Iowa, OSU battle for Big Ten title

Three to watch

No. 15 Iowa at No. 10 Ohio State

3:30 p.m., ESPN

The Buckeyes can clinch a share of their fifth straight Big Ten title with a win. If Iowa can overcome last week's shocking loss to Northwestern and win, the Hawkeyes will head to the Rose Bowl as the Big Ten champs. Iowa will have to win without starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who is out after injuring an ankle against Northwestern.

No. 1 Florida at South Carolina

3:30 p.m., WRAL, WNCT

Suddenly, Steve Spurrier isn't so popular in Columbia. A win over his former school would instantly revamp his reputation, but remember when N.C. State's Willie Young said he didn't see evidence of Spurrier's genius on offense? South Carolina scored seven points against a Wolfpack defense that has more holes than a moth-eaten shirt. Maybe Young was right.

No. 16 Utah at No. 4 TCU

7:30 p.m., CBS College

There's still a slight chance that TCU will play in the BCS championship game, although it would take a seemingly unlikely loss by Texas to give the Horned Frogs a shot. A win over a ranked opponent would add to TCU's already strong résumé.

Observations

Suspension appropriate

Football is hardly the place for watered-down discipline.

Nonetheless, the decision of Oregon and the Pac-10 to allow the reinstatement of running back LeGarrette Blount was a good one.

Blount's punching of Boise State's Byron Hout after the season-opener was outrageous. But even in the aftermath of the incident that week, the suspension for the entire season seemed harsh.

The eight-game suspension Blount ended up serving was plenty serious.

Stoops pays off for Arizona

Arizona is being rewarded for its patience with coach Mike Stoops.

After 2007, Stoops was 17-29 without a winning season in four years as the Wildcats' coach. But Arizona had a breakthrough year in 2008 with an 8-5 record and a Las Vegas Bowl win. Armed with a high-powered offense averaging 448.6 yards per game, the Wildcats are 6-2 and ranked No. 18 by The Associated Press this week.

They have a big game at California today.

Word to the Weis

Notre Dame has lost two home games in a row to Navy.

That's the service academy the Irish had defeated 43 times in a row until two years ago. There are still a lot of Notre Dame fans who remember when the Irish were the pre-eminent power in college football.

As Notre Dame (6-3) visits No. 8 Pittsburgh (8-1) today, those fans with long memories are growing increasingly impatient with coach Charlie Weis.

Make room for Terry

Don't be surprised if Terry Bowden, now the coach of Division II North Alabama, gets serious consideration for the Memphis head coaching job.

The past couple of years have been difficult for the Bowdens, as Tommy was cast aside by Clemson and father Bobby fell under fire at Florida State. But Terry is 10-1 in his first season at North Alabama, with former N.C. State quarterback Harrison Beck behind center.

Numbers to know

8 Years since No. 25 Stanford had been bowl eligible before clinching eligibility last week with a shocker against then-No. 7-ranked Oregon. The Cardinal (6-3) visits No. 11 Southern California (7-2) today.

13 Interceptions thrown by Syracuse quarterback (and former Duke point guard) Greg Paulus, who leads the Big East in that statistic.

1.8 Yards per carry Texas' defense is allowing. No other Football Bowl Subdivision team is allowing less than 2.3 yards per carry.

Top 25

Thursday's result

Rutgers 31, No. 23 South Florida 0

Friday's result

No. 5 Cincinnati vs. West Virginia, late

Today's games

No. 1 Florida at South Carolina, 3:30 p.m.

No. 2 Texas at Baylor, Noon

No. 3 Alabama at Mississippi State, 7 p.m.

No. 4 TCU vs. No. 16 Utah, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 Boise State vs. Idaho, 3:30 p.m.

No. 7 Georgia Tech at Duke, Noon

No. 8 Pittsburgh vs. Notre Dame, 8 p.m.

No. 9 LSU vs. Louisiana Tech, 8 p.m.

No. 10 Ohio State vs. No. 15 Iowa, 3:30 p.m.

No. 11 Southern Cal vs. No. 25 Stanford, 3:30 p.m.

No. 12 Miami at North Carolina, 3:30 p.m.

No. 13 Houston at UCF, Noon

No. 14 Oregon vs. Arizona State, 10:20 p.m.

No. 17 Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech, 8 p.m.

No. 18 Arizona at California, 10:20 p.m.

No. 19 Penn State vs. Indiana, Noon

No. 20 Virginia Tech at Maryland, 1 p.m.

No. 21 Wisconsin vs. Michigan, Noon

No. 22 BYU at New Mexico, 2 p.m.

No. 24 Clemson at N.C. State, Noon

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