggled this season, but if healthy, he remains the team's top offensive threat.

7. Michigan State's mood following the Michigan win -- The Spartans got over the hump against their archrival, but their emotional state always seems to be a hot topic, given late-season collapses in recent years. Michigan State is in position for a New Year's Day bowl but needs to continue its momentum against Wisconsin (ESPN, noon ET), which has won five of the last seven games in the series. Coach Mark Dantonio emphasizes mental toughness, and the Spartans should avoid a letdown against the Badgers.

8. Minnesota tries to continue nation's top turnaround -- Head coach Tim Brewster regularly recites Minnesota's history -- six national championships and 18 Big Ten titles -- even though the last four decades have produced few milestones for the program. But Minnesota has the chance to connect to its storied past on Saturday. A win against Northwestern makes the Gophers 8-1 for the first time since 1960, the year of their last national title and Brewster's birth. After going 1-11 last season, the Gophers can continue to march toward a New Year's Day bowl berth.

9. Wisconsin's running back rotation -- Redshirt freshman John Clay is listed as the top running back on this week's depth chart after making his first career start in last week's win against Illinois. But three-year starter P.J. Hill is getting healthier and could play a greater role against Michigan State. It will be interesting to see how head coach Bret Bielema divides the carries between Clay, considered the team's back of the future, and the more experienced Hill.

10. The Big Ten bowl picture shapes up -- Several teams can either take a step toward bowl eligibility or make things tougher for themselves down the stretch. Illinois needs two more wins to get bowl eligible and enters a closing stretch featuring four teams with winning records. Iowa has looked good as of late, but a loss to Illinois could make things tough with a home date against No. 3 Penn State up next. Wisconsin tries to get above .500 again, while Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern can move closer toward better bowls. Indiana can keep its slim postseason hopes alive by beating Central Michigan, while Michigan and Purdue likely are playing for pride.

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

1. Pat White and Noel Devine vs. the UConn defense: It's no big secret how the Mountaineers have hammered the Huskies the past few years. Their skill players have sliced and diced through the Connecticut defense, doing so last year to the tune of 517 rushing yards. Obviously that can't happen again if UConn wants to register its first win over West Virginia. The problem for the Huskies is the Mountaineers' offense looks like it finally put things together in its last game against Auburn.

2. The Huskies' quarterback situation: Coach Randy Edsall is now saying it will be a game-time "announcement" rather than a game-time decision over whether Cody Endres or Zach Frazer starts. That seems to indicate he has known for some time who will be under center. Whoever starts might determine the offensive game plan. Against Cincinnati last week Endres passed 42 times, but most of them were manageable throws at safe distances. Frazer could help the Huskies stretch the field more with his big arm. One or the other needs to play well.

3. Donald Brown: How will the nation's leading rusher fare against West Virginia's 3-3-5 defense? The Mountaineers lead the Big East in scoring defense and have only allowed two 100-yard rushers this season. But they haven't seen anyone quite like Brown, who hasn't failed to go over 100 yards this season. Running the ball effectively will be UConn's best bet for keeping White and Devine off the field.

4. "Rent" control: Connecticut can't afford to repeat last year's performance when it lost three fumbles in a 66-21 loss in Morgantown. West Virginia can't be nearly as sloppy as Cincinnati was last week when it had six turnovers at Rentschler Field and fell 40-16 to the Huskies. UConn has created the most turnovers in the Big East with 17, while West Virginia has coughed it up the fewest times (8). Turnovers are always big, of course, but in this game and in this league, they can make all the difference between a close game and a blowout.

5. Jimmy Clausen vs. the Pittsburgh pass defense: Another obvious matchup, one so obvious that Notre Dame will surely try to exploit it as much as possible. The Panthers gave up six touchdown passes to Mike Teel last week in a loss to Rutgers. How many can golden boy Clausen throw? Expect Pitt to change up its personnel and scheme significantly this week. It has to.

6. LeSean McCoy vs. Notre Dame's defense: The Irish have been mediocre at best against the run this season. Michigan State's Javon Ringer rang up 201 yards against them earlier this year. McCoy has been brilliant his last four games and has been especially good on the road. The bigger question may be how Pitt's offensive line, reshuffled after the loss of center Robb Houser, clears lanes for him.

7. Pat Bostick: After Bill Stull suffered a concussion last week, it appears Bostick will start at quarterback for Pittsburgh. Bostick was thrust into a starting role last year as a true freshman, and the Panthers had to dumb down the offense for him. Until two weeks ago, the plan had been to redshirt him this season. He threw a momentum-killing interception in the Rutgers loss. There will be a lot of pressure on Bostick going on the road to South Bend, and Pitt probably can't win without some semblance of a passing attack.

8. Louisville's mental state: The Cardinals had a big, emotional win over South Florida last weekend and then absorbed the loss of their top wide receiver, Scott Long, to an ACL injury. Now they're going on the road for the first time in conference play. You would think Louisville has to be motivated to avenge last year's loss to Syracuse, and the Carrier Dome is hardly an intimidating environment any more. But if the Cardinals -- who have been a slow-starting team this season in the best of circumstances -- come out flat, they'll only give the Orange more reason to believe.

9. Cam Dantley: The Syracuse quarterback maintains a slippery grip on the starting job and was nearly pulled in favor of Andrew Robinson during a brutal second half at South Florida. If he can't get things going early, don't be surprised to see the Orange turn to Robinson, who engineered last year's upset at Louisville.

10. Greg Robinson: The other Syracuse Robinson remains on this list, and might this be the weekend for some resolution to the coach's status? The Orange have had two weeks to prepare for the one Big East team they beat last season, and a loss would officially guarantee another losing season. With Clemson and Washington already on the hunt, how much longer can Syracuse AD Daryl Gross wait to get his next coaching search started?

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

1. Watch the run: Notre Dame's defense will be on alert this weekend against a Pitt team that boasts LeSean McCoy, the No. 11 rusher in the country. The Fighting Irish have not been good against great runners this season. Remember Javon Ringer's 201-yard game?

2. Don't hold anything back: TCU admittedly held some things back against Colorado State in preparation for BYU, but it can't afford to do the same against a UNLV team that already has a couple BCS upsets this season. It can't afford to look ahead to Utah either.

3. Running for history: Louisiana-Lafayette running back Tyrell Fenroy needs just 30 yards to notch 1,000 this season and become the seventh rusher to have four 1,000-yard seasons in NCAA history. This would be the first time in the past four seasons that he's rushed for 1,000 yards this early in the season.

4. What can Brown do again? After a record-setting performance against North Texas last week, Troy starting quarterback Levi Brown knows the bar has been raised for the Trojans' last conference road game against Louisiana-Monroe. Will the pressure get to him? So far he's embraced it.

5. In this corner: Last season a brawl broke out between North Texas and Western Kentucky. While cooler heads are expected to prevail this year, this could be North Texas' chance to score its first win of the season, which might incite some unsavory taunting.

6. Tulsa's chance to quiet naysayers: While Arkansas isn't the best the BCS has to offer, it is a BCS opponent that could add some credibility to Tulsa's schedule should there be a few undefeated teams by season's end.

7. Big scoring, little defense: When Rice and UTEP get together this weekend, don't expect a defensive affair. The fewest points the two teams have combined for during the past four meetings is 63. And a win for the Owls means bowl eligibility.

8. Getting out of the funk: BYU didn't have its best game against UNLV last weekend, but still managed a win. Perhaps that was enough to shake the Cougars out of their TCU hangover. Colorado State isn't exactly a powerhouse, but it did stick with TCU a few weeks ago. And the schedule only gets more difficult for the Cougars.

9. Diversify the offense: New Mexico is going to have to come up with a more diverse game plan against the No. 9 rushing defense in the country. The Lobos have relied on their rushing offense all season and defenses have stacked the box against them. The Lobos have not passed for more than 190 yards in a single game all season and not more than 146 in the past five games.

10. Hawaii 5-oh? Hawaii is going for its fifth win this week against Utah State. And while I've sworn off predicting Hawaii games, it will be interesting to see how Utah State reacts after last week's devastating loss to Fresno State. There are enough wins remaining on the schedule to give Hawaii bowl eligibility, and the chance for a bowl increases if Boise State makes a BCS bowl.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin

Here are some trends I'll be following across the Big 12 in Saturday's games.

1. Can Texas keep running the top-12 gauntlet? -- The Longhorns have already subdued No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 11 Missouri and No. 7 Oklahoma State in successive weeks and is now set to face No. 7 (BCS) Texas Tech on Saturday. With a win, the Longhorns will become only the second team in college football history to beat a top-12 squad four weeks in a row. Notre Dame did it in 1943. Easier said than done -- especially in its first true road test during the streak.

2. Nebraska's emerging ball-control attack -- Joe Ganz and the Cornhuskers have used a safe and effective strategy that has enabled them to control the ball, running off 101 more offensive plays than its first four Big 12 opponents. Can they employ a similar strategy on Saturday to keep the ball away from explosive Oklahoma? They might need to, considering that Nebraska ranks second in total defense in conference games (362.8 yards per game) but last in average yards per play allowed (6.8 ypp).

3. Missouri's Mac attack -- Missouri wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Maclin needs only 98 yards to set the school record for all-purpose yards that was set by former quarterback Brad Smith in 2005. The way Maclin has been involved in the Tigers' offense the record might be broken in the first quarter of Saturday's game against Baylor.

4. Oklahoma State's response to its first loss -- The Cowboys played well but still lost last week at Texas. OSU can keep alive its slim hopes for its first South Division title and first BCS appearance by beating Iowa State. A key will be the performance of the Cowboys' defense, which has limited its last three opponents (Missouri, Baylor and Texas) to season-low totals in points. To do that against the Cyclones will be a challenge, considering the Cyclones scored only five points against UNLV earlier this season.

5. How much will Texas A&M's defense improve simply by playing Colorado? -- The Aggies' young defense has been gashed for an average of 567.5 yards in their last two games, including a season-worst total of 574 last week by Iowa State. How will the Aggies respond to facing a less-than-imposing Colorado offense unit that ranks 11th in the conference in rushing and last in passing, total offense and scoring?

6. Todd Reesing's response after his worst game of the season -- The diminutive Kansas quarterback passed for a season-worst 154 yards and was picked off three times during a five-play nightmare stretch last week against Texas Tech. A strong rebound will be key if the Jayhawks hope to stay alive in the Big 12 North title hunt with a victory over Kansas State. Reesing has a chance to break the school passing record of 6,410 set by Frank Seurer with 245 passing yards on Saturday.

7. Texas Tech's defense on third-down plays -- The biggest struggles during Tech's two most recent losses have been stopping Texas' offense on critical plays. Texas clicked on 17 of 27 third-down plays and was 5 for 5 on fourth-down plays against the Red Raiders in those two games. Tech's improving defense has to do a better job Saturday night in order to spark an upset performance.

8. Oklahoma's struggling defense -- The Sooners defense has been rudderless since losing middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds against Texas, sparking a collapse that has seen them allow 111 points in their last three games -- the most since the 1997 season coached by John Blake. If the Sooners allow 30 points or more Saturday against Nebraska, it will be the first time in program history they've allowed 30-plus points in four straight games.

9. Which team emerges this week in the North Division -- Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska all are tied for first place heading into Saturday. The Tigers appear to have the easiest route to the title and already have a tiebreaker in place over Nebraska. Can the Tigers continue their domination against the North Division after struggling with Big 12 South power teams? And how will Kansas and Nebraska fare Saturday in tougher games than the Tigers appear to be facing?

10. Kansas' reaction to the 'Sunflower Showdown' smack -- Kansas State might have provided some inspiration to its cross-state rival with its lively pregame discussion. Such talk was a little bold for a team that has lost three of its last four games and allowed at least 500 yards in five of its last six games. Maybe it was for inspiration, but it also likely served as a wake-up call for a Jayhawks team that has allowed 108 points in its last two games.