Area college football previews
UI at Ole Miss
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m.; Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Miss.
Records: UI 1-6; Miss. 4-3
Web/Radio: ESPN3; 1080/1280-AM
Overview: The good news for the Vandals is they had a bye week to get third-string QB Taylor Davis acclimated to the first-team offense, with Chad Chalich and Josh McCain out with shoulder injuries. The bad news is what’s expected to be Davis’ first start in 11 months will come against SEC foe Mississippi, which upset No. 6 LSU last week and is receiving votes in the AP poll. Idaho has dropped 26 consecutive games to traditional BCS conference teams since beating Washington State in 2000, and is a 41-point underdog to the Rebels.
Josh Wright
Cal at UW
Kickoff: 8 p.m., Husky Stadium, Seattle
Records: UW 4-3, 1-3 Pac-12; Cal 1-6, 0-4
TV/Radio: FS1/590-AM
Overview: More than 20 years after he last coached a game, this week for Washington is all about Don James. The former Washington coach, who led the Huskies to a share of the national title in 1991, died Sunday at age 80 from pancreatic cancer. And tonight, when the Huskies host California, will be the first chance for the school to pay tribute to James. His family will serve as honorary captains and the school will have a halftime tribute. Washington is also trying to snap a three-game losing streak, while California has dropped five straight. UW has dropped three straight in every season since 2004.
Associated Press
Whits at UPS
Kickoff: 1 p.m., at Baker Stadium, Tacoma
Records: Whitworth 2-5, 0-3 NWC; Puget Sound 1-4, 0-2
Radio: 1230-AM
Overview: In a matchup of the only two winless teams in the Northwest Conference, the Pirates are coming off a 51-17 thrashing by Linfield, while the Loggers dropped a 38-31 game at home against Case Western Reserve. Coach John Tully said the playing status of Whitworth QB Bryan Peterson (shoulder) remains in doubt. If Peterson can’t go, Tully will again start freshman Ian Kolste. The Pirates will also be without starting linebacker Nic Brockhoff. The Loggers’ second-leading tackler is sophomore linebacker Chris Beaulaurier, who played at Ferris, and one of the Loggers’ starting wide receivers is freshman Brennan Schon, who played at Lewis and Clark.
Tom Clouse