Another weekend of college football will have plenty to offer. From the mega match-up in the ACC to the conference championship rematch in the Pac 12 and everything in between, there will be plenty to keep your attention on Saturday. Here is a quick rundown of some of the stuff to be watching.
Clemson, Florida State a Heisman QB Showcase
By now you know just how big this game is in the ACC. Two top five teams duking it out for ACC Coastal supremacy with BCS title implications as well as Heisman considerations. Clemson hopes to break a crowd noise record and to rattle Jameis Winston, the freshman quarterback that has yet to be unnerved in his young collegiate career. Tajh Boyd is also closing in on the ACC’s all-time passing touchdown record.
There is plenty riding on this game.
Pac 12 Championship Rematch... and Preview?
UCLA and Stanford will renew their series in the other game of the week out on the west coast. The two faced each other in last season’s Pac 12 Championship Game, won by Stanford in Palo Alto. Now the Bruins return to the scene of the championship game looking to prove to the Cardinal just how much they have improved. And make no mistake about it, the Bruins have improved this season. The Bruins are scoring 11 more points per game and allowing nine fewer points per game so far this season, giving the Bruins a 20-point swing on the scoreboard on a weekly basis thus far.
And forget about a Pac 12 Championship Rematch. This game could easily become a preview of this year’s conference championship game if Stanford should happen to bounce back after a road loss to Stanford. The Pac-12 North could still come down to Stanford and Oregon, if the Cardinal can avoid an upset loss at home this weekend. UCLA, even with a potential loss, looks like the favorite out of the Pac 12 South.
Can Mizzou keep it up without Franklin?
Missouri is off to one of the more surprising starts around college football this season, but it has not been a fluke. this weekend the Tigers host Florida but they will do so without quarterback James Franklin. Franklin will be out for the next 3-5 weeks after suffering a shoulder separation against Georgia last week. that will put the Missouri offense in the hands of redshirt freshman Maty Mauk, who will be making his first career start against one of the SEC’s top defenses.
Missouri hosts Florida this week and South carolina next week. If they can survive with a split between the Gators and Gamecocks they could still be in very good shape to make a run to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. By the time they face Ole Miss and Texas A&M the hope is Franklin could be available. But what if Maulk leads Missouri to a few more wins? Do they go back to Franklin when he is ready?
Decisions, decisions. But first, beating Florida is required.
The Undefeated
Ohio State enters the weekend having won 18 straight games under head coach Urban Meyer. The Buckeyes look to get to 19 with a home game against Iowa in Big Ten play. Other undefeated teams in action include Clemson (6-0) and Florida State (5-0), Texas Tech (6-0 at West Virginia), Missouri (6-0 vs Florida), Houston (5-0 vs BYU), Northern Illinois (6-0 at Central Michigan), Fresno State (5-0 vs UNLV), Oregon (6-0 vs Washington State), UCLA (5-0 at Stanford), Baylor (5-0 vs Iowa State) and, of course, Alabama (6-0 vs Arkansas).
Miami remained undefeated with a win Thursday night. Louisville, taking on Central Florida Friday night, hopes to join them.
The Always Beaten
Southern Mississippi has lost 17 straight games. Can thy finally bring an end to that infamous streak? It will not be easy with a road game at East Carolina.
Other teams on the hunt for their first win of the season include Connecticut (0-5 at Cincinnati), Temple (0-6 vs. Army), Western Michigan (0-7 vs Ball State), New Mexico State (0-6 vs Rice), Georgia State (0-6 at Texas State).
Your pillow fight of the week will take place in Miami Ohio, where the 0-6 RedHawks will host 1-6 Akron in MAC play. This is the anti-MACtion game right here.
The BCS Standings are Coming...
The first official BCS standings will be released Sunday, which means every team believed to be in contention may be looking for a few extra style points this weekend. Every little bit helps now that we have reached BCS season.