Normally, Stanford might enjoy a visit from the Navy football team.
Then again, Stanford isn’t accustomed to starting the season 0-2, either. Coach Walt Harris took over the head coaching position prior to last season and brought with him a track record of turning teams around. His latest challenge is proving to be just that.
The Cardinal began its 2006 edition with a thud, losing 48-10 at Oregon. They followed that performance with a 35-34 loss to San Jose State.
Prior to Stanford, Harris guided Pittsburgh to bowl games in six of his eight seasons there. His latest football team received more bad news that wide receiver Mark
Bradford is out indefinitely. Bradford suffered torn ligaments in his right foot early in the San Jose State loss.
This came after he caught nine passes for 105 yards against Oregon.
Navy’s visit also marks the grand opening of the new Stanford Stadium.
No. 22 Arizona State versus Colorado
The Dan Hawkins era in Boulder, Colo., started inauspiciously. Two games into the season, the ex-Boise State coach is seeking his first win and will try to do that against Arizona State’s vaunted offense.
The Sun Devils visit Colorado and bring quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who has excelled since being named the starter over Sam Keller. Arizona State is tied for
eighth in the country in scoring at 43.5 points per game. Last weekend, in Arizona State’s 52-21 trashing of Nevada, Carpenter passed for a career high with five touchdown passes – each to a different receiver.
Carpenter touts a 6-1 record as a starter. He has thrown for 300 or more yards in five of his seven starts.
Hawkins used to work under Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter at Boise State. Hawkins assumed the head coaching gig when
Koetter left for Arizona State in 2001. Hawkins joined Colorado in 2006. It’s not been an easy start with a 19-10 loss to Montana State, a Division I-AA school, and rival Colorado State.
Hawkins, known for quality offenses at Boise, has seen the Colorado offense produce only 20 points and 362 yards of total offense in two games.
Portland State versus No. 21 California
Ideally, a game between two unbeaten teams produces a quality showing.
Portland State easily defeated Big Sky foe Northern Colorado last weekend in a 45-3 route. Two weeks ago, Portland State won just its second game against a Division I opponent with its 17-6 upset of New Mexico.
There is a caveat to this success – Portland State has never won against a Pacific-10 Conference school in four previous games.
Portland State must find a way to slow California’s re-energized offense. California responded to its week one letdown against Tennessee with a 42-17 thrashing of Minnesota last Saturday. California solidified the quarterback position in that game.
In California’s 35-18 loss to Tennessee, Cal coach Jeff Tedford pulled starter Nate Longshore and inserted last year’s starter Joe Ayoob in the second half. Longshore responded by throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns against Minnesota.
Running back Marshawn Lynch bounced back with 139 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. He gained 74 yards on 12 carries against Tennessee.
Arizona versus Stephen F. Austin
Arizona realized quickly last week in its 45-3 loss to LSU how far they are from becoming national contenders. This weekend, Arizona can look forward to the first of three straight home games with a matchup against Stephen F. Austin.
Quarterback Willie Tuitama, who suffered a concussion in the LSU loss, was replaced by backup quarterback Adam Austin in the third quarter. Heralded as Arizona’s quarterback of the future following Arizona’s finish last season, Tuitama is struggling this season.
His completion percentage is 48.2 percent and he has three interceptions to only one touchdown.
Washington versus Fresno State
Washington became the first Pac-10 school to play Oklahoma this season and came away with a 37-20 loss. Quarterback Isiah Stanback never found a rhythm, completing just 9 of 22 passes for 139 yards. The elusive runner managed only 18 yards on 12 carries.
The Huskies found more success with the two-pronged attack of Louis Rankin and Kenny James, who combined for 181 yards. Rankin had 112 yards on 17 carries and James ran for 69 yards on 10 carries.
Washington gets a stiff challenge this weekend from visiting Fresno State, who pushed Oregon in a 31-24 loss last week. Fresno’s running game is powered by Dwayne Wright, who rushed 29 times for 154 yards and a touchdown against Oregon.
Washington State versus Baylor
Washington State is a contrast of two vastly different performances. The Cougars lost their opener to Auburn, 40-14. In Washington State’s second game, the Cougars raced past Idaho, 56-10.
The efficient Washington State attack featured 92 yards rushing by Dwight Tardy and quarterback Alex Brink’s 231 yards on 12-of-15 passing.
Baylor is fresh off a 47-10 win over Northwestern State. The Bears are relying on the passing game with its running starting slowly.
Quarterback Shawn Bell has passed for more than 200 yards in four starts dating back to last season. Brandon Whitaker is Baylor’s leading rusher through two games with 41 yards on nine carries.
Baylor holds a 3-1 series advantage with the most recent meeting in the 1994 Alamo Bowl, a 10-3 Washington State win.
No. 19 Nebraska versus No. 4 USC
Two historic college football teams play one another in Los Angeles for the first time in 36 years with College GameDay on hand.
Fourth-ranked USC, fresh off a bye week, hosts No. 19 Nebraska, which has won its first two games of the season in a blowout fashion. Similarly, USC dominated at Arkansas in the season-opener, putting 50 points on the board.