Former USF coach Willie Taggart is off to a nice 4-1 start at Oregon, but his toughest test comes Saturday night against No. 11 Washington State. The Ducks lost their quarterback (Justin Herbert) to a broken collarbone last week, and Taggart is 2-11 in his career against ranked opponents. Keep an eye on whether Oregon NG Jordon Scott (Pinellas Park) and the rest of the Ducks can pressure the high-scoring Cougars' offense.
Aggies agony
It's been five years since QB Johnny Manziel, WR Mike Evans and Texas A&M lit up No. 1 Alabama in a 29-24 upset that got coach Kevin Sumlin a new contract. Things have changed. Since then, the Aggies are 40-20 with little hope of topping the Tide Saturday. A loss could set up a win-or-get-canned game for Sumlin next week at UF.
Undefeated no more?
Four perfect teams who could get knocked off Saturday:
No. 7 Michigan: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is 7-3 against the Wolverines and won the last trip to the Big House on a walk-off fumble recovery.
Getty Images
Getty Images
No. 20 Utah: The Utes' top-10 rushing defense hasn't seen a back like Bryce Love.
Navy: The AAC West frontrunner faces another service academy (Air Force) that nearly upset San Diego State.
No. 4 Penn State: Northwestern has won five times as a double-digit underdog since 2014, according to ESPN.
Audible
"You really didn't have time to think." — Syracuse coach Dino Babers on last year's 76-61 loss to Pitt. The teams meet again Saturday in a matchup that probably won't look like a basketball score again.
By the numbers
24.3 Yards per catch by Kansas State WR Byron Pringle (Robinson High), which ranks 10th nationally
TNS
TNS
243 Career tackles for Florida Atlantic LB Azeez Al-Shaair (Hillsborough High)
0 Times Florida International has started 4-1, which it can do with a win over Middle Tennessee
12-4 LSU coach Ed Orgeron's record as an interim coach (at USC and LSU)
13-27 Orgeron's record as a head coach (at Ole Miss and LSU)