Lovie Smith isn’t the only former Bucs coach to watch this week

Three former Bucs coaches to watch

Lovie Smith, Illinois: He has to be very disappointed in a four-game losing streak that should extend to five, with No. 6 Wisconsin coming. A coaching change seems more likely than a bowl game.

P.J. Fleck, Minnesota: With lowly Rutgers next, the former Bucs receivers coach has the No. 20 Golden Gophers ready to jump to 7-0 for the first time since 1960.

Marcus Arroyo, Oregon: The former Bucs play-caller and current Ducks offensive coordinator is a potential head coaching candidate this cycle with a tough matchup at Washington this week.

RELATED: College football midseason review: The good, the bad and the ugly

GameDay breakdown

Expect an ol’ fashioned Big Ten slugfest when No. 7 Penn State hosts No. 16 Michigan. Both defenses rank in the top 15 nationally in scoring and yards per play allowed. Penn State is in the top three in sacks and tackles for a loss, while Michigan has 25 tackles for a loss in the last two games. The difference, then, could be one or two explosive plays, where the edge goes to Penn State.

Audible

“You know, there’s a high school team over in Arkansas. They always onside kick. They never punt. … So we’ve really kind of considered that as our game plan — just don’t give them the ball.” — Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt on his plan to beat No. 1 Alabama. He was joking (I think?), but he should try it. What does he have to lose?

RELATED: Comparing Tennessee football to the Titanic isn’t fair. To the ship.

By the numbers: Week 8

29 Points Wisconsin’s defense has allowed

30 Points Wisconsin’s defense is responsible for (four touchdowns and a safety)

352 Passing yards last week in the first Division I-A start by Nevada quarterback Malik Henry, an FSU transfer. He’s expected to start again this week at Utah State

3,243 Total yards by Wake Forest through six games (No. 5 nationally)

2,595 Total yards by Wake Forest in all of 2014, Dave Clawson’s first year as coach

38-11 UCF’s conference record at Spectrum Stadium. Expect it to improve to 39-11 when the Knights host East Carolina, which is worse than its 3-3 record suggests

125 Consecutive games with at least 10 points for Arizona State. That’s the longest active I-A streak and tied with Louisiana Tech (2008-18) for the longest streak in the modern era

1 Big 12 program West Virginia hasn’t beaten since joining the league: Oklahoma, this week’s foe

RELATED: Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs still on SEC East collision course, even after first losses