Top 25 college football preview capsules

Associated Press

All Hawaii times

No. 1 Alabama (3-0) vs. Florida Atlantic (1-2), 11 a.m. (pay per view)

Line: Alabama by 50.

Series Record: First meeting.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida Atlantic’s offense, which is 116th nationally in scoring, against an Alabama defense allowing the nation’s third-fewest points. The Owls are averaging 14.67 points a game, slightly more than the 14 the Crimson Tide has given up collectively through three games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida Atlantic: QB Graham Wilbert. The senior has completed 68 percent of his passes and ranks fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in passing efficiency (143.6).

Alabama: RB Kenyan Drake. The freshman isn’t particularly high on the Tide’s depth chart but he has displayed some power and nifty moves in a deep backfield when called upon. If this game becomes the expected blowout, Drake could see plenty of action after averaging 11.4 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Alabama has scored 94 unanswered points in the last three games, a span of 145 minutes. … The Tide is tied for first nationally with Mississippi State in turnover margin at plus-3.67. … Alabama’s first-team offensive line outweighs Florida Atlantic’s No. 1 defensive front by an average of 314-248. … Florida Atlantic coach Carl Pelini is the brother of Nebraska coach Bo Pelini.

No. 2 LSU (3-0, 0-0 SEC) at Auburn (1-2, 0-1) 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: LSU by 20½.

Series Record: LSU leads 25-20-1.

LSU can stay on track for a third straight No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup against Alabama with a win in its Southeastern Conference opener. Coach Gene Chizik and Auburn could silence many of their critics by pulling off a big upset after a disappointing start.

KEY MATCHUP

LSU’s rushing offense leads the league and averages 269.3 yards a game on the ground. Auburn has allowed a league-worst 217 rushing yards with poor tackling and shaky play in the front seven. It could be a physical mismatch on the interior line, especially, in dealing with LSU’s blockers and bruising backs.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LSU: RB Kenny Hilliard. The bulldozing back is leading the SEC in scoring with six touchdowns and is third in rushing, averaging 8.2 yards on 37 carries. The 231-pounder takes on a defense that was abused for 231 yards by Clemson’s Andre Ellington.

Auburn: QB Kiehl Frazier. The inconsistent and sometimes indecisive first-year starter will have to produce both in passing and rushing to give Auburn a chance. He’s the league’s 11th-rated passer but Auburn is unlikely to be able to just pound away at seven- or eight-man fronts against a defense allowing a paltry 47 rushing yards a game.

FACTS & FIGURES

The home team has won 12 of the last 13 meetings in this SEC West rivalry. … LSU has won 24 consecutive games in September and has a nation’s best 16-game regular-season winning streak. … Last year’s 45-10 LSU win was the largest margin in the series. … LSU leads the SEC in four offensive and defensive statistical categories and Auburn is last in the league in in four categories. … Auburn has blocked three field goals already, two by Angelo Blackson and one by Corey Lemonier.

No. 22 Arizona (3-0) at No. 3 Oregon (3-0) 4:36 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Line: Oregon by 23½.

Series record: Oregon leads 23-14.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Oregon has a six-game winning streak dating back to last season, and Arizona has a five-game winning streak as they open conference play. The Ducks have won six straight conference openers. The game against Oregon will be the Wildcats’ first on the road this season. For Oregon, Arizona represents the toughest opponent it has faced so far.

KEY MATCHUP

The offenses for both Oregon and Arizona take center stage here. New Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez was one of the first pioneers of the up-temp, no-huddle spread offense, while Oregon coach Chip Kelly perfected the Ducks’ so-called “blur” offense. The two teams have racked up a combined 3,603 yards in total offense in three games apiece this season. Arizona is averaging 46.3 points per game, while Oregon is averaging 54.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arizona: QB Matt Scott. The senior dual-threat has thrown for 995 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception so far this season. He’s rushed for 190 yards and two scores.

Oregon: RB De’Anthony Thomas. The versatile sophomore is averaging 158.33 all-purpose yards per game. He has seven touchdowns, four rushing and three receiving. He averages a touchdown from scrimmage every 3.4 touches.

FACTS & FIGURES

Oregon senior running back Kenjon Barner needs 30 more rushing yards to break into Oregon’s top 10 career list. … Ducks QB Marcus Mariota leads the Pac-12 in pass efficiency with a 180.5 rating. He’s thrown for 674 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception. … The Ducks are among five FBS teams without a field goal this season. … Arizona’s five straight wins are its longest streak since winning the final seven games of the 1998 season. … The Wildcats top the Pac-12 with an average of 36 first-downs per game.

No. 10 Clemson (3-0, 0-0 ACC) at No. 4 Florida State (3-0, 1-0), 2 p.m. (ABC)

Line: Florida State 14.

Series Record: Florida State leads 17-8.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Quite likely, the Atlantic Division title in the Atlantic Coast Conference where it appears Florida State and defending ACC king Clemson are the two powers. Both teams are explosive offensively and Florida State features the nation’s top defensive team that smothered Wake Forest 52-0 last Saturday. The Seminoles allowed the Demon Deacons 126 total yards and forced 13 punts. Clemson comes in averaging nearly 40 points a game, but its defense has been suspect.

KEY MATCHUP

Florida State’s pass rush against Clemson QB Tajh Boyd, who shredded the Seminoles a year ago in a 35-30 Tiger victory. Boyd passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns in that game and ran for another score and was sacked twice. Florida State defensive ends Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine have combined for 10 sacks this season despite retiring early in three runaway wins.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Florida State: QB EJ Manuel didn’t play in last year’s game at Clemson and is off to a solid start despite having played only six quarters. He has completed 71.2 percent of his passes this season for 525 yards and six TDs in limited duty.

Clemson: WR/KR Sammy Watkins, an All American as a freshman whose speed makes him a threat on every play. The former prep star from Fort Myers, Fla., was suspended for the first two games of the season for an offseason drug arrest, but came back with a bang in last week’s 41-7 rout of Furman. On his third touch, Watkins raced 58 yards for a touchdown and finished the game with 119 all-purpose yards.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Florida State has won 10 of its last 11 games after last year’s three-game losing streak, giving up an average of 8.8 points without allowing more than 19 points in any of those games … Clemson’s defense gave up an average of 36.6 points in its final eight games of the 2011, but just 17.7 so far this season … Clemson RB Andre Ellington is the active leading rusher in the ACC with 2,683 yards and 29 TDs … Florida State K Dustin Hopkins is 35 points shy of the ACC and school record of 393 … Clemson was also ranked 10th and the Seminoles fourth when they met in 2000 … Florida State won 54-7.

Vanderbilt (1-2, 0-1 SEC) at No. 5 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC), 1:45 p.m. (ESPN2)

Line: Georgia by 15½.

Series record: Georgia leads 52-18-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Georgia begins a stretch of seven straight SEC games and simply cannot afford a loss with tougher opponents such as South Carolina and Florida lurking on the schedule. Vanderbilt coach James Franklin has received plenty of praise for changing the team’s losing attitude, but he needs a signature win. The Commodores haven’t beaten a ranked SEC team since 2008 and they’ve lost 16 of 17 meetings against the Bulldogs.

KEY MATCHUP

Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones vs. Vanderbilt’s offensive line. Jones rested up a nagging groin injury last week and is expected to be back on the field against the Commodores. They must do a better job than Missouri did two weeks ago against one of the nation’s top defensive players. Jones was a one-man wrecking crew with two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception that he nearly brought back for a touchdown.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Vanderbilt: QB Austyn Carta-Samuels. Took over the starting role last week and guided the Commodores to 605 yards of offense in a 58-0 rout of lower-division Presbyterian. A transfer from Wyoming, where he started two years, Carta-Samuels completed 13 of 20 passes for 195 yards. The former starter, Jordan Rodgers (younger brother of Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers), could also get some playing time.

Georgia: LB Amarlo Herrera. He’s gotten a chance to play while LB Alec Ogletree serves a suspension, and the sophomore has sure made the most of it. Herrera had a team-leading 10 tackles against Missouri, and he returned an interception for a touchdown in last week’s victory over Florida Atlantic.

FACTS & FIGURES

Georgia is expected to play one more game without two suspended defensive starters, All-American S Bacarri Rambo and LB Alec Ogletree. … After last year’s game, Franklin and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham got into a confrontation on the field. Both coaches downplayed any bad blood carrying over to Saturday’s game. “It’s really not a big deal,” Grantham said. … Georgia is averaging 47.3 points a game and has scored more than 40 points in each of its first three contests for the first time in school history. … Vanderbilt RB Zac Stacy has moved into third place on the school’s career rushing list with 2,260 yards, trailing Frank Mordica (2,632) and Carl Woods (2,490). … The Commodores are averaging 208.7 yards passing and 191 yards rushing.

No. 15 Kansas State (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at No. 6 Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0), 1:50 p.m. (Fox)

Line: Oklahoma by 14.

Series record: Oklahoma leads 71-17-4.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Both teams are ranked in the top 15 for the second straight season, and this time they’re both seeking to start Big 12 play with a big victory. For Kansas State, it’s a chance to avenge a 58-17 loss at home to the Sooners last season when the teams came in ranked eighth and ninth, respectively.

KEY MATCHUP

Kansas State QB Collin Klein vs. Oklahoma defense. The talk around K-State early this season has been Klein improving his passing ability. He had 27 rushing TDs last season. How well his passing has come along will be put to the test against a Sooners defense that sacked him seven times and limited him to 58 yards passing last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kansas State: DE Adam Davis. The senior is tied for the Big 12 lead with three sacks, but what’s more remarkable is that he’s forced a fumble on all three. He’ll go up against an Oklahoma offensive line that has allowed eight sacks already this season, after giving up just 11 in 2011.

Oklahoma: FS Tony Jefferson. After leaving Oklahoma’s game against Florida A&M two weeks ago with a sprained ankle, Jefferson returned to practice this week and was expected to be full speed. Without him, the Sooners were mostly solid — except for a missed coverage on a 75-yard pass play.

FACTS & FIGURES

With Bob Stoops as head coach, Oklahoma is 14-0 against Top 25 opponents on Owen Field and has won those games by an average score of 43-16. … Stoops played at Iowa under K-State coach Bill Snyder, when Snyder was an assistant, and was also his assistant coach with the Wildcats. Stoops is 7-1 against his former boss, with the only loss coming in the 2003 Big 12 championship game. … Oklahoma QB Landry Jones set a school record with 505 passing yards against K-State last season.

Missouri (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at No. 7 South Carolina (3-0, 1-0), 9:30 a.m. (CBS)

Line: South Carolina by 10.

Series record: Missouri lead 2-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE

South Carolina is hoping to stay undefeated and beat another SEC Eastern Conference opponent, while Missouri is seeking its first league victory in its inaugural SEC season.

KEY MATCHUP

South Carolina QBs Connor Shaw and Dylan Thompson against Missouri’s pass defense. Thompson has thrown for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns the past two weeks in relief of an injured Shaw. But Missouri has given up only 590 yards through the air this season. The Tigers have four interceptions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Missouri: QB James Franklin. The Tigers junior missed last week’s 24-20 win over Arizona State because of inflamation in his shoulder. He’s completed 61 percent of his passes with 400 yards and three TDs in two games.

South Carolina: RB Marcus Lattimore. The tailback had only 25 carries combined in the past two victories over East Carolina and UAB. Expect Lattimore to see a lot more work this week with the Gamecocks heading back into SEC play.

FACTS & FIGURES

Lattimore set South Carolina’s career record with his 34th touchdown last week, breaking the mark he shared with Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers and Harold Green. … Missouri lost its first SEC contest, 41-20, to Georgia two weeks ago. The Tigers led 17-9 but turned it over twice in the third quarter as Georgia took control. … South Carolina has won seven straight games, two shy of the school record set in 1984 … Missouri has won its only previous meeting against coach Steve Spurrier, the Tigers taking a 38-31 victory at the Liberty Bowl over the Gamecocks in Spurrier’s first season at South Carolina in 2005. … Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is only six victories away from catching Dan Devine for second on the Tigers career wins list.

Maryland (2-1) at No. 8 West Virginia (2-0), 6 a.m. (FX)

Line: West Virginia by 27 1-2.

Series Record: West Virginia 25-21-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

West Virginia is going after its seventh straight win in the series. Maryland fell behind by two touchdowns in a 24-21 loss last week to Connecticut and must find a way to slow West Virginia’s prolific offense, which is averaging 55 points. Both teams will have their final tuneups before opening conference play at home. The Mountaineers’ Big 12 opener is Sept. 29 against Baylor, while Maryland faces Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on Oct. 6.

KEY MATCHUP

West Virginia WR Tavon Austin against Maryland’s defense. Austin, who is from Baltimore, is averaging nine catches for 114 yards in two games against the Terps. Austin needs 12 catches to become the school’s all-time leading receiver, surpassing Jock Sanders’ 206 receptions. Maryland is giving up just 124 yards through the air per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Virginia: QB Geno Smith. Smith is averaging 367 passing yards per game. The senior has as many touchdown passes as incompletions — nine. This year he’s already set school career passing marks for completions, touchdowns and yards.

Maryland: WR Stefon Diggs. The freshman caught a 29-yard TD pass last week and had 166 yards on kickoff and punt returns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Maryland coach Randy Edsall is 1-7 against WVU. His lone win came as Connecticut’s coach in 2010. … Twenty-eight of the 50 Maryland players that have seen action this season are underclassmen. Sixteen freshmen are listed on the depth chart. … West Virginia’s top tackler is freshman LB Isaiah Bruce, who has 25. … Maryland’s offense is averaging 258 yards, including just 205 yards last week.

No. 18 Michigan (2-1) at No. 11 Notre Dame (3-0), 1:39 p.m. (NBC)

Line: Notre Dame by 6

Series record: Michigan leads 23-15-1

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The Fighting Irish are looking to show they are again a contender on the national stage, trying to improve to 4-0 for the first time since Tyrone Willingham’s first year as coach in 2002. After an embarrassing 41-14 loss to top-ranked Alabama in the opener, the Wolverines are looking to bounce back and regain respect for Big Ten teams that have stumbled at the start of the season.

KEY MATCHUP

Michigan QB Denard Robinson against an inexperienced Notre Dame secondary. Robinson has made the Irish defense look inept the past two seasons, totaling 944 yards in total offense. Two years ago he set a school-record with 502 yards total offense. Last season, he led a fourth-quarter comeback victory for the Wolverines in Ann Arbor. The Notre Dame defense has given up 30 points in the first three games, but has a young secondary and will be without its most experienced player. S Jamoris Slaughter sustained a season-ending injury against Michigan State.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Michigan: WR Roy Roundtree. Last season Junior Hemingway, wearing Desmond Howard’s No. 21 “Michigan Football Legend” jersey caught three passes for 165 yards and a TD against the Irish. This year it will be Roundtree, who last season caught the game-winning 16-yard TD pass against the Irish.

Notre Dame: LB Mani Te’o. After playing what he thought was a sub-par game against Purdue, Te’o played an emotional game following the deaths of his girlfriend and grandmother, making 12 tackles against Michigan State, with a fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

FACTS & FIGURES

Michigan has beaten Notre Dame three straight for the first time 1908, winning all three with touchdowns in the final 27 seconds. … The game will be just the second night game at Notre Dame Stadium in 22 years. The Irish are 6-2 all-time in night games at Notre Dame Stadium. … The Leprechaun Legion, a Notre Dame spirit student group, planned to pass out 7,500 white leis to students at the Friday night pep rally as a show of support for Te’o. … Robinson is a touchdown throw away from becoming only the eighth player in NCAA history to pass for 40 touchdowns and run for 40. … Michigan (.736) and Notre Dame (.732) are the winningest FBS schools.

California (1-2) at No. 13 USC (2-1), noon (Pac-12 Networks)

Line: USC by 16.

Series record: USC leads 64-30-5.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

A week after USC’s national title aspirations took a huge blow, the Trojans look to bounce back from their loss at Stanford against the Pac-12’s other Bay Area team. USC would seriously endanger its Pac-12 title hopes with another loss, while Cal hopes to build on a solid performance at Ohio State in its own conference opener.

KEY MATCHUP

USC QB Matt Barkley vs. Cal’s pass rush. Stanford harassed and hounded Barkley into a mostly dismal game last week, exploiting an offensive line with inexperienced starters to throw off the Heisman Trophy hopeful. Cal will attempt to get to Barkley, but the Golden Bears didn’t manage one sack in last year’s meeting, and they haven’t had much success pressuring the passer in their two losses this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

California: WR Keenan Allen. The junior generally regarded as the Bears’ best player has 20 catches for 216 yards and one touchdown this season, but could break out against USC’s uneven defensive secondary.

USC: DE Morgan Breslin. The juco transfer has been a pleasant surprise on USC’s thin defense, managing five tackles for loss and two sacks while creating constant disruption. The Trojans will attempt to harass Cal QB Zach Maynard into bad decisions.

FACTS & FIGURES

The game is the 100th meeting between the schools. … The game is USC’s only appearance at the Coliseum in a 48-day span. … The Bears haven’t had a losing record heading into their conference opener since 2003. Cal has lost its last three conference openers after winning six straight. … USC coach Lane Kiffin played quarterback at Fresno State under Cal coach Jeff Tedford, later becoming an assistant to Tedford. … The Trojans failed to score in the final 41 minutes against Stanford last week. … The game is Cal’s only outing on natural grass this season.

Kentucky (1-2) at No. 14 Florida (3-0), 6:21 a.m. (SEC Network)

Line: Florida by 24.

Series record: Florida leads 45-17.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The nation’s longest active winning streak in a current series between Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The Gators have won 25 in a row against Kentucky, a streak that dates to 1986. It’s been even longer since the Wildcats won in Gainesville (1979).

KEY MATCHUP

Florida’s secondary vs. Kentucky’s passing attack. The Wildcats lead the Southeastern Conference in passing and rank 13th in the nation, averaging 322 yards a game and scoring eight times through the air. The Gators rank 10th in the league against the pass, but should pose Kentucky’s toughest matchup yet this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kentucky: QB Maxwell Smith has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 966 yards and eight TDs. The sophomore ranks second in the SEC and 16th nationally in total offense per game (316.3 yards). He likely won’t have to face one of Florida’s best pass rushers. DT Dominique Easley is questionable with a knee injury.

Florida: RB Mike Gillislee leads the SEC with 346 yards rushing and has four touchdowns. He has been slowed the last two weeks by a groin injury, but the Gators insist he will be ready to go against the Wildcats.

FACTS & FIGURES

Last four meetings essentially were over early, with Florida outscoring Kentucky by a combined 94-3 in the first quarter. … In 22 years at Kentucky — two as head coach, four as a player and 16 as an assistant — Joker Phillips has never beaten Florida. … The Wildcats are 9-1 under Phillips when having fewer turnovers than their opponent. … Kentucky is beginning a stretch of three games against ranked teams, facing No. 14 Florida, No. 7 South Carolina and No. 23 Mississippi State. … The Gators have been a second-half team in 2012, outscoring teams 50-13 after halftime and 27-0 in the fourth quarter. … Sophomore Jeff Driskel is the first QB in school history to open his career by winning two road starts.

UAB (0-2) vs. No. 16 Ohio State (3-0), 6 a.m. (BTN)

Line: Ohio State by 37.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Ohio State concludes its nonconference schedule, all four of the games kicking off at noon in Ohio Stadium, against the Blazers. The Buckeyes, in Year 1 U.M.E. (Urban Meyer Era) have unveiled a wide-open offense and an opportunistic defense — at times. They’ve also shown some shortcomings and lapses, with a couple of the games closer than might be expected. The first meeting with UAB doesn’t figure to be in that category as the Buckeyes tune up for their Big Ten opener (and first road trip) at Michigan State a week later.

KEY MATCHUP

In a matchup of first-year coaches at the respective schools, one of the keys might be if Garrick McGee can keep his team healthy for what he believes could be a run for the Conference-USA title. QB Jonathan Perry can sling it and WR Jackie Williams can catch it. The Buckeyes’ defense, led by DLs John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, figures to be geared up after surrendering huge gainers in each of the first three games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

UAB: DEs Diaheem Watkins and Chris Walton will have the sizable job of putting pressure on Ohio State QB Braxton Miller while trying to prevent him from breaking containment and breaking outside for huge yardage.

Ohio State: Look for RB Jordan Hall, who gained 87 yards in his 2012 debut last week, to have a big day. The Buckeyes know they need a presence running the ball other than Miller, and Hall will get every opportunity to become that.

FACTS & FIGURES

If Ohio State wins it would be its 400th victory in Ohio Stadium (399-109-20), which is celebrating its 90th season. … Teams making their first appearance at the old gray hulk on the banks of the Olentangy are 1-20 over the last 25 years, the only victor being Texas in 2005. … UAB is averaging a respectable 363 yards a game. The Blazers lost their home opener to in-state rival Troy, 39-29, and now are playing their second consecutive ranked opponent after falling 49-6 at No. 8 South Carolina last week. … Alumni day will be marked by a quadruple rendering of “Script Ohio” at halftime. … The Blazers have already had their open date (Sept. 8) and are in for 11 straight weeks of work.

Virginia (2-1) at No. 17 TCU (2-0), 6 a.m. (ESPN)

Line: TCU by 17 1/2.

Series record: Tied 1-1

WHAT’S AT STAKE

TCU has the nation’s longest winning streak at 10 games, and hasn’t given up a touchdown in its two games this season. The Frogs are playing their earliest-starting home game since 2000, which was running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s senior season. Virginia, coming off a 56-20 loss at Georgia Tech, plays a game in Texas for the first time since 1995.

KEY MATCHUP

TCU running back Matthew Tucker vs. Virginia’s defense. While the Horned Frogs have the nation’s most efficient passing game, their top running back duo got trimmed to one this week because of a season-ending left knee injury to Waymon James (averaging 9.9 yards on his 17 carries this season). Tucker has 27 career touchdowns, and like James had more than 700 yards last season. Virginia allowed 461 yards rushing last week to triple-option Georgia Tech.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Virginia: LB Steve Greer has 24 tackles, with 3½ tackles for losses. Set a career high with 15 tackles in a win against Penn State, when he also had two sacks.

TCU: Casey Pachall leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 242.2 rating, completing 33 of 39 passes for 536 yards with five touchdown and no interceptions. He set a TCU record last week with 16 consecutive completions. WRs Josh Boyce and Brandon Carter each have nine receptions, and have accounted for five TDs.

FACTS & FIGURES

TCU has won 27 of its last 28 home games, and won the last 17 by an average margin of 36 points. … The Frogs are playing an ACC opponent for only the third time since 1997. The others were in the first three weeks of the 2009 season, when they won at Virginia and Clemson. … Ausar Walcott made his first career start at defensive end last week for Virginia. He moved from safety to outside linebacker in 2010, then moved to defensive end last spring. … Virginia has only two players on its roster from Texas, sophomore FB Zachary Swanson and freshman CB Kelvin Rainey.

No. 19 UCLA (3-0) vs. Oregon State (1-0), 9:30 a.m. (ABC/ESPN2)

Line: UCLA by 8 1/2.

Series record: UCLA leads 41-15-4.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

After a perfect nonconference run led to UCLA’s first national ranking in four years, the Bruins look to get Pac-12 play off to a strong start under rookie coach Jim Mora. Oregon State hasn’t played since knocking off Wisconsin two weeks ago, and is playing just its second game of the year after its opener against Nicholls State was postponed.

KEY MATCHUP

UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin vs. Oregon State LB D.J. Welch. Franklin is popping up on Heisman Trophy lists after a stellar start to the season with 541 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Yet the Beavers smothered Montee Ball and Wisconsin’s respected running game, holding the Badgers to 35 yards on 23 attempts, and Palm Desert, Calif., native Welch’s seven tackles in his first career start earned him Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oregon State: RB Storm Woods. The redshirt freshman won the starting job in training camp, but managed only 36 yards rushing in the opener, with Malcolm Agnew picking up 45 more. That might not be enough to keep the Beavers’ offense moving against UCLA.

UCLA: DE Datone Jones. The hulking senior is living up to his enormous potential this season with eight tackles for losses, a safety and a touchdown reception in the Bruins’ first three games. If he disrupts Sean Mannion’s rhythm, Oregon State will have trouble moving.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Beavers are opening a season with back-to-back games against ranked teams for the first time in school history. … UCLA won 27-19 in Corvallis last season, ruining Mannion’s first career start. … Beavers coach Mike Riley will tie Lon Stiner for the school’s career victories record with his next win, which will be his 74th at the school. … UCLA has yielded just 282 yards and 12 points in the second halves of its first three games. … Oregon State finished just outside the Top 25 in the latest AP poll, topping the list of unranked teams receiving votes. … Beavers WR Markus Wheaton has caught a pass in 24 straight games.

No. 20 Louisville (3-0) at FIU (1-2), 1 p.m. (ESPN3)

Line: Louisville by 13 1-2.

Series record: FIU leads 1-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Louisville lost to FIU at home last season, and the memory of that still stings the Cardinals — who have plenty of players from the Miami area making homecomings this weekend. The Cardinals are trying for their first 4-0 start since opening 8-0 in 2006 (and the first four-game winning streak of coach Charlie Strong’s career), while the Panthers are looking to avoid a third loss in four games going into Sun Belt Conference play.

KEY MATCHUP

Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater vs. FIU’s secondary. Bridgewater has completed nearly 82 percent of his passes so far this season, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. FIU’s three opponents so far have averaged nearly 292 yards passing per game, with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. And for Bridgewater, being back in Miami — his hometown — will only add incentive.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Louisville: TE Nate Nord. He considered quitting football before being talked into sticking around, and has rewarded the Cardinals’ coaching staff with 10 catches for 97 yards this season.

FIU: WR Wayne Times. He’s got 17 catches for 182 yards, and will likely be looked to as the big-play threat the Panthers will need to keep up with Louisville’s potent offensive attack.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Panthers have allowed at least 33 points all three of their games this season — they only yielded that many twice in 13 outings a season ago. … Bridgewater has a passer rating of 182.2. But he has been sacked seven times, so that will almost certainly mean the Panthers will try whatever they can to get pressure his way. … FIU RB Kedrick Rhodes has 225 yards rushing and 130 yards receiving through three games, but has missed some practice time this week because of injury and the Panthers aren’t sure about his availability for Saturday.

Eastern Michigan (0-3) at No. 21 (Michigan State (2-1), 9:30 a.m. (BTN)

Line: Michigan State by 33.

Series record: Michigan State leads 8-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

The Spartans need to get their swagger back after a humbling 20-3 loss last week at home to Notre Dame, knocking them 11 spots down in the rankings, before hosting Ohio State next week in their Big Ten opener. The Eagles are hoping to avoid getting routed for a second straight week following a 54-16 loss at Purdue.

KEY MATCHUP

Michigan State WRs against Eastern Michigan DBs. The Spartans struggled offensively against the Fighting Irish because they dropped what would have been a touchdown pass and several others that could have helped QB Andrew Maxwell. Pudge Cotton returned a Caleb TerBush pass for a touchdown last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

EMU: QB Andrew Gillett has started 30 games and has thrown 34 TDs, but his job status is not secure after throwing six interceptions in three games. Sophomore Tyler Benz was 5 of 14 for 78 yards, with a 36-yard pass, in relief of Gillett against the Boilermakers.

MSU: WR Bennie Fowler. He had a key drop in the end zone against Notre Dame, but could potentially be the downfield receiving option Maxwell needs to make defenses respect more than RB Le’Veon Bell.

FACTS & FIGURES

Eastern Michigan wouldn’t allow running backs coach Mike Hart to be interviewed this week. After helping Michigan win at Michigan State in 2007, its last victory in the series, Hart referred to the Spartans as a little brother. … Bell is averaging 119 yards rushing to rank third in the Big Ten and tied for 16th in major college football. … The Eagles are led by reigning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year Ron English, a former Wolverines assistant in his fourth season at EMU. … MSU TE Dion Sims is already having the best year of his three-year career with 16 catches for 165 yards.

No. 23 Mississippi State (3-0) vs. South Alabama (1-2), noon (PPV)

Line: Mississippi State by 34.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Mississippi State is trying to continue its best start to a season since 1999. The Bulldogs have won 13 straight nonconference games. South Alabama is in just its fourth season of football and this will be its first time facing a ranked opponent.

KEY MATCHUP

Mississippi State’s defense vs. South Alabama. Mississippi State had a surprisingly bad defensive game against Troy last weekend, but the unit has been one of the SEC’s best the past few seasons. The Bulldogs will be going against a South Alabama offense that scored just seven points in a loss to North Carolina State last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Mississippi State: RB LaDarius Perkins has stepped into a full-time starting role this season and performed very well. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown last weekend against Troy and ranks second in the SEC with a 106.7 yards per game average.

South Alabama: LB Jake Johnson has been the Jaguars’ most productive defensive player this season. He made 14 tackles against North Carolina State and leads the team with 30 for the season. He also has four tackles for a loss and a sack.

FACTS & FIGURES

Mississippi State has won its first four games just five times in school history and only once since 1965. … Coach Dan Mullen has won 24 games in three-plus seasons with the Bulldogs, which already ranks fifth in school history. … Mississippi State has forced 12 turnovers through three games this season while giving up just one. That plus-11 margin is tied for tops in the nation with Alabama. … Mississippi State has been ranked for at least part of the past three seasons. … This is the first time South Alabama has ever faced an opponent from the Southeastern Conference. … Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koenning was the first offensive coordinator at South Alabama, hired as a member of the original coaching staff in 2008. … South Alabama is a transitional member of the Football Bowl Subdivision this season. The Jaguars are playing a full FBS schedule, but are not eligible for the Sun Belt Championship. They will be eligible to play in the championship and a bowl game next season.

No. 25 Nebraska (2-1) vs. Idaho State (1-1), 9:30 a.m. (BTN)

Line: No line.

Series Record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Nebraska is using the game to ease running back Rex Burkhead into the lineup after he missed two weeks with a knee injury and to tune up for next week’s Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. Idaho State gets $600,000 for three hours of work, and its players get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in one of the great college football venues.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska running game vs. Idaho State defense. The Cornhuskers’ deep stable of backs are averaging 295 yards a game to rank first in Big Ten and eighth nationally. It figures to be a long afternoon for the Bengals, who gave up 484 yards on the ground to Air Force.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Idaho State: WR Derek Graves. The senior caught 15 passes for 118 yards against Air Force and another 15 for 151 yards and a TD against Division II South Dakota State. Let’s see what he can do against Nebraska’s secondary, which has been the strength of the Huskers’ defense.

Nebraska: RB Rex Burkhead. The 2011 All-Big Ten back has been out since the first half of the opener because of a strained knee ligament. He comes back just in time to work out the kinks before Big Ten play begins.

FACTS & FIGURES

This is the third straight year Nebraska has played an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision. … Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez, who said his goal for the season is to complete 70 percent of his passes, is hitting 71 percent through three games. He’s completing 81.3 percent in home games. … The Huskers are second in the Big Ten in total offense (533 ypg) but 11th in total defense (400 ypg). … Idaho State is playing an FBS opponent for the second time this season. The Bengals lost their opener 49-21 at Air Force. … Idaho State has lost 33 straight road games since 2006 and 17 games in a row against FBS teams since beating Utah State in 2000. … The Bengals’ win over Black Hills State ended a nine-game losing streak.