California at Nevada
(7:00 p.m. Friday) ESPN2
California and Nevada, both 2-0 to start the season, will face off in a nationally televised game at Mackay Stadium on Friday. The Golden Bears have made quick work of their first two opponents this season, scoring 52 points in both games and giving up a total of 10 points. Senior quarterback Kevin Riley was dominant last week against Colorado, throwing for four touchdowns and avoiding any turnovers in a 52-7 victory.
Nevada’s offense has been just as dominant, averaging an even 50 points per game to go along with 295 rushing yards per outing. Against Colorado State last week, dual threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 241 yards, ran for 161 more, and accounted for four total touchdowns.
Key Stat: Cal is 22-1-1 all time against Nevada, and hasn’t lost to the Wolf Pack since 1903.
 
No. 18 USC at Minnesota
(12:30 p.m. Saturday) ESPN
First, the USC defense gave up 588 yards to Hawaii. Then, the offense struggled to put up 17 points against Virginia. In all, it is surprising that the Trojans are 2-0 heading into a matchup with Minnesota. One player who has remained consistent is quarterback Matt Barkley. The sophomore threw for two touchdowns in a 17-14 victory last week and now has seven touchdowns and zero interceptions to start the season.
Barkley should have little trouble against the Minnesota defense, which gave up 41 points in a loss to South Dakota last week.
Key Stat: This week will mark the first meeting between USC and Minnesota since 1980. The Trojans won that game 24-7.
 
No. 8 Nebraska at Washington
(12:30 p.m. Saturday) ABC
Washington quarterback Jake Locker finally flashed his Heisman credentials last weekend against Syracuse, throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-20 victory. Three of those scores went to junior wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Both Locker and Kearse will have to bring their A-games against the No. 8 Cornhuskers.
Led by freshman sensation Taylor Martinez, Nebraska has averaged an astonishing 324.5 rushing yards per game. The Cornhuskers had five interceptions against Idaho last Saturday, with two returned for touchdowns, to go along with seven sacks.
Key Stat: Martinez leads Nebraska in both passing yards (242) and rushing yards (284) this year.
 
Arizona State at No. 11 Wisconsin
(12:30 p.m. Saturday) ABC
Arizona State’s 2-0 start will be tested on the road against Wisconsin on Saturday. Thus far, against admittedly weak competition, junior quarterback Steven Threet has been a revelation. Threet threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns against Northern Arizona last week as the Sun Devils coasted to a 41-20 win.
Wisconsin’s defense, however, will surely be stout, and Camp Randall Stadium is one of the nation’s toughest places to play. The Badgers are led by junior running back John Clay, who ran for 137 yards and two scores in a 27-14 win over San Jose State last weekend.
Key Stat: Clay has now run for at least 100 yards in eight straight appearances, dating back to last October against Iowa.
 
Washington State at Southern Methodist
(12:30 p.m. Saturday)
The Cougars can finally breathe easy. After losing 10 straight contests dating back to last season, Washington State finally got in the win column again in a narrow 23-22 victory over Montana State last weekend. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Tuel threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns, while senior running back James Montgomery added 116 yards on the ground.
Southern Methodist also comes in with a 1-1 record and was the last opponent the Cougars beat before last week’s win. The Mustangs were dominant last week against UAB, winning 28-7
Key Stat: Last year, Southern Methodist racked up 504 total yards on offense against Washington State.
 
Louisville at Oregon State
(2:30 p.m. Saturday)
After a frustrating 30-21 loss at the hands of TCU to start the season, the Beavers were left to stew with an early bye week. Luckily, Louisville is no TCU, and quarterback Ryan Katz will have an opportunity to make up for an uneven week one performance. The sophomore threw for two touchdowns against the Horned Frogs but completed just nine of 25 passes for 159 yards. Heisman candidate Jacquizz Rodgers will also be looking for redemption after compiling just 75 yards against TCU.
Louisville, meanwhile, comes off a 23-13 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Key Stat: Louisville and Oregon State have faced off only once in NCAA history, a 63-27 Cardinal win in 2005.
 
No. 9 Iowa at No. 24 Arizona
(7:30 p.m. Saturday) ESPN
The Wildcats have started the year with a bang and find themselves back in the top 25 heading into a showdown with No. 9 Iowa. The defense has been dominant, and currently ranks second in the NCAA, allowing just four points per game. Senior running back Nic Grigsby played the starring role on offense last week against The Citadel, gathering 107 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 52-6 victory. Running the ball will likely prove much tougher, however, against an Iowa defense that is giving up just 71.5 rushing yards per game.
The Hawkeyes embarrassed rival Iowa State 35-7 last week.
Key Stat: Against Arizona last year, Iowa running back Adam Robinson had a breakout performance, racking up 101 yards and two touchdowns.
 
No. 23 Houston at UCLA
(7:30 p.m. Saturday)
The Bruins could not have had a more miserable start to the season, falling to 0-2 after a 35-0 shellacking at the hands of Stanford. Things won’t get any easier against No. 23 Houston, particularly if senior quarterback Case Keenum is cleared to play after a concussion sustained last weekend against UTEP.
The Cougars coasted to a 54-24 victory, moving to 2-0 on the season.
Key Stat: Keenum failed to throw a touchdown pass last week, breaking a 16-game streak.
 
Wake Forest at No. 19 Stanford
(8:15 p.m. Saturday) ESPN2
Andrew Luck and the Cardinal continue to climb the AP poll, coming in at No. 19 this week after demolishing UCLA 35-0 on the road. For his part, Luck threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns, but the star of the show was the defense. The Bruins gathered only 81 yards through the air, turned the ball over four times, and went 1 for 9 on third downs.
The Demon Deacons, 2-0, come off a narrow 54-48 win over Duke last week. Freshman quarterback Tanner Price proved to be a revelation, throwing for three touchdowns and winning the starting job for this week.
Key Stat: In a matchup with Stanford last year, Wake Forest totaled 458 yards on offense in a 24-17 victory.
 
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