Top 25 preview capsules

[September 08, 2012]   (AP)

No. 1 Alabama (1-0) vs. Western Kentucky (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (SEC Network)

Line: Alabama by 40.

Series record: Alabama leads 1-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Alabama wants to take care of business, stay healthy for next week's showdown at No. 8 Arkansas and get some youngsters more experience. Western Kentucky of the Sun Belt Conference would love to shock the college football world, or at least make a respectable showing.

KEY MATCHUP

Alabama's experienced offensive line outweighs the Hilltoppers' defensive front by an average of 45 pounds. The Crimson Tide's deep backfield should have some nice holes to run through.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alabama: RB T.J. Yeldon. The hard-to-tackle freshman debuted with 111 yards against Michigan and was MVP of the spring game. With Eddie Lacy still nursing an ankle injury, Yeldon could be in line for another big game.

Western Kentucky: QB Kawaun Jakes. Jakes passed for a career-high 296 yards -- 276 by halftime -- and four touchdowns in a rout of Austin Peay. He's in his fourth year as starter and faces a talented secondary that gave up little beyond two long touchdown passes in the opener against Michigan's Denard Robinson.

FACTS & FIGURES

After beating No. 19 Michigan 41-14, Alabama vaulted over Southern California into No. 1 in the AP Top 25. It's the 47th time that the Crimson Tide has topped the rankings and 16th under coach Nick Saban. ... Western Kentucky has faced one defending BCS national champion, losing at No. 1 Florida 49-3 to open the 2007 season during its first season of transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The Hilltoppers also faced No. 1 LSU last November and trailed 14-7 at halftime before falling 42-9. ... The Hilltoppers' 596 yards against Austin Peay was the team's best total since gaining 620 against West Virginia Tech on Sept. 1, 2005.

___

No. 2 Southern California (1-0) vs. Syracuse (0-1), at East Rutherford, N.J., 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)

Line: USC by 26.

Series record: USC leads 3-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

USC slipped to No. 2 in the rankings through no fault of its own. Alabama was just too good to ignore. The Trojans probably aren't too concerned, but if they need any extra motivation, they got it. Mostly though, it's a chance for QB Matt Barkley to put his Heisman credentials on display in front of the New York media in an NFL stadium. And on his 22nd birthday, no less. For Syracuse, it's the chance for the school's biggest victory in more than a decade.

KEY MATCHUP

Syracuse receivers Alec Lemon and Marcus Sales vs. USC cornerbacks Nikell Robey and Anthony Brown. It's unlikely the Orange will be able to contain the Trojans' high-powered offense. Syracuse's best chance might be to let QB Ryan Nassib and his two skilled receivers go to work on a USC secondary that is talented (Robey is a Thorpe Award candidate) but at times prone to lapses. At least it was last year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

USC: WR Marqise Lee. The sophomore might already have surpassed All-American Robert Woods as the best receiver on the team. Last week, he turned a short completion into a 75-yard touchdown reception, one of 10 catches for 197 yards, and he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

SYRACUSE: Nassib. The senior quarterback was 45 for 66 for 482 yards in last week's 42-41 loss against Northwestern, setting four school records. He leads the nation in total offense with 512 yards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Both teams will be playing in MetLife Stadium for the first time. Syracuse played in the old Giants Stadium eight times and was 5-3 there. USC played three times at the old stadium, including in 1990 when Todd Marinovich led the Trojans to a 34-16 victory against Syracuse in the old Kickoff Classic. That game marked USC's first trip to the New York area since 1951. ... Barkley threw five touchdown passes against the Orange in a 38-17 victory last year in Los Angeles. ... In his first game with USC, Penn State transfer Silas Redd ran for 56 yards on nine carries, caught a pass for 41 yards and scored a touchdown. ... Sales, who missed last season because of legal issues, had 12 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown last week against Northwestern. ... Since Doug Marrone took over as Syracuse coach in 2009, 14 of the Orange's 38 games have been decided by seven points or less. Syracuse is 9-5 in those games.

___

Washington (1-0) at No. 3 LSU (1-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: LSU by 23 1/2

Series Record: LSU leads 2-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Unranked Washington could rise in stature quickly with a victory over a high-ranked team in one of the toughest road venues in college football. LSU looks to remain ranked among the nation's elite teams and has a couple of streaks on the line. The Tigers seek their 39th straight regular season win over a nonconference opponent, which would tie an all-time mark set by Kansas State from 1993-2003. LSU also has won 18 straight in Tiger Stadium.

KEY MATCHUP

LSU's deep and powerful running game against Washington's defensive front. Last week, LSU gained 316 yards on the ground against North Texas and the Huskies gave up 199 yards rushing against San Diego State. If the Huskies can't slow down LSU RBs Kenny Hilliard, Alfred Blue, Michael Ford and Spencer Ware, it could become a one-sided game with the Tigers dominating time of possession.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Washington: Washington QB Keith Price threw for 3,063 yards last season, second most in school history, and he has a big target in 6-foot-6, 266-pound TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who had a career-high nine receptions for 82 yards last week.

LSU: RB Hilliard rushed for 141 yards and two TDs on only 13 carries last week for an average of 10.8 yards per carry. PR-WR Odell Beckham Jr. returned one punt 70 yards for a TD and had a 76-yard punt return TD called back for an illegal block.

FACTS & FIGURES

Washington has not played a road game against a Southeastern Conference team since visiting Baton Rouge in 1983, a game won by the Tigers, 40-14. ... The Huskies are 2-9 all-time against teams currently in the SEC ... Price amassed a career-high 25 completions last week against SDSU and finished with 222 yards passing and a TD and no INTs. ... Under coach Les Miles, LSU is 28-0 in regular season games against non-conference opponents. ... LSU is 21-4 all-time against current members of the Pac-12. The Tigers have won 11 straight against Pac-12 teams, with the last loss coming to USC in 1979. ... LSU has not lost at home since falling 13-3 to then-No. 1 Florida on Oct. 10, 2009. ... LSU LT Chris Faulk will miss the game with an undisclosed injury. ... The Tigers have won their last 22 games played in the month of September.

___

Fresno State (1-0) at No. 4 Oregon (1-0), 6 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)

Line: Oregon by 33 1/2.

Series Record: Oregon leads 5-2.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

This will be Tim DeRuyter's first road game as coach at Fresno State. The Bulldogs have not defeated a ranked opponent since 2004 when they beat No. 18 Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho. Oregon has scored 30 or more points in 14 straight games, including last weekend's home-opening 57-34 victory over Arkansas State. Fresno State has not defeated the Ducks since a 10-4 victory at Autzen Stadium in 1982.

KEY MATCHUP

Oregon's speedy spread offense against Fresno State's re-tooled offense. The Ducks scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions against Arkansas State. Five of those scoring drives took less than two minutes. DeRuyter and defensive coordinator Nick Toth have transformed Fresno State's 4-3 defense from last season into an attacking 3-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fresno State: TB Robbie Rouse. The senior back rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Weber State, for his 13th career game with more than 100 yards rushing. He needs just 10 more carries to surpass Michael Pittman (1993-97) for the most attempts in school history. In seven career games against BCS opponents, he has rushed for 536 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon: RB De'Anthony Thomas. The multi-dimensional sophomore had three touchdowns last week against Arkansas State, with only eight total touches. To date, Thomas has 21 touchdowns in 15 career games, which is already landing him on some Heisman Trophy watch lists. He's averaging a score every 5.7 touches.

FACTS & FIGURES

Fresno State has won just four of its last 14 road openers. ... Oregon is the first of back-to-back Pac-12 opponents for the Bulldogs. They host Colorado on Sept. 15. ... In two starts against BCS opponents, Derek Carr has thrown for 685 yards and three touchdowns. ... Oregon plays its first four games at Autzen Stadium. ... Oregon is 32-6 against nonconference opponents in the regular season since 2000. ... In Oregon's victory over Arkansas State, 14 receivers made at least one catch, most since the 2010 opener against New Mexico. ... Oregon redshirt freshman QB Marcus Mariota was the first freshman to start in an opener for the Ducks since Danny O'Neil in 1991.

___

Florida A&M (0-1) at No. 5 Oklahoma (1-0), 6 p.m. (pay-per-view)

Line: No line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

After dropping a spot in the rankings following a 24-7 win against UTEP to start the season, Oklahoma could have a chance to smooth out the rough edges against the Rattlers of the Football Championship Subdivision. Bob Stoops' Sooners have won all three games against FCS opponents easily, by a combined score of 170-2. The Rattlers are out for a mammoth upset, and a $650,000 payday.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida A&M receivers vs. Oklahoma secondary. The Rattlers suspended top receiver Lenworth Lennon, along with three other players, before going up against a defensive backfield that allowed just 48 yards passing in Week 1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida A&M: DE Ellie Hyppolite. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound senior had two of the Rattlers' four sacks last week against Tennessee State and will line up against a shuffled offensive line that allowed three sacks a week ago -- as many as the Sooners allowed through eight games last season.

Oklahoma: RB Damien Williams. The junior college transfer ran for a team-best 103 yards, including a 65-yard TD run, in his debut.

FACTS & FIGURES

Stoops and Florida A&M's Joe Carter worked together on the coaching staff for the 2001 Hula Bowl college All-Star game. Stoops says he has a picture of the two of them, and others including Steve Spurrier and Dick Tomey, wearing sandals while coaching the game. ... The game contract called for Florida A&M to get $700,000 if its marching band traveled with the team, but the Marching 100 is suspended from games after the death of a drum major that has other band members facing hazing charges. ... FAMU is 0-13 against FBS teams since 1996, losing by an average score of 50-9.

___

Savannah State (0-1) at No. 6 Florida State (1-0), 6 p.m. (ESPN3)

Line: No line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Sixth-ranked Florida State appears loaded with talent across the board and a huge offensive line is gaining much-needed experience with each game. The Seminoles rushed for 285 yards in the opener, an encouraging development considering their troubles on the ground last year. They also want to avoid key injuries after losing star defensive end Brandon Jenkins in the opener with a season-ending broken foot. Another payday for Savannah State. The Tigers get $475,000 this week after picking up $385,000 at Oklahoma State for an 84-0 shellacking last Saturday. However, Tigers coach Steve Davenport said afterward that he wasn't sure the money was worth the school's worst loss since 1953.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida State's heralded pass rush vs. any of Savannah State's quarterbacks. The Seminoles sacked Murray State's Casey Brockman six times in a 69-3 win last Saturday despite losing Brandon Jenkins early in the game. Fortunately for the Seminoles, defensive end is a position with depth. Bjoern Werner recorded four sacks and another tackle for loss and was the Atlantic Coast Conference's defensive player of the week. Cornelius "Tank" Carradine picked up more playing time in Jenkins' absence and led the team with nine tackles, including a sack.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida State: RB James Wilder Jr. stood out in the opener with 106 yards on a dozen carries in the second half of the Seminoles' 69-3 win over Murray State.

Savannah State: RB Alex Simmons gained 40 yards on nine carries, including a 19-yard run for the Tigers longest gain in an 84-0 loss at Oklahoma State.

FACTS AND FIGURES

It's the first time Florida State plays a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in football. Florida A&M, located just a few blocks from the Florida State campus, is a MEAC member and the Rattlers defeated Savannah State 47-7 last season ... Oklahoma State scored six touchdowns before Savannah State managed its second first down last week ... Florida State has outscored its three previous FCS opponents during the Fisher era by a combined 190-19 margin ... the Seminoles most lopsided win came in 1949 in a 74-0 romp over Whiting Field ... K Dustin Hopkins needs 53 points to become the all-time scoring leader at Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference.

___

No. 7 Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC) at Missouri (1-0, 0-0), 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2)

Line: Georgia by 2 1/2

Series Record: Georgia leads 1-0, won 14-0 in 1960 Orange Bowl

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Missouri totaled 48 wins its last five seasons in the Big 12 yet there's a perception it must prove itself worthy all over again in SEC. This is the first step, and an overflow crowd is expected to witness a game coach Gary Pinkel said "will go down in history." Georgia seeks to build momentum after dropping one notch in poll following an unimpressive 45-23 opening victory over Buffalo, picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the MAC. Getting back some or all of the players who missed the opener because of disciplinary suspensions or injury would help.

KEY MATCHUP

Missouri QB James Franklin vs. Georgia defense. Franklin is dangerous with his legs as much as arm after rushing for 15 TDs last year. He'll put pressure on a defense that will be without CB Sanders Commings and LB Chase Vasser, expected to serve out two-game suspensions for offseason arrests. No word yet whether two others suspended for the opener, S Bacarri Rambo and ILB Alec Ogletree, will be back this week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia: Freshman TB Todd Gurley was SEC co-freshman player of week after rushing for 100 yards in eight attempts and two TDs and returning kickoff 100 yards for TD. QB Aaron Murray is the active SEC career leader in total offense, completions, TD passes and yards passing.

Missouri: Marcus Murphy was SEC special teams player of week after setting school record with punt returns for TD of 70 and 72 yards in opener. Murphy is backup TB behind Kendial Lawrence, who had career bests with 76-yard TD and 121 yards rushing overall. LB Zaviar Gooden had 20-yard INT for TD in opener and has an interception in last three games.

FACTS & FIGURES

NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton was Georgia QB in only meeting between schools. ... Georgia has lost its last two SEC openers, both times against ranked South Carolina teams. The last time Georgia faced a school other than South Carolina in the SEC opener was in 1991. ... Georgia had seven NFL draft picks last season, tying Oklahoma for second-most in nation. ... Missouri plays its first four games at home, where it's 2-1 the last two seasons vs. ranked opponents including a win over No. 3 Texas in 2010. ... Missouri has won five in a row. ... Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is 9-2 against SEC members, including 5-1 against fellow ex-Big 12 member Texas A&M. ... Tigers scored five TDs on offense, two on defense and two on special teams in opener.

___

Louisiana-Monroe (0-0) at No. 8 Arkansas (1-0), 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Line: Arkansas by 30 1/2

Series Record: Arkansas leads 9-0

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Arkansas is in need of a confidence boost after a lackluster season-opening win over FCS Jacksonville State. The Razorbacks, under first-year defensive coordinator Paul Haynes, allowed 163 yards passing in the first half by the Gamecocks and trailed 14-7 in the second quarter before the offense came alive in a 49-24 win. Louisiana-Monroe, which faces another Southeastern Conference opponent next week at Auburn, is no stranger to saying close with Arkansas -- leading 27-14 in the fourth quarter in 2008 before falling 28-27.

KEY MATCHUP

Louisiana-Monroe wide receiver Brent Leonard vs. Arkansas' secondary. Leonard earned second-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors last season, leading the Warhawks in catches (69), receiving yards (751) and touchdown catches (four). The Razorbacks' pass defense was 10th in the SEC last season and was shaky at best against Jacksonville State. Senior CB Darius Winston was pulled during the first half and has battled this week with senior Kaelon Kellybrew for the starting spot against Louisiana-Monroe.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Louisiana-Monroe: QB Kolton Browning. The junior played against Arkansas two seasons ago as freshman. The left-hander started all 12 games last season for the Warhawks and accounted for 2,926 yards of total offense (2,483 passing, 443 rushing) and 18 touchdowns.

Arkansas: WR Cobi Hamilton. The senior missed most of the opener with a head injury suffered on a hard tackle in the first quarter. He's expected back this week and always seems to save his biggest games for Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium -- where he has seven touchdowns in six career games.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Razorbacks QB Tyler Wilson set an opening-game school record with 367 yards passing last week ... Last season, the Razorbacks were the first SEC team since Florida in 2001 to lead the league in passing offense (300.7), total offense (438.1) and scoring offense (36.8) in a season ... Arkansas has won 20 straight nonconference games in War Memorial Stadium ... The Razorbacks return to Little Rock to face Mississippi on Oct. 27 ... Louisiana-Monroe coach Todd Berry is 9-15 in two seasons with the Warhawks, 4-8 last season.

___

East Carolina (1-0) at No. 9 South Carolina (1-0), 12:21 p.m. (SEC Network)

Line: Oregon by 22

Series Record: South Carolina 11-5

WHAT'S AT STAKE

South Carolina hopes to avoid a second straight poor offensive showing and remain in the top 10, while East Carolina seeks to end a three-game losing streak to ranked opponents.

KEY MATCHUP

South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore against East Carolina's defensive line. Lattimore was the offensive bright spot in the Gamecocks 17-13 opening win at Vanderbilt on Aug. 30 with two touchdowns and 110 yards on the ground, earning the SEC's offensive player of the week. Lattimore rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns against the Pirates last September in South Carolina's 56-37 win. East Carolina allowed Appalachian State just 119 yards rushing in its opener last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

East Carolina: QB Rio Johnson. Taking over for record-setting standout Dominique Davis, Johnson threw for 242 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the 35-13 win over Appalachian State last Saturday.

South Carolina: DE Jadeveon Clowney had four tackles, including a sack and another stop behind the line of scrimmage as the Gamecocks defense gave up 276 yards. It was the fifth straight time South Carolina's held an opponent to less than 300 yards of offense.

FACTS & FIGURES

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is 44-0 all-time against opponents outside the BCS automatic qualifying conferences. ... East Carolina's last trip to Columbia came in 1999, a 21-3 victory. The team had to remain for a week in South Carolina's capital due to flooding from Hurricane Floyd. ... Lattimore has rushed for 100 yards or more in nine games, tying him for fifth in school history with Duce Staley and Derek Watson. Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers is the school leader with 27. ... East Carolina is 5-22 all-time against schools in the Southeastern Conference -- all the victories coming against the Gamecocks.

___

No. 11 Michigan State (1-0) at Central Michigan (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Line: Michigan State by 21.

Series Record: Michigan State leads 5-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

It's a chance for the Chippewas to host a major program, and the Spartans get to start their road schedule with a short trip to the north. This is part of Michigan State's "Celebrate the State" football series, featuring 12 games over 10 seasons (2011-2020) against Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan that includes the Spartans making one road trip to each of those schools.

KEY MATCHUP

Michigan State QB Andrew Maxwell vs. the Central Michigan secondary. Maxwell threw three interceptions in his first game after replacing Kirk Cousins as the Spartans' starter. Two of those turnovers were on dropped throws, but Maxwell will be hoping for a less mistake-prone showing from the offense this weekend.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan State: RB Le'Veon Bell. Now the undisputed top rusher in the Spartans' backfield, Bell ran for 210 yards on 44 grueling carries in an opening win over Boise State. He also caught six passes. Although Michigan State may try to reduce his workload a bit, it will be interesting to see what he does for an encore.

Central Michigan: RB Zurlon Tipton. Bell wasn't the only one having a career game in the opening week. Tipton rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns to help the Chippewas beat Southeast Missouri 38-27.

FACTS & FIGURES

Central Michigan coach Dan Enos played at Michigan State from 1987-90 and was a two-year starter at quarterback. He was a running backs coach at Michigan State under current Spartans coach Mark Dantonio from 2007-09. ... Michigan State beat Central Michigan 45-7 last year. ... The Chippewas had no penalties in their opener.

___

Ball State (1-0) at No. 12 Clemson (1-0), 12:29 p.m. (ACC Network)

Line: Clemson by 27.

Series Record: Clemson leads 2-0

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Clemson can continue to show its offense is more than All-American receiver Sammy Watkins, who'll sit out the last of his two-game suspension for an offseason drug arrest. The Tigers played without Watkins last week in a 26-19 victory over Auburn. Ball State will try and snap Clemson's undefeated status against the Mid-American Conference. The Tigers are 3-0 against the MAC.

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson QB Tajh Boyd against Ball State secondary. Boyd showed off his running skills against Auburn last week, but was still 24 of 34 for 208 yards passing. Even without Watkins lining up for Clemson, the Cardinals' defensive backs will be tested to hold down Boyd's production. WR DeAndre Hopkins set a school record with 13 catches last week. Ball State held Eastern Michigan to under 50 percent passing and 186 yards through the air, although it gave up three TD passes.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ball State: RB Jahwan Edwards rushed for a career high 200 yards and tied his career best with three touchdowns in the opening-game victory over Eastern Michigan. Edwards was honored as the MAC offensive player of the week.

Clemson: RB Andre Ellington ran for a career high 228 yards on 25 carries against Auburn. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference offensive back of the week.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson and Ball State have played each other every 10 years beginning in 1992. In that first-ever meeting, Clemson RB Ronald Williams gained 58 yards and had a touchdown in the Tigers' 24-10 victory. Williams' son, DeShawn, is the Tigers current starting defensive tackle. ... Ball State had a school-record 36 first downs in its opening-week win over Eastern Michigan ... Ball State has not beaten a Top 25 team since 2001 when it defeated No. 25 Toledo during the 2001 season. It fell to No. 2 Oklahoma last October, 62-6, in its previous game against a ranked opponent. ... Get ready for a lot of plays on offense: Clemson snapped the ball 92 times against Auburn while Ball State had 96 plays in its victory last week.

___

No. 13 Wisconsin (1-0) vs. Oregon State (0-0), 4 p.m. (FX)

Line: Wisconsin by 8

Series Record: Wisconsin leads 2-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

This, the Badgers only road trip prior to starting Big Ten Conference play at the end of the month at Nebraska, also serves as a chance to calm nerves after Wisconsin was given a bit of a scare last week at home against FCS Northern Iowa. Oregon State finally ends what coach Mike Riley joked was the "world's longest training camp" after last week's opener against Nicholls State was postponed due to Hurricane Isaac.

KEY MATCHUP

Oregon State's offensive line vs. Wisconsin's defensive front. Most would think this should be reversed with the Beavers trying to stop Monte Ball. And while that's huge, Oregon State must first score after getting shutout 35-0 at Wisconsin last year. The Beavers may start freshman Issac Seumalo at center and would make him the first freshman to start at center for the Beavers since 1978. Getting some semblance of a run game with redshirt freshman TB Storm Woods will be important to take the pressure off QB Sean Mannion. Wisconsin allowed just 41 yards rushing to Northern Iowa.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wisconsin: QB Danny O'Brien. The debut of the Maryland transfer didn't equate the eye-popping numbers of predecessor Russell Wilson, but was extremely solid. O'Brien was 19 of 23 for 219 yards, two touchdown throws and a passer rating of 191.3 against Northern Iowa. Those kinds of numbers are expected against an FCS team. Now comes an Oregon State defense that returns three of four starters in a secondary that was second in the Pac-12 in pass defense a year ago.

Oregon State: Woods. The redshirt freshman from Texas beat out incumbent Malcolm Agnew for the starting job during fall camp and will be unveiled against the Badgers. Oregon State can only hope Woods works out as well as its last workhorse running back from Texas -- Jacquizz Rodgers, a three-time first-team all-Pac-10 selection.

FACTS & FIGURES

Wisconsin is the first Big Ten team to venture to Corvallis since Iowa in 1971, a game the Beavers won 33-19. Wisconsin is the highest ranked nonconference team to visit Corvallis since BYU in 1977. ... Wisconsin has won 33 straight nonconference games, the second longest streak in the country behind LSU. The Badgers last nonconference loss was in 2003 to UNLV. ... Last season was the first time since 2007 the Beavers failed to beat at least one team ranked in the AP Top 25.

___

Central Florida (1-0) at No. 14 Ohio State (1-0), noon (ESPN2)

Line: Ohio State by 18

Series: First meeting

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Validity, for UCF. The Knights have never beaten a ranked team from a Football Bowl Subdivision conference. Also, perhaps to a lesser degree, validity for the Buckeyes. They coasted to a 56-10 win last week over Miami (Ohio) in coach Urban Meyer's Ohio State debut. Playing the Knights, picked as the favorite in the East Division of Conference USA, is a considerably bigger test. With neither team currently eligible for a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions (UCF does have an appeal pending), it's a win-now situation for both.

KEY MATCHUP

Ohio State QB Braxton Miller vs. defensive front of Victor Gray, Jose Jose, E.J. Dunston and Troy Davis. Miller got off to a horrible start in the opener, but once things started clicking he rushed for an Ohio State quarterback-record 161 yards and passed for two scores and 207 yards. Jose goes 327 pounds and Dunston 302. They must fill gaps and prevent big yardage inside the tackles when Miller scrambles or if he hands off to RB Carlos Hyde or it could be a long day for the Knights.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UCF: QB Blake Bortles was 24 of 34 for 248 yards and three TDs in a 56-14 win over Akron last week. Frosh WR J.J. Worton caught 11 passes for 114 yards and a TD and WR Quincy McDuffie added nine catches for 93 yards and a score. RB Latavius Murray gained 233 yards on 21 attempts and scored three times, but coach George O'Leary said he's week to week after a shoulder injury. Former Miami Hurricane Storm Johnson will take his place.

Ohio State: After facing a team that used quick passes to minimize the rush, the defensive front line of John Simon, Johnathan Hankins, Garrett Goebel and J.T. Moore (along with subs Nathan Williams and Michael Bennett) are itching to get after Bortles. Devin Smith, who had a highlight-reel TD grab, could blossom at WR along with Corey Brown.

FACTS & FIGURES:

The last time Ohio State lost a regular-season non-conference game at home against an unranked team was to another Florida school, a 34-17 setback to Florida State way back in 1982, a string of 58 games. ... If you think of Ohio State as a massive bully picking on small fry, consider that there are 56,867 students on the main campus in Columbus, while 58,698 attend UCF. ... Meyer has 105 collegiate victories, O'Leary 103. ... UCF is in its eighth and final season in Conference USA. Next year it'll join the Big East. A former affiliate of the Mid-American Conference, which has six Ohio members, the Knights are 13-14 vs. schools from the Buckeye state (6-7 on the road). ... The Buckeyes had no turnovers (but forced three) and had just three penalties for 20 yards in their opener.

___

No. 15 Virginia Tech (1-0) vs. Austin Peay (0-1), 1:34 p.m. ESPN3 (online only)

Line: No line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The last time the Hokies played a big game on a Monday and then again five days later, they lost both -- to Boise State and then James Madison -- in 2010. This time, they beat Georgia Tech on Monday, and a loss Saturday would be a huge upset.

KEY MATCHUP

Virginia Tech's defense against Austin Peay's offense. The Hokies go back to their normal defense after changing things up against Georgia Tech's triple option, and with a goal of becoming, statistically the best defense in school history, they could make it a very long day for the Governors, who have only one returning full-time starter on the offensive line.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Austin Peay: RB Wesley Kitts ran for 104 yards last week against Western Kentucky, most of it coming on a 68-yard touchdown run.

Virginia Tech: TBs Michael Holmes and J.C. Coleman. Holmes ran for 54 yards on 13 carries against Georgia Tech, and Coleman gained 25 yards on just four attempts as the Hokies never really got their ground game untracked. It's still the bread and butter of their offense, though, and getting both tailbacks some experience, and confidence, will surely be a focus on Saturday.

FACTS & FIGURES

Hokies coach Frank Beamer had a 5-1 record against Austin Peay when he coached at Murray State. ... Virginia Tech is the only school at the FBS level to have won 10 games in each of the past eight seasons; the Governors have had only 18 winning seasons in their 75 years playing football. ... The Hokies have finished their past 19 seasons in a bowl game, the third-longest streak at the FBS level behind Florida State (30) and Florida (22). ... Austin Peay's quarterbacks were 2-for-11 for just 11 yards last week in the Governors' 49-10 loss to Western Kentucky. ... The Governors have scored in 74 consecutive games. ... Austin Peay assistant coach Marcus Gildersleeve was a wide receiver at Virginia Tech from 1996-98.

___

No. 16 Nebraska (1-0) vs. UCLA (1-0), 7:30 p.m. (FOX)

Line: Nebraska by 5

Series Record: Nebraska leads 6-4

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Nebraska returns to the Rose Bowl for its first meeting with UCLA since 1994, while the Bruins look to build on their season-opening victory at Rice in new coach Jim Mora's home debut.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez vs. UCLA DE Datone Jones. Martinez is a California kid who dreamed of playing for UCLA. He's coming off a monster game in the Huskers' opener against Southern Miss, racking up 354 yards passing and five touchdowns while getting sacked just once. The Bruins must get Martinez uncomfortable to have a chance against the Huskers' explosive offense, and Jones appears ready to reach his considerable potential after a disruptive effort in the opener against Rice.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nebraska: DT Baker Steinkuhler. The 6-foot-6 senior is off to a strong start after an eight-tackle performance against Southern Miss, his 40th game for the Huskers. He could wreak havoc on a UCLA offensive line likely to have just one senior starter.

UCLA: QB Brett Hundley. The redshirt freshman's college debut was spectacular, starting with his 72-yard TD run on his first snap and concluding with 202 yards passing and two TDs. The Huskers' seasoned defense will be much tougher to crack, but Hundley relishes the chance to test himself.

FACTS & FIGURES

Nebraska had just two first-time starters in its opener, and both were on the offensive line. ... UCLA is 21-5 in nonconference games at the Rose Bowl dating to 1998. ... UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin had the 11th 100-yard rushing game of his career in the opener. ... Nebraska has eight Californians on its roster -- all from the Los Angeles area -- including Martinez, who went to high school in Corona, Calif., with UCLA WR Ricky Marvray. ... Nebraska lost 37-14 to Miami in the 2002 Rose Bowl, losing the BCS title game. ... The Huskers have won six of the schools' past seven meetings since 1973.

___

New Mexico (1-0) at No. 17 Texas (1-0), 8 p.m. (Longhorn Network)

Line: Texas by 38

Series Record: Texas leads 2-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Texas is looking for another big win to keep boosting quarterback David Ash's confidence. Ash was solid in the first game but needs to taste more victories before the Big 12 schedule starts. New Mexico has already accomplished last season's win total under first-year head coach Bob Davie. The Lobos may want to just get out of Austin without injuries.

KEY MATCHUP

New Mexico freshman QB Cole Gautsche vs. Texas LB Jordan Hicks. Gautsche directs New Mexico's option offense, which will challenge Hicks and the Texas linebackers to be disciplined on their reads. But even if the Longhorns get fooled on misdirection plays, they should have the speed to cover from sideline to sideline. Gautsche had a 47-yard touchdown run last week against Southern. Hicks led the Longhorns with six solo tackles against Wyoming.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

New Mexico: KR Chase Clayton had a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown last week. He'll face much tougher kick coverage against Texas, which pinned Wyoming inside the 20 four times last week.

Texas: WR Mike Davis needs a breakout game. The Longhorns are still waiting for the junior to become their deep threat. Ash underthrew him twice last week, but if that tandem can get the Longhorns going vertical, it will add a big dimension to the offense.

FACTS & FIGURES

New Mexico head coach Bob Davie was 8-1 against Texas as a Texas A&M assistant from 1985 to 1993 ... Texas kicker Anthony Fera, a transfer from Penn State, will sit out his second game with a groin injury ...Former Texas RB and Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell will be an honorary captain for the coin toss. A statue of Campbell stands just outside Royal-Memorial Stadium.

___

No. 18 Oklahoma State (1-0) at Arizona (1-0), 10:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Line: Oklahoma State by 10 1/2

Series Record: Oklahoma State leads 5-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Oklahoma State gets its first real test -- first real game? -- of the season after pulling its starters before the end of the first quarter in an 84-0 annihilation of Savannah State. Arizona also will face a step up in competition after needing overtime to beat Toledo in its opener, a fast-paced game that featured 182 combined plays.

KEY MATCHUP

Oklahoma State QB Wes Lunt against Arizona's defense. The Cowboys' freshman starter didn't get much of an initial test against Savannah State, completing all 11 of his passes while facing almost no resistance in four offensive series. The Wildcats don't have a lot of defensive depth, but they'll give Lunt a lot more to think about than Savannah State in his first start against an FBS opponent.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oklahoma State: RB Joseph Randle. Randle has had some success against Arizona the past two seasons, rushing for 123 yards and catching 11 passes for 127 yards. He had 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just six carries last week against Savannah State.

Arizona: QB Matt Scott. The fifth-year senior looked sharp after two years of waiting behind Nick Foles, throwing for a career-high 387 yards and two TDs while rushing for 74 more yards. His 461 yards of offense were the third-most in school history.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oklahoma State has beaten Arizona in each of the past two seasons: 36-10 in the 2010 Alamo Bowl and 37-14 last season in Stillwater. ... Arizona and Oklahoma State both had over 600 yards of offense in their openers, though the Cowboys scored 60 more points. ... Arizona scored on just one of four trips inside the 20-yard line against Toledo, including two missed field goals. ... Oklahoma State has outscored Arizona by a combined 44-7 in the first half the past two meetings. ... The Cowboys used 95 players against Savannah State. ... Arizona has beaten a ranked opponent in seven of the past eight seasons.

___

Air Force (1-0) at No. 19 Michigan (0-1), 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN2)

Line: Michigan by 21 1/2.

Series Record: Michigan leads 1-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Wolverines will get a chance to show they still belong in the rankings after getting beat by Alabama 41-14 last week at Cowboys Stadium. The Falcons have a shot at snapping a 19-game losing streak against teams ranked in the AP poll.

KEY MATCHUP

Michigan's front seven against Air Force's option offense. After the Wolverines were pounded by the Crimson Tide's straightforward approach on the ground, they will have to adjust to a lot of deception on the ground with what coach Troy Calhoun calls a tailback, zone-running scheme.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Air Force: RB Cody Getz, one of 13 first-time starters, made the most of his best opportunity to carry the ball in four years by running for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in last week's 49-21 win over Idaho State.

Michigan: RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, the team's top tailback has been cleared to play by coach Brady Hoke, who suspended him for the opener after he pleaded guilty to drunken driving. He is expected to start.

FACTS & FIGURES

Michigan beat Air Force 24-7 in 1964 at home in their only previous meeting. ... Air Force hasn't defeated a team in AP poll since beating No. 23 Cal 23-21 nearly a decade ago on the road and its last win over a Big Ten team was in 2003 against Northwestern. ... The Wolverines will unretire No. 47 by a player to be announced Saturday, putting Bennie Oosterbaan's jersey back in circulation with a Michigan Football Legend patch. ... Michigan has the longest active streak of avoiding a shutout -- scoring in 338 straight games since being blanked at Iowa in 1984 -- and Air Force's 234-game scoring run ranks fourth. The Wolverines' scoring streak trails only the NCAA record of 361 that was set by BYU from 1975-2003 and snapped by Utah. ... The Falcons have played in a program-record five straight bowl games.

___

Grambling St. (0-1) at No. 20 TCU (0-0), 7 p.m. (Fox Sports Southwest)

Line: No line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

TCU, one of four FBS teams that didn't have a game on college football's opening weekend, is playing its first game as a Big 12 team and its first game in its completely redone, $164 million stadium. With a victory, Gary Patterson becomes the winningest coach in school history. His 109 victories now match coach Dutch Meyer as for the most with the Horned Frogs.

KEY MATCHUP

Frogs young defensive line vs. Grambling's rushing game. TCU has three new starters on the defensive line, including a redshirt freshman tackle and a freshman at end opposite returning starter Stansly Maponga, whose 25 career starts are the most on TCU's roster. They could have an early test after the Tigers, hurt by two fumbled punts, piled up 356 yards rushing in their season opener against SWAC rival Alcorn State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Grambling St: Freshman Jeremy Runner is listed as a receiver, but ran for 166 yards on 13 carries in the Tigers' season-opening loss to Alcorn State.

TCU: WR Josh Boyce, who had 61 catches for 998 yards and nine TDs last season, just missing school records in all three categories. Boyce goes into his senior season with 15 career receiving TDs, two shy of matching that record.

FACTS & FIGURES

Over the past 10 seasons, the Frogs played their first game on the road eight times. They averaged 11 victories in those seasons. The two years they started at home, they won five games in 2004 and eight in 2007. ... TCU has won 10 consecutive home openers. ... Since 1996, Grambling has played only one game against a Top 25 team, losing 56-6 at Oklahoma State three years ago. ... Former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams is in his second season of his second stint as coach at Grambling, his alma mater. His first was from 1998-2003, when he succeeded coach Eddie Robinson, the winningest Division I coach with 408 victories.

___

Miami (1-0) at No. 21 Kansas State (1-0), noon (FX)

Line: Kansas State by 7.

Series Record: Kansas State leads 1-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Kansas State will be trying to make it two straight against the Hurricanes after a goal-line stand and video review gave the Wildcats a 28-24 victory last season in Coral Gables, Fla. Miami is trying to show progress under coach Al Golden after going 6-6 last season.

KEY MATCHUP

Miami's running backs against the Kansas State defense. Freshman Duke Johnson ran for 135 yards in his 'Canes debut, a 41-32 victory over Boston College. Mike James added 54 yards rushing. They'll try to take advantage of the Wildcats' unsettle defensive front.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Miami: QB Stephen Morris was 28-of-45 against Boston College, both career highs, and finished with 207 yards passing and a touchdown. He'll be going against a Kansas State defensive backfield that had trouble shutting down Missouri State quarterback Ashton Glaser last week.

Kansas State: LB Arthur Brown began his career at Miami before transferring to Kansas State, where the native of Wichita, Kan., has blossomed into one of the nation's best at his position. He led the Wildcats in tackles a year ago, and is on the watch list for numerous awards.

FACTS & FIGURES

Miami is making its first Big 12 visit since beating former league member Texas A&M 41-23 on Sept. 20, 2008. ... Hurricanes played 14 freshmen in opener against Boston College. ... Miami had four sacks versus Eagles. ... Kansas State scored 42 points in final 22 minutes of opening 51-9 victory over Missouri State. ... Wildcats RB John Hubert had 95-yard TD run against the Bears, second-longest run from scrimmage in school history. ... WR Tramaine Thompson's 89-yard punt return TD against the Bears gave Kansas State 82 non-offensive scores since 1999 season. ... Hurricanes haven't opened the season with two road games since 2005. ... Wildcats are 10-3 in non-conference games against BCS opponents under Bill Snyder, including win over Miami in 2011. ... Kansas State is 118-27-1 over past 20 years at home. All but three losses are in Big 12 games.

___

Purdue (1-0) at No. 22 Notre Dame (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (NBC)

Line: Notre Dame by 14 1/2

Series Record: Notre Dame leads 55-26-2.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

A quick 2-0 start for both teams after easy wins in their openers. The Boilermakers routed Eastern Kentucky 48-6 and the Irish went all the way to Ireland to do the same to Navy, 50-10. Purdue's last 2-0 start was 2007 and Notre Dame's came in 2008.

KEY MATCHUP

Purdue QB Caleb TerBush and WR O.J. Ross against ND freshman CB KeiVarae Russell. TerBush is coming off a one-game suspension and his replacement Robert Marve threw for three touchdowns. Ross caught eight balls last week and Purdue could look to pick on Russell. Russell, who got the starter's job when Lo Wood was lost for the season to an Achilles tendon tear, was beaten for a 25-yard TD pass that was Navy's only six-pointer last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Purdue: QB TerBush. After a week off, can he be as effective as Marve, who might also play? The Boilermakers, with RB Akeem Shavers, could look to run the ball more with TerBush under center than Marve. TerBush had 83 carries a year ago.

Notre Dame: QB Everett Golson. Golson's college debut was a strong one when he completed 12 of 18. Now he plays in front of the home crowd for the first time against a much more physical and athletic defense.

FACTS & FIGURES

Notre Dame has won four straight in the series and Purdue hasn't tasted victory in South Bend since 2004. ... The Boilermakers are honoring Purdue grad Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, with a helmet sticker this season. ... Both teams shared the ball in their openers -- 12 different Boilers caught a pass and 10 different Irish receivers did the same. ... Purdue DT Kawann Short had a sack last week, giving him 13 1/2 for his career. ... Notre Dame recovered three fumbles against Navy after pouncing on just six all of last season. ... Irish star LB Manti Te'o had the first fumble recovery and first interception of his career last week.

___

Missouri State (0-1) at No. 23 Louisville (1-0), 3:30 p.m., (ESPN3)

Line: no line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Tempting as it is for Louisville to look past FCS foe Missouri State toward next week's key game against North Carolina, the Cardinals simply can't afford to. After yielding 373 yards to Kentucky, they need to address some defensive issues and must avoid a tendency to let down after big wins. No doubt, Louisville is leery of Missouri State after it played Kansas State tough for three quarters before allowing 35 fourth-quarter points in a 51-9 rout. The Cardinals should feel better about themselves after Saturday, while the Bears can console themselves with a $500,000 payday.

KEY MATCHUP

Missouri State's passing game vs. Louisville's defense. The Bears' 257 passing yards at Kansas State has the Cardinals' attention, especially after allowing 280 and two touchdowns to Kentucky's Maxwell Smith. Missouri State also did not allow a sack. Louisville sacked Smith twice but generally struggled against Kentucky's no-huddle sets.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Missouri State: QB Ashton Glaser. The Missouri transfer had an impressive debut against K-State, completing 22 of 44 passes for 257 yards in the loss. He was the Bears' first QB of the Division I era to open the season with 200-plus offensive yards and their first since 2007.

Louisville: RB Senorise Perry. The speedy junior rushed for a game-high 108 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown, that showed his ability to break through a hole and take off.

FACTS & FIGURES

Missouri State is 1-27 against FBS schools with 26 consecutive losses. Its lone win came against UNLV in 1990. ... The Bears, coming off consecutive losing seasons, were picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. ... Louisville is 2-0 against FCS under Charlie Strong and 87-51-3 all time.

___

No. 24 Florida (1-0) at Texas A&M (0-0), 3:35 p.m., (ESPN)

Line: Texas A&M by 1 1/2

Series Record: Series is tied 1-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

It's the start of a new era for Texas A&M as the Aggies play their first Southeastern Conference game after moving from the Big 12. Texas A&M's game last week was postponed, so Saturday will be former Houston coach Kevin Sumlin's debut for the Aggies. The Gators look to get off to a good start in the SEC and improve their luck in the state of Texas, where they have once in 10 tries.

KEY MATCHUP

Aggies defense vs. RB Mike Gillislee. Gillislee had 24 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns in Florida's 27-14 win over Bowling Green last week. This will be Texas A&M's first chance to see how the switch from a 3-4 scheme to the 4-3 under first-year defensive coordinator Mark Snyder is going. The Aggies return five starters on defense including linebacker Sean Porter, who led the team with 9 1/2 sacks last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida: QB Jeff Driskel. Driskel was officially named the starter on Monday after alternating time with Jacoby Brissett last week against Bowling Green. The 6-foot-4, 237-pound sophomore went 10 of 16 for 114 yards with a touchdown in Florida's opener to help earn the starting job.

Texas A&M: QB Johnny Manziel. Manziel earned the starting job left vacant when Ryan Tannehill was taken in the first-round of the NFL draft by Miami with a strong camp. The redshirt freshman will become the first freshman quarterback to start a season-opener for the Aggies since 1944. Sumlin believes a veteran offensive line and other skill position players will make his transition easier.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Aggies are opening their season against a conference opponent for the first time since 1967. ... The last meeting between these teams came in 1977 when Texas A&M got a 37-14 win in the Sun Bowl. ... Florida's only win in the state of Texas came with a 48-3 victory over Rice in 1977. ... The Aggies have won three straight season-openers and are 7-3 in their last 10. ... Saturday will be a return to Texas for Florida coach Will Muschamp, who was an assistant at Texas from 2008-10.

___

Duke (1-0) at No. 25 Stanford (1-0), 10:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

Line: Stanford by 15

Series Record: Stanford leads 2-1

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Stanford seeks to avoid another slip after squeaking out a 20-17 win over San Jose State in the opener and tune up for a showdown against No. 2 Southern California next week. Duke is going for its first road victory over a ranked team since 1971, when the Blue Devils beat Stanford 9-3.

KEY MATCHUP

Duke's run defense against Stanford's running game. It's no secret that San Jose State stayed close with Stanford because it slowed the Cardinal running game and forced new quarterback Josh Nunes to throw. The Cardinal were 2 for 13 on third downs. If the Blue Devils could force Nunes into third-and-long situations, there's no telling what could happen without Andrew Luck around anymore.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stanford: LB Shayne Skov. The senior linebacker, who led the Cardinal with 84 tackles to go with 7 1/2 sacks two years ago, makes his return after a left knee injury in the third game at Arizona sidelined him for all of last season. He also served a one-game suspension against San Jose State for a DUI arrest.

Duke: Brandon Connette. The redshirt sophomore does a little bit of everything. He's a backup quarterback who runs short-yardage plays out of the wildcat formation. He lines up at tight end, wide receiver, running back and plays on a couple of special teams, too. He threw for one touchdown and ran for another in Duke's 46-26 win over Florida International last week.

FACTS & FIGURES

Stanford won 41-14 at Duke last year. ... Duke is 23-128-6 against ranked opponents. ... The Blue Devils' last win against a ranked opponent was a 28-25 win over Virginia on Nov. 5, 1994. ... Stanford is trying to start 2-0 for the third straight year. ... Stanford played 10 true freshmen in the season opener and 17 total players made their collegiate debut. ... Duke is the only Atlantic Coast Conference team to play two opponents that appeared in bowl games in its first two games this year.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.