Purdue, Virginia seek confirmation
No. 5 Purdue and No. 6 Virginia have reached lofty status without facing elite competition.
Today, the Boilermakers and Cavaliers get a chance to prove themselves worthy of the accolades.
Purdue (5-0) and its high-powered offense, led by quarterback Kyle Orton, hosts No. 10 Wisconsin and one of the stingiest defenses in the country.
Virginia (5-0), which has outscored its opponents by an average of 42-11, goes to Tallahassee to face No. 7 Florida State. The Cavs are 0-6 at Doak Campbell Stadium and lost their last trip there 40-19.
“On that particular day, Florida State was significantly bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced,” UV coach Al Groh said.
Two years ago, six freshmen started against the Seminoles — including quarterback Marques Hagans, tailback Wali Lundy and linebacker Darryl Blackstock.
“All of them will be starting again today. They’re significantly more developed than they were at that particular time,” Groh said. Purdue hasn’t been ranked this high in 25 years. The Boilermakers can claim road wins against Penn State and Notre Dame, but the Badgers, with defensive linemen Erasmus James and Anttaj Hawthorne, present a far greater challenge.
| The lineup | Time | TV |
| No. 1 Southern Cal vs. No. 15 Arizona St. | ||
| Pick: USC 34-20 | 12:30 p.m. | ABC |
| No. 2 Oklahoma at Kansas St. | ||
| Pick: OU 44-17 | 9 a.m. | None |
| No. 4 Auburn vs. Arkansas | ||
| Pick: Auburn 35-17 | 12:30 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 5 Purdue vs. No. 10 Wisconsin | ||
| Pick: PU 23-20 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 6 Virginia at No. 7 Florida St. | ||
| Pick: UV 24-14 | 4:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 8 California vs. UCLA | ||
| Pick: Cal 41-21 | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| No. 9 Texas vs. Missouri | ||
| Pick: UT 24-14 | 12:30 p.m. | None |
| No. 11 Utah vs. North Carolina | ||
| Pick: UU 42-20 | 7 p.m. | None |
| No. 12 Georgia vs. Vanderbilt | ||
| Pick: UG 38-12 | 9:30 a.m. | None |
| No. 13 Tennessee at Mississippi | ||
| Pick: UT 31-17 | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 14 Michigan at Illinois | ||
| Pick: UM 35-14 | 9 a.m. | None |
| No. 16 Oklahoma St. vs. No. 23 Texas A&M | ||
| Pick: OSU 36-20 | 4 p.m. | FSN |
| No. 19 Minnesota at Michigan St. | ||
| Pick: UM 32-18 | 9 a.m. | ESPN |
| No. 21 Boise St. at Tulsa | ||
| Pick: BSU 40-14 | 4 p.m. | None |
| No. 22 Florida vs. Middle Tennessee | ||
| Pick: UF 48-16 | 9 a.m. | None |
| No. 24 Southern Miss. at Alabama | ||
| Pick: USF 22-20 | 12:30 p.m. | None |
| No. 25 Ohio St. at Iowa | ||
| Pick: OSU 16-13 | 12:30 p.m. | None |
Friday’s game
Alabama-Birmingham 41, TCU 25: Darrell Hackney threw five touchdown passes in the first half to lead the Blazers’ victory over the Horned Frogs at Birmingham, Ala.
Hackney was 15 for 24 for 337 yards. The Blazers (5-1, 3-0 C-USA) are off to their first 3-0 conference start in school history.
Brandon Hassell was 20 for 33 for 293 yards and one touchdown for TCU (3-3, 1-2).