Today’s Top 25 college football matchups

Associated Press

All Hawaii times

No. 1 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) at Tennessee (3-3, 0-3), 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Alabama by 20½.

Series Record: Alabama leads 48-38-7.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Alabama is trying to remain atop the AP poll and the BCS standings. An Alabama victory also would set up a potential matchup between unbeaten teams next week when the Tide host No. 15 Mississippi State, which is at home against Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Tennessee is trying to end its recent history of frustration against ranked teams and SEC opponents. The Volunteers have lost 10 of their last 11 conference games and are 0-13 against Top 25 opponents since Derek Dooley took over the program in 2010.

KEY MATCHUP

Tennessee passing game against Alabama pass defense: Tennessee QB Tyler Bray has thrown for 1,730 yards and leads the SEC with 16 touchdown passes. His receiving corps includes two probable early-round draft picks in Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson. Alabama leads the nation in pass efficiency defense and is tied for fourth nationally with 11 interceptions. Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner has two interceptions and 12 pass breakups to lead the nation with 2.8 passes defended per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

ALABAMA: QB A.J. McCarron: The SEC leader in passing efficiency bruised his right knee in a 42-10 victory at Missouri last week and has been wearing a brace in practice. He isn’t the only quarterback in this game with an aching knee. Bray has a brace on his left knee after hurting it last week in the Vols’ 41-31 loss at Mississippi State. McCarron has thrown 12 touchdown passes without an interception.

TENNESSEE: Patterson: Tennessee is trying to get the ball in Patterson’s hands more often. The junior college transfer leads the SEC with 17.8 all-purpose yards per play and ranks second in the conference with 835 all-purpose yards. Patterson has caught 23 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He also scored on a 98-yard kickoff return last week.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama leads the nation in total defense, scoring defense, run defense and pass efficiency defense. … Alabama, Air Force and Louisiana Tech are the only three Football Bowl Subdivision teams that haven’t thrown an interception this season. … Tennessee is seeking its first victory over a top-ranked team since its 38-20 triumph over Auburn on Sept. 28, 1985. Tennessee owns a 2-9 record against No. 1 teams. … Tennessee has scored 17 or fewer points in its last eight games against Alabama and hasn’t exceeded 10 points in any of the last four games in this series. … Tennessee has allowed only three sacks all season, while Alabama averages 3.2 sacks per game. … Alabama safety Vinnie Sunseri’s dad is Tennessee defensive coordinator Sal Sunseri.

No. 9 South Carolina (6-1, 4-1 SEC) at No. 3 Florida (6-0, 5-0), 9:30 a.m. (CBS)

Line: Florida by 3.

Series Record: Florida leads 23-6-3

WHAT’S AT STAKE

First place in the Southeastern Conference’s Eastern Division. The Gators are sitting atop the division and would move a step closer to the SEC title game with a victory. The Gamecocks would take command of the East race with a win.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida LT Xavier Nixon vs. South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney. Nixon, who has been inconsistent most of the season, is coming off an “upper body” injury that knocked him out of last week’s game at Vanderbilt. Clowney, who is dealing with a foot problem, leads the Gamecocks with 6 ½ sacks this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Carolina: RB Marcus Lattimore missed practice this week with a bruise hip and might not start. The injury could be a huge setback for the Gamecocks. Lattimore is sixth in the league with 584 yards rushing and is tied for the SEC lead with 10 touchdowns.

Florida: RB Mike Gillislee is second in the SEC with 615 yards on the ground and has seven TDs. The Gamecocks allowed 258 yards rushing in last week’s loss at LSU, so Gillislee could be in line for a big day.

FACTS & FIGURES

South Carolina is suddenly a banged-up bunch, with injuries to Lattimore and DLs Kelcy Quarles, Byron Jerideau and J.T. Surratt. And several players, including PR/WR Ace Sanders and WR Bruce Ellington, have missed practice because of a flu bug. … South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier’s last trip to The Swamp (Nov. 13, 2010) ended with a celebration as the Gamecocks thumped Spurrier’s alma mater and clinched a spot in the SEC title game. Five months later, Florida erected statues of the program’s three Heisman Trophy winners — Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow — outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Spurrier has walked by them a couple times since while visiting Gainesville. “I think all three of them are similar to when we played there,” Spurrier said. “It wasn’t a coaching shot. It was an action shot.” … Florida is 6-0 for the eighth time in school history. … Gators expect to have LB Jelani Jenkins (hamstring), DE Dominique Easley (knee), G James Wilson (eye) and C Jon Harrison (elbow) back after they missed all or part of last week’s game.

No. 4 Kansas State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) at No. 17 West Virginia (5-1, 2-1), 1 p.m. (FOX)

Line: West Virginia by 3.

Series Record: Tied 1-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Wes Virginia’s loss at Texas Tech last week took the luster off what would have been a huge game. Still, first place in the Big 12 and maybe in the Heisman Trophy chase, too, is on the line as West Virginia’s Geno Smith and Kansas State’s Collin Klein enter the game as the front-runners. Kansas State can remain alone atop the conference with a win. The Mountaineers would create a three-way tie if they beat the Wildcats, and they’d be joined in the deadlock at 3-1 by the winner of the Texas Tech-TCU game.

KEY MATCHUP

Kansas DBs Ty Zimmerman and Nigel Malone against West Virginia WRs Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey. Zimmerman leads the Wildcats with three interceptions this year while Malone has nine over the past two seasons. Bailey’s 14 TD receptions are a West Virginia single-season record, but he missed the second half of a 49-14 loss at Texas Tech with an ankle injury. Bailey tweeted this week that he’s fine. Austin leads the nation with 11.7 catches per game and Bailey is third with 9.2

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Virginia: Smith. Despite an off week by his standards last week in a loss to Texas Tech, Smith’s numbers this season remain impressive: 25 touchdowns, no interceptions, a completion percentage of 75, and 379 passing yards per game. He’s thrown 313 consecutive passes without an interception dating to last season — 66 shy of Russell Wilson’s FBS record.

Kansas State: Klein. The senior can’t match Smith’s gaudy throwing stats but adds a rushing element that’s hard to stop. He’s completing 67 percent of his passes, is averaging 85 yards on the ground. His 10 rushing TDs leads the Big 12.

FACTS & FIGURES

Kansas State has won three straight Big 12 road games against ranked opponents. … West Virginia has won four straight games overall against ranked opponents … WVU and Kansas State haven’t met on the football field since 1931. … Wildcats coach Bill Snyder, who turned 73 earlier this month, began his college coaching career in 1974 at Austin College in Sherman, Texas. West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen was 3 at the time. … The Mountaineers’ defense is second-to-last in the nation in pass efficiency against (167.5). The schedule hasn’t helped. WVU has faced three (Baylor, Marshall and Texas Tech) of the top four passing offenses in the country. The other team in the top four? West Virginia. … Kansas State LB Arthur Brown leads the team with 47 tackles.

Brigham Young (4-3) at No. 5 Notre Dame (6-0) 9:40 a.m. (NBC)

Line: Notre Dame by 13.5

Series Record: Notre Dame leads 4-2

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The Fighting Irish, off to their best start in a decade, are hoping to stay focused and not overlook Brigham Young and get caught looking ahead to the game at No. 10 Oklahoma next week. Brigham Young’s defense, which gave up 42 points in a loss last week against Oregon State after going three games without the defense giving up a touchdown, looks to regroup against the Irish.

KEY MATCHUP

Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson against Brigham Young secondary. Golson has shown flashes of why coach Brian Kelly keeps him as the starter, but has struggled at times as well. He fumbled the ball away three times against Stanford and threw two interceptions against Michigan before being pulled in the second quarter. BYU’s secondary gave up a season-high 332 yards passing last week to Oregon State backup junior quarterback Cody Vaz passed for 332 yards and three touchdowns in his first start since high school.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brigham Young: LB Kyle Van Noy could make it a long day for Golson. He has 7.5 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss and 26 tackles overall. He also has five pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries and he’s forced three fumbles.

Notre Dame: WR TJ Jones made a great game-winning catch in overtime against Stanford, finishing the game with four catches for 52 yards. Jones is second on the team in receptions with 19, one less than running back Theo Riddick. But the Irish are looking for a receiver to step forward and take some of the pressure off tight end Tyler Eifert, who has found himself the focus of opposing defenses.

FACTS & FIGURES

Notre Dame has won six of its last seven games decided by a touchdown or less. … BYU’s defense has not allowed a touchdown in four games this season. … The Irish defense is forcing three-and-outs on 39.1 percent of all possessions by opponents. … BYU, which lost to then-No. 10 Oregon State 42-24 last week, is playing top 10 teams in back-to-back weeks for the first time in school history. … The Cougars last win against a top 5 team was a 14-13 victory over No. 3 Oklahoma in the 2009 season-opener. … The last time Notre Dame was ranked in the top 5 and lost to an unranked team was 14-7 loss to Boston College in 2002, ending an eight-game winning streak. … Notre Dame is averaging 4.5 million viewers a game on NBC, up 50 percent over last season.

No. 6 LSU (6-1, 2-1 SEC) at No. 20 Texas A&M (5-1, 2-1), 6 a.m. (ESPN)

Line: LSU by 3 ½.

Series Record: LSU leads 27-20-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

LSU and Texas A&M both have one loss in SEC play and need a victory to keep pace in the Western division, where Alabama and Mississippi State are a perfect 3-0. It’s a chance for the Aggies to prove themselves in their first year in the league, and pits one of the nation’s most prolific offenses in Texas A&M against one of the best defenses in the country.

KEY MATCHUP

QB Johnny Manziel vs. LSU’s defense. Manziel is second in the nation in total offense with more than 392 yards a game, and LSU has the second-ranked defense in the country, averaging just over 219 yards a game. The Tigers are allowing only 14 points a game. Manziel, who is a threat to run or throw, has been responsible for 24 points a contest for the Aggies.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LSU: DE Sam Montgomery has 21 tackles, including 8 1/2 for losses and four sacks. He was named SEC defensive lineman of the week after getting three tackles, including two sacks in LSU’s win over South Carolina last week. He also has three hurries, a forced fumble and a safety this season.

Texas A&M: WR Mike Evans. The 6-foot-5 former basketball star leads the team with 36 receptions for 549 yards. He has two touchdowns, including a long score of 75 yards. The freshman is averaging 15.2 yards a catch and has joined senior Ryan Swope (299 yards, three touchdowns) to create a solid receiving tandem for the Aggies.

FACTS & FIGURES

Texas A&M’s record against top-10 teams is 22-63, and the Aggies last beat a team ranked in the top 10 in a 9-6 win over No. 9 Nebraska in 2010. … The Aggies are 9-8 against LSU since 1970. … LSU won the last meeting between these teams 41-24 in the 2011 Cotton Bowl. … A&M won the meeting before that 33-17 in 1995 in College Station. … The 282 points A&M has scored in its first six games are the most in a six-game span in school history since the 1917 team accumulated 253. … LSU freshman RB Jeremy Hill had 124 yards rushing and two scores against South Carolina. … Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore has 25 tackles for losses and 13 sacks in his last 12 games. … LSU LB Kevin Minter leads the team with 63 tackles and also had 8 1/2 tackles for losses. … The Tigers have had five different players lead them in rushing through seven games.

Purdue (3-3, 0-2) vs. No. 7 Ohio State (7-0, 3-0), 6 a.m. (ABC)

Line: Ohio State by 19.

Series Record: Ohio State leads, 37-14-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Ohio State’s defensive pride is on the line. The Buckeyes gave up 38 points two weeks ago to Nebraska and a startling 49 on Saturday at Indiana. Purdue’s defense also has a lot riding on the outcome after giving up 82 points the past two weeks in losses to Michigan and Wisconsin. They may have to put a third digit on the scoreboard for each team.

KEY MATCHUP

Purdue QBs Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve against Ohio State’s defense. Assailed by Buckeyes fans, the defense also got an extra coach this week — head man Urban Meyer made a rare appearance in the unit’s meeting room on Sunday to make it clear that things would have to change, and soon. TerBush started a year ago in the Boilermakers’ stunning 26-23 win over the Buckeyes, hitting 15 of 24 passes for 140 yards before giving way to Marve, who threw an interception in the final minute but ended up scoring on a decisive 1-yard keeper in overtime on the game’s final play.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Purdue: DT Kawann Short will try to stymie Ohio State’s robust rushing game, led by RB Carlos Hyde who has run for 296 yards the last two games. CBs Ricardo Allen and Josh Johnson figure to be busy trying to prevent big plays — and the Buckeyes have gained at least 20 yards on an offensive play an amazing 31 times.

Ohio State: QB Braxton Miller hopes to burnish his Heisman Trophy credentials with another solid game. He’s averaging 130 yards on the ground (seventh best in the nation) and 182 passing. His top target is WR Corey Brown, who has 41 catches, while WR Devin Smith is next with six TDs on just 21 receptions.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Boilermakers have not won at Ohio State since 1988. … Don’t be surprised if RB Rod Smith, one of only two native Indianans for the Buckeyes, has a big game. His role has grown recently. … Purdue WR Antavian Edison has caught passes in his last 27 games. … Tickets were still available midweek, a rarity for an Ohio State home game. … The teams have split the last six meetings.

Utah (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12 ) at No. 8 Oregon State (5-0, 3-0), 4:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Oregon State by 10 ½.

Series Record: Oregon State leads 9-6-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Oregon State is vying for its first 6-0 start since 1907 when it was known as Oregon Agricultural College. The Beavers’ No. 8 ranking is the team’s highest since they finished 11-1 in 2000 and defeated Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. Utah is hoping to avoid a 0-4 start in Pac-12 play. Last season the Utes lost their first four conference games before winning their next four — touched off by a 27-8 victory over Oregon State.

KEY MATCHUP

Oregon State’s passing attack against Utah’s defense. The Beavers rank second in the Pac-12 in passing offense, averaging 338 yards a game. The Beavers replaced injured starter Sean Mannion with Cody Vaz and didn’t seem to miss a beat last weekend with 332 passing yards against BYU. Utah ranks third in the Pac-12 in total defense, allowing 351 yards per game, while ranking fourth in pass defense, allowing 226.5 yards a game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah: QB Travis Wilson. The freshman got the start last weekend in Utah’s 21-14 loss to UCLA, throwing for 220 yards and an interception. Utes coach Kyle Wittingham said this week he plans to stay with Wilson over senior Jon Hayes.

Oregon State: Vaz, the junior, made his first start since high school last weekend in Oregon State’s 42-24 victory over BYU, completing 20 of 32 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns to earn Pac-12 player of the week honors.

FACTS & FIGURES

Saturday is homecoming for the Beavers, who play five of their final seven games at home, if you count the rescheduled opener against Nicholls State on Dec. 1. The game, originally set for Sept. 1, was postponed because of concerns about Hurricane Isaac. It won’t be made up if Oregon State plays in the Pac-12 championship, scheduled for Nov. 30. … Utah leads the nation with 13 forced fumbles and three fumbles returned for a touchdown. The last time the Utes returned three fumbles for TDs was the 2003 season. … Oregon State CB Jordan Poyer leads the nation with an average of one interception per game. Oregon State has 10 total interceptions this season, including seven in the last two games. … Utah expects to see the return of OL Vyncent Jones, who missed the last two games with a knee injury. He is listed as the backup center on the Utes’ depth chart.

Kansas (1-5, 0-3 Big 12) at No. 10 Oklahoma (4-1, 2-1), 1 p.m. (FSNW)

Line: Oklahoma by 35.

Series Record: Oklahoma leads 69-27-6.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The Sooners will try to avoid a letdown between their rivalry game against Texas and a visit next week from No. 5 Notre Dame. The Jayhawks are trying to snap a five-game losing streak this season and a seven-game skid in the series.

KEY MATCHUP

Kansas RB James Sims vs. Oklahoma defense. Coming off a career-best 138-yard outing against Oklahoma State a week ago, Sims may need to carry the load to give the Jayhawks a chance against a defense that forced seven three-and-outs, three turnovers and recorded a safety in its last game. Sims had 101 yards rushing during a fourth-quarter comeback, after backup Michael Cummings had replaced starting QB Dayne Crist.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kansas: LB Jake Love. A redshirt freshman from Tonkawa in northern Oklahoma, he notched 12 tackles last week in his first career start to tie for the team lead.

Oklahoma: FB Trey Millard. Taking on an increasing role in the past two games, Millard had a career-high 119 yards receiving against Texas last week. That included a 73-yard catch on which he hurdled one tackler while stiff-arming another. He also had 45 yards rushing.

FACTS & FIGURES

Under coach Bob Stoops, Oklahoma is 13-0 in games immediately following the Red River Rivalry against Texas. That includes five wins against the Jayhawks. … Kansas coach Charlie Weis wouldn’t say whether Crist or Cummings would start. … Sooners RB Damien Williams already has touchdown runs of 65, 89 and 95 yards this season.

Colorado (1-5, 1-2 Pac-12) at No. 11 USC (5-1, 3-1) noon (Pac-12 Networks)

Line: USC by 40½.

Series Record: USC leads 6-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

After playing one home game in the previous 48 days, USC returns to the Coliseum looking to stay in the races for the Pac-12 and national titles. Lowly Colorado and its porous defense could provide a tonic for QB Matt Barkley and the USC offense, which has been far from spectacular in recent weeks.

KEY MATCHUP

Colorado LT David Bakhtiari vs. USC DE Morgan Breslin. Bakhtiari might be the Buffaloes’ best player, but his ability to protect QB Jordan Webb will be tested by JUCO transfer Breslin, who already has seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss in a spectacular half-season for the Trojans.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Colorado: WR Nelson Spruce. The redshirt freshman is the Buffaloes’ leading receiver with 27 catches for 291 yards, and his 6-foot-2 reach could pose problems for USC’s compact secondary.

USC: WR Robert Woods. The All-American junior needs just five more receptions to surpass Dwayne Jarrett (216) as USC’s leading receiver. Given coach Lane Kiffin’s awareness of statistical milestones, there’s little doubt Woods will get the chance to make history against the Buffs.

FACTS & FIGURES

With 96 career TD passes, Barkley is just three TDs behind Matt Leinart for the career records at USC and in conference history. … Colorado is facing a ranked opponent for the first time this season. The Buffaloes have lost 18 straight road games against ranked teams since beating UCLA at the Rose Bowl in 2002. … The Buffaloes haven’t been to the Coliseum since 2000. Their first visit was in 1927. … USC is going after its 300th October victory. … The Trojans will honor their 1972 national championship team. … The Buffaloes have 34 players from California, while USC has no players from Colorado.

No. 12 Florida State (6-1, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) at Miami (4-3, 3-1), 2 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Florida State by 20 1-2.

Series Record: Miami leads 31-25.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Bragging rights, again, which Florida State has held after each of the past two meetings, including a one-sided 45-17 romp in the Seminoles’ last visit to Miami two years ago. Mostly, it’s a chance for both teams to stay at or near the top of their respective divisions in the ACC. Florida State enters the weekend as one of four teams with one loss or less in the Atlantic, and Miami is one of four teams with one loss in the Coastal.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida State RB Chris Thompson vs. Miami’s defense. Thompson is averaging 153 rushing and receiving yards in the Seminoles’ last five games (getting more than 8 yards per touch in those situations). He’s going up against a much-maligned Miami defense that’s on pace to give up more yards and points than any team in school history, and one that saw its per-game average actually improve a bit last weekend by holding to North Carolina to 486 yards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida State: QB EJ Manuel. There aren’t many Florida State quarterbacks with two wins over Miami on their resumes, and Manuel could join that club this week. And the typically-accurate Manuel is sharper than ever in that department this year, completing 72 percent of his throws.

Miami: LB Denzel Perryman. For Miami to have its best chance of pulling off this upset, someone on the defensive side will have to make plays, and Perryman figures to be the top candidate there. The Hurricanes are hoping Perryman can help ensure Florida State doesn’t dominate on the perimeter.

FACTS & FIGURES

The teams have combined for 322 points in their last five meetings; they combined for only 132 in the previous five matchups. … Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher is 5-0 against in-state teams — Florida, Miami and South Florida — since taking over for Bobby Bowden. The Seminoles have scored at least 21 points in each of those five games and haven’t given up more than 19 in any of them, winning by an average of nearly 17 points. … Miami has two running backs with more than 400 yards so far this season, with Duke Johnson (428) and Mike James (402).

No. 13 Georgia (5-1, 3-1, SEC) at Kentucky (1-6, 0-4), 1 p.m.

Line: Georgia by 27.

Series Record: Georgia leads 51-12-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

With next week’s rivalry game in Jacksonville against East-leading Florida, Georgia needs to stay in contention and rebound from a 35-7 loss at South Carolina on Oct. 6. Kentucky just wants to halt a five-game losing streak and earn its first victory against Georgia since 2009.

KEY MATCHUP

Georgia QB Aaron Murray vs. Kentucky’s secondary. Held to just 109 yards on 11-of-31 passing by South Carolina, the junior figures to regroup against an injury-riddled unit that could start three freshmen.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia: Freshman RB Todd Gurley has rushed for 575 yards and nine TDs to lead the SEC in scoring (60 points) and all-purpose yards per game (138.2).

Kentucky: P Landon Foster has been kept busy by a sputtering offense but the freshman has delivered, ranking sixth in the SEC at 42.9 yards per punt. He averaged 48.4 yards on eight kicks in last week’s loss at Arkansas.

FACTS & FIGURES

Georgia is 13-4 following a bye under coach Mark Richt. … The Bulldogs are on pace for a school scoring record at 41.3 points per game. They averaged 37.2 during a 10-game season in 1946 and 32.1 while going 13-1 in 2002 … The Bulldogs have scored 19 TDs on 23 chances inside the 20 to lead the SEC at 83 percent. … Kentucky and Georgia rank in the top six nationally in playing freshmen. Wildcats are fifth with 14 used. The Bulldogs (13) are tied for sixth. … Kentucky has the nation’s toughest schedule according to the Anderson and Hester, Colley Matrix and Massey ratings. The Wildcats’ seven previous opponents are a combined 37-7, with three unbeaten and three having only one loss.

Virginia Tech (4-3, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) at No. 14 Clemson (5-1, 2-1), 6 a.m. (ESPN2)

Line: Clemson by 8 ½.

Series Record: Clemson leads 19-12-1.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Both Clemson and Virginia Tech are looking to keep pace in the chase for the ACC title game. The Tigers seemed out of things a month ago after a loss at Florida State, but North Carolina State’s upset of the Seminoles opened up home in the Atlantic Division. The Hokies were picked to win the Coastal and are among four division teams with just one league loss.

KEY MATCHUP

Virginia Tech’s strong pass defense against Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, who leads the ACC in yards passing and is tied for second in the league with 14 touchdown passes. The Hokies are third in league this season with about 210 yards given up through the air. They’ve also gotten eight interceptions, tied for second most in the ACC.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Virginia Tech: QB Logan Thomas might want to forget about his last two outings against Clemson. The Hokies’ junior threw for 125 yards and an interception in Clemson’s 23-3 regular-season victory in 2011. Thomas wasn’t much better at the ACC title game two months later, throwing two picks in the Tigers’ 38-10 win.

Clemson: WR Sammy Watkins caught eight passes for 118 yards and a touchdown in two games against Virginia Tech as a freshman. Watkins has 118 yards total and no touchdowns this season, missing three of Clemson’s six games because of suspension and illness.

FACTS & FIGURES

Clemson can tie the school record of 11 straight wins at Memorial Stadium with a victory. The Tigers won 11 straight at home twice before, from 1937-42 and from 1989-1991. … Virginia Tech has won three of its last four visits to Clemson’s Death Valley. … Clemson has the ACC’s top rusher in Andre Ellington and top receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. … Clemson quarterback Boyd and Virginia Tech quarterback Thomas are both from the state of Virginia. The two played on the same team at the high school all-star game after their senior seasons, Boyd under center and Thomas a tight end. … Virginia Tech quarterback coach Mike O’Cain is a Clemson graduate who spent time on the Tigers staff from 2001-2004 under Tommy Bowden. … Talk about BeamerBall: The last time Virginia Tech played at Clemson, the Hokies won 41-23 and had a kickoff return touchdown, a punt return touchdown and an interception return touchdown.

Middle Tennessee (4-2) at No. 15 Mississippi State (6-0), 1 p.m. (ESPN2)

Line: Mississippi State by 18 ½.

Series Record: Mississippi State leads 4-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Mississippi State is working to continue its best start since 1999 and set up a potential showdown with No. 1 Alabama next weekend. The Bulldogs are one of just a dozen undefeated teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Middle Tennessee wants its second win over a major conference team this season. The Blue Raiders beat Georgia Tech by three touchdowns on Sept. 29.

KEY MATCHUP

Mississippi State’s veteran secondary against Middle Tennessee QB Logan Kilgore. Kilgore has had a good season, completing 67.4 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns, and he’ll be asked to do even more now that star running Benny Cunningham is out for the season with a knee injury. Mississippi State has 10 interceptions this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi State: RB LaDarius Perkins has quietly been one of the most productive running backs in the Southeastern Conference. The junior has rushed for 599 yards and seven touchdowns while also catching 10 passes for 91 yards.

Middle Tennessee: WR Anthony Amos is now the Blue Raiders’ primary playmaker after Cunningham went down with a knee injury. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior has caught 39 passes for 580 yards and five touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Mississippi State has scored at least 25 points in its first six games for the first time in program history. … The Bulldogs have trailed for just 16 minutes, 11 seconds this season. Only four FBS teams — Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame and Oregon State — have trailed for less time. … Mississippi State leads the nation with a plus-15 turnover margin. … MSU QB Tyler Russell is on pace to break single-season school records in completions, attempts, passing yards and touchdowns. … Middle Tennessee lost RB Benny Cunningham for the season after he suffered a knee injury during a 34-30 victory over Florida International. Cunningham had rushed for 600 yards and 11 touchdowns in five games. … Since entering the FBS in 1999, the Blue Raiders have a 0-13 record against teams in the Top 25. … Middle Tennessee has a 3-0 record on the road this season. … The Blue Raiders’ 4-2 start is their best since 2001, when they began the season 5-1.

South Florida (2-4, 0-2 Big East) at No. 16 Louisville (6-0, 1-0), 9:30 a.m.

Line: Louisville by 8.

Series Record: Louisville leads 5-4.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

South Florida is trying to end a four-game losing streak. Louisville aims to continue its best start since 2006 (8-0), the last year it also began 2-0 in the Big East. The Cardinals also seek momentum for next week’s conference game against No. 21 Cincinnati (1-0).

KEY MATCHUP

Louisville WR DeVante Parker vs. South Florida CBs George Baker and Kayvon Webster. Parker leads the Cardinals with 319 yards on 15 receptions, a 21.3-yard average per catch. He’ll face a Bulls secondary seeking their first interception this season, the only Football Bowl Subdivision team without one. Webster is USF’s fourth-leading tackler (39), while Baker stands ninth (22).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

USF: QB B.J. Daniels. Second in Big East in total offense (296.8 yards per game), he has passed for 1,504 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 250.7-yard average ranks third in the conference.

Louisville: QB Teddy Bridgewater. The sophomore has been stellar on third down this season, completing 31 of 45 passes for 411 yards, 24 first downs, three touchdowns and one interception. He’s 2-for-2 on fourth down.

FACTS & FIGURES

South Florida has lost 10 of 11 Big East games dating back to last season. … The Bulls haven’t forced a turnover in three games. … Louisville is playing its first home game in 35 days and the first of three in a row at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, where it’s 3-0 this season. … Last week’s victory at Pitt evened the Cardinals’ overall Big East record at 25-25. … RB Senorise Perry has a team-high 582 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, including four last week against the Panthers.

No. 18 Texas Tech (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) at TCU (5-1, 2-1), 9:30 a.m. (ABC)

Line: Texas Tech by 2.

Series Record: Texas Tech leads 28-23-3.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Renewal of an instate conference rivalry, and avoiding a second Big 12 loss. With TCU now in the Big 12, this will become an annual game again. The two teams have played only twice since their last Southwest Conference meeting in 1995, both winning at home — Tech 70-35 in 2004, and TCU 12-3 two years later. The series dates back to 1926.

KEY MATCHUP

The two defenses. Texas Tech leads the Big 12 in total defense (243 yards per game) and pass defense (144 ypg), with the Frogs third in both of those categories (301 total yards, 205 passing). TCU, the more traditional defensive stalwart, has the league’s top rushing defense (96 ypg) and allows the fewest points (14.5 ppg) — categories in which the Red Raiders are second (99 yards rushing, 16.3 ppg).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas Tech: Safety Cody Davis leads the Red Raiders and is 10th for the Big 12 with 45 tackles, 42 of them solo stops. He also has two interceptions and two pass breakups.

TCU: CB Jason Verrett leads the Big 12 with four interceptions, all in the last three games, and 12 passes defended.

FACTS & FIGURES

Texas Tech and TCU were originally scheduled to play in 2010 and 2011, but didn’t in coach Tommy Tuberville’s first two seasons with the Red Raiders. … The only common opponent so far this season is Iowa State, which lost 24-13 at home three weeks ago to Texas Tech before the Cyclones went to TCU the following week and won 37-23. … Texas Tech leads the nation converting 57 percent of their third downs (46 of 81). TCU’s defense is second nationally allowing only 24 percent conversions on third down. … The Horned Frogs have won 28 of their last 30 home games. … Chad Glasgow returned to TCU as safeties coach this season, the same position he held from 2001-10 before being Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator last season.

No. 19 Rutgers (6-0, 3-0 Big East) at Temple (3-2, 2-0), 6 a.m.