A match-up between two unbeaten Top 25 teams and a Big 10 affair with ranked squads are the featured games this week.
No. 5 Utah (4-0, 1-0) entertains No. 23 California (5-0, 2-0) in a PAC-12 contest.
The Utes were idle last week after winning 62-20 at conference rival Oregon, which was ranked No. 13 at the time.
“We’re back at it this week after a week off from competition,” Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham said as he team prepares for the Golden Bears. “They have an outstanding football team. They’re 5-0 and nationally ranked.”
Whittingham in impressed with California’s defense.
“They have generated 18 takeaways this year, which leads the Pac-12 and is among the national leaders,” he said. “We have our work cut out for us.”
The time off may help the Utes.
“We had a chance to decompress a little bit after an emotional win (at Oregon),” Whittingham said. “More than anything else, it was the physical healing. We have guys who have been going at it for about eight straight weeks when you consider the fall camp aspect as well. It comes at a good time to get healed up and recharge your batteries to get ready for a tough eight-game stretch.”
In the Big 10, No. 13 Northwestern (5-0, 1-0) visits No. 18 Michigan (4-1, 1-0). Both teams posted shutouts in their conference openers last week. The Wildcats beat Minnesota 27-0, while the Wolverines won 28-0 over Maryland.
Here are the rest of the Top 25 games: Maryland (2-3, 0-1) at No. 1 Ohio State (5-0, 1-0); No. 2 TCU (5-0, 2-0) at Kansas State (3-1, 0-1); No. 3 Baylor (4-0, 1-0) at Kansas (0-4, 0-1); No. 4 Michigan State (5-0, 1-0) at Rutgers (2-2, 0-1); Georgia Tech (2-3, 0-2) at No. 6 Clemson (4-0, 1-0); No. 7 LSU (4-0) at South Carolina (2-3, 0-3); Arkansas (2-3, 1-1) at No. 8 Alabama (4-1, 1-1); No. 10 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) at Texas (1-4, 0-2); No. 11 Florida (5-0, 3-0) at Missouri (4-1, 1-1); Miami (3-1, 0-0) at No. 12 Florida State (4-0, 2-0); New Mexico State (0-4) at No. 14 Mississippi (4-1); Navy (4-0) at No. 15 Notre Dame (4-1); Washington State (2-2, 0-1) at No. 17 Southern Cal (3-1, 1-1); No. 19 Georgia (4-1, 2-1) at Tennessee (2-3, 0-2); No. 21 Oklahoma State (5-0, 2-0) at West Virginia (3-1, 0-1); Illinois (4-1, 1-0) at No. 22 Iowa (5-0, 1-0); Kent State (2-3, 1-0) at No. 24 Toledo (4-0, 1-0) and No. 25 Boise State (4-1, 1-0) at Colorado State (2-3, 0-1).
Editor’s note: Quotes, photos and logos courtesy of CollegePressBox.com.