Around the Nation: Nebraska-Michigan State
Game of the Week
Nebraska at Michigan State
The top teams in the Big Ten square off in what may be a College Football Playoff elimination game. The Cornhuskers are 5-0. The Spartans are 3-1, but the blemish was forgivable, at Oregon. Nebraska’s stars on both sides of the ball need to come up big. Running back Ameer Abdullah has run into the Heisman conversation with 883 yards and eight touchdowns. Huskers defensive end Randy Gregory has been a monster lately with 4 1/2 sacks in the last two games. He’ll go against left tackle Jack Conklin, who hasn’t allowed a sack this season.
Upset of the Week
Notre Dame over Stanford
Stanford has won four of the last five meetings in the series mostly because it has been better at the line of scrimmage. The Irish, a slight underdog at home, committed five turnovers against Syracuse last week but still won easily. They can’t have that kind of performance against the Cardinal. Notre Dame has trailed for less than two minutes this season. Even with a loss, Stanford is alive for the College Football Playoff.
Others to Watch
Alabama at Mississippi
How good is Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper? He’s collected four straight 100-yard games and has 43 receptions for 655 yards and five touchdowns. Rebels defensive backs will have their hands full with the Alabama passing game. Mississippi hasn’t been tested since running away from Boise State in the opener, and the Rebels have had a bit of a penalty problem. They’ll have to play a clean game to pick up the victory.
Arizona State at Southern California
In his first start, Sun Devils quarterback Mike Bercovici threw for 488 yards but got no support from his defense in a 62-27 home loss to UCLA. He set school records for yards and completions. USC bounced back from its loss at Boston College to down Oregon State, and the schedule eases after this week. If the Trojans hold serve at home they can get their season back on track.
On the horizon: Oct. 11 games
Auburn at Mississippi State
Another wild weekend in SEC East
Georgia at Missouri
If Tigers win, they’ll hold division cards
Oregon at UCLA
Biggest regular season test for Ducks?
This weekend’s Top 25 Games
All games Saturday unless noted
No. 1 Florida State vs. Wake Forest, 2:30 p.m.
No. 3 Alabama at No. 10 Mississippi, 2:30 p.m.
No. 4 Oklahoma at No. 25 TCU, 2:30 p.m.
No. 5 Auburn vs. No. 15 LSU, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 12 Mississippi State, 11 a.m.
No. 7 Baylor at Texas, 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 UCLA vs. Utah, 9:30 p.m.
No. 9 Notre Dame vs. No. 14 Stanford, 2:30 p.m.
No. 10 Michigan State vs. No. 19 Nebraska, 7 p.m.
No. 13 Georgia vs. Vanderbilt, 3 p.m.
No. 16 Southern California vs. Arizona State, 6:30 p.m.
No. 17 Wisconsin at Northwestern, 2:30 p.m.
No. 18 BYU vs. Utah State, 8:15 p.m. Friday
No. 20 Ohio State at Maryland, 11 a.m.
No. 21 Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State, 11 a.m.
No. 22 East Carolina vs. SMU, 11 a.m.
No. 23 Kansas State vs. Texas Tech, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published October 2, 2014 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Around the Nation: Nebraska-Michigan State."