Northern Arizona at Arizona
(6 p.m. Saturday)
After a 19-6 win over Central Michigan last weekend, the Wildcats will look to move to 2-0 on the season as they take on in-state foe Northern Arizona. Running back Nic Grigsby rushed 23 times for 118 yards and a touchdown last week, while quarterback Matt Scott compiled nearly 300 yards of total offense for the Wildcats.
Key Stat: Grigsby is 25 rushing yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark for his career.
Eastern Washington at No. 10 California
(2:30 p.m. Saturday)
Cal’s potent offense, led by quarterback Kevin Riley and Heisman Trophy hopeful running back Jahvid Best, will look to have another huge game against the visiting team from Eastern Washington. Riley and Best combined for six touchdowns last week, while the offense racked up 542 yards of total offense.
Key Stat: The Cal secondary has allowed only 12 touchdown passes in the last 14 games.
Oregon State at UNLV
(8 p.m. Saturday)
The Beavers will look to improve to 2-0 for the first time in four seasons as they travel to Las Vegas to take on the Rebels. Sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 103 yards and three scores in just over one half against Portland State last week. UNLV is coming off a 38-3 win over Sacramento State, though it is 5-23 all-time vs. ranked opponents.
Key Stat: It’s been 18 years since a Pac-10 team has traveled to UNLV, and it has only happened three times in the program’s history.
Stanford at Wake Forest
(9 a.m. Saturday)
Wide receiver Chris Owusu will look to have another big day for the Stanford Cardinal as they travel to Winston-Salem to take on the Demon Deacons. Owusu was named the Pac-10 special teams player of the week after accumulating 239 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Washington State. The game will mark the first-ever contest between the two schools.
Key Stat: Stanford went 1-6 on the road last year. If they can pick up a win at Wake Forest, the Cardinal will already have a better road record than 2008.
UCLA at Tennessee
(1 p.m. Saturday) ESPN
After a fourth-quarter comeback against San Diego State last week, the Bruins will travel to Knoxville, Tenn. to take on the Volunteers, who blew out Western Kentucky 63-7 in their season opener. UCLA managed to pull out a win against the Vols last season, as the Bruins knocked in a 42-yard field goal to win the game in overtime. Bruins place kicker Kai Forbath is 7-for-7 in his career from 50 or more yards out.
Key Stat: UCLA safety Rahim Moore tied a single-game record with three interceptions last week.
No. 3 USC at No. 8 Ohio State
(5 p.m. Saturday) ESPN
True freshman quarterback Matt Barkley will face his first true test this week, as he leads the No. 3 Trojans against the No. 8 Buckeyes. Barkley went 15 of 19 for 233 yards and one touchdown last week against San Jose State, but the Buckeye defense should be much more up to the task of slowing the USC offense, which tallied 620 total yards last Saturday. The Trojans won the 2008 matchup 35-3.
Key Stat: USC held OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor to 92 yards of total offense in last year’s matchup.
Idaho at Washington
(12:30 p.m. Saturday)
The Huskies are coming off of a tough loss to LSU in week one, but will likely respond positively at this week’s matchup with Idaho. UW has won the last 17 matchups in a row between the two schools and should have no problem stretching the streak to 18 this weekend. The Huskies tallied 478 yards last weekend and also had a 13-minute edge in time of possession, though they came up eight points short of a win.
Key Stat: Idaho has not beaten Washington since 1905.
Hawaii at Washington State
(4 p.m. Saturday)
The Cougars will try to get back in the swing of things this weekend as they take on the Warriors. The Cougars utilized both Kevin Lopina and Marshall Lobbestael at quarterback last week and they combined to go 18 of 28 for 200 yards and one touchdown. But it will be the WSU defense that will have to work to slow Hawaii wide receiver Greg Salas, who caught seven passes for 180 yards and a TD in last week’s 25-20 win over Central Arkansas.
Key Stat: Cougar running back Dwight Tardy has led WSU in rushing the last three seasons. He could be the first back in school history to lead the team in rushing for four straight years.
[email protected]