No. 1 Oklahoma, a team that has a poor travel record, plays Florida State in Tallahassee

Oklahoma hasn't traveled all that well over the last two seasons, with an 8-7 record in games played outside of Norman, Okla. But the top-ranked Sooners claim that nothing will distract them - not past road history, not Florida State's war chant, not speculation about the school's switching conferences - when they go into Tallahassee and play the Seminoles on Saturday night. "I'm sure it will be exciting and wild," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "But we've seen that. Hopefully we'll respond to it the right way and handle it and perform well."

Meanwhile, fans of No. 5 Florida State know that a win will launch their team to the top of the contenders list for the BCS championship game, even if this is only September. To that, the Seminoles say, "Whoa!" as if they were driving the Sooner Schooner. "We do understand the implications of the game," linebacker Vince Williams said in the Orlando Sentinel. "But we're trying not to focus on that because we understand that this is a small piece of what we're trying to get Florida State back to." Williams and the FSU defense will be tested by Oklahoma's outstanding passing tandem of Landry Jones to Ryan Broyles.

The Florida State game is part of what could be a historic weekend for the ACC. Three other conference members will host nationally ranked teams - Miami vs. No. 17 Ohio State, Maryland vs. No. 18 West Virginia, and Clemson vs. No. 21 Auburn. According to the Newport News Daily Press, ACC teams were 2-12 against top 25 teams from other BCS conferences last year, with both victories coming in bowl games, and are 2-11 all-time in BCS bowls. Florida State is trying to snap a 31-game losing streak to nonleague teams ranked in the top five going back to 2000.

At least Miami coach Al Golden isn't getting all the questions this week about NCAA investigations and possible penalties. The Hurricanes are home to play Ohio State, another team reeling from alleged violations, which led to the resignation of coach Jim Tressel. Eight players from both teams return from suspensions for this game. "That's all you see, the suspensions . . . and it kind of takes away from the actual game and the players and the fans," said quarterback Jacory Harris, one of five Miami players back. "There's a lot of other things that are involved in this game rather than suspensions."

It's sure to be an emotional return for former George Washington High School star Sharrif Floyd, who sat out Florida's first two games after the NCAA ruled he accepted $2,700 from a person not associated with the university. Having the sophomore defensive tackle back "does a lot for our team," Gators defensive end Lerentee McCray said. "Just motivation, bringing our brother along." Floyd's presence should be a huge help to the 16th-ranked Gators in their SEC opener against Tennessee; they did not have a sack last week against UAB.

There's no question Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson is a great player. But blowing a 17-point lead and yielding 28 points in the fourth quarter in its loss to the Wolverines has Notre Dame steaming heading into its game against No. 15 Michigan State. The Fighting Irish have hurt themselves with mistakes - 10 turnovers (most in the FBS) and 17 penalties during their 0-2 start - and Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins will be sure to zero in on their vulnerable secondary. At least the Fighting Irish have Michael Floyd, who has caught 25 passes.

After receiving attention last year for having Cam Newton and winning the national championship, Auburn is attracting more notice this year, but this time it's for how lousy its defense is playing. The 21st-ranked Tigers are in the bottom 10 in the nation in total yards allowed (489.5 per game), rushing yards allowed (280.0), and third-down conversion defense (56.7 percent). Yet they are 2-0 heading into their road matchup against Clemson.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz probably will have a lot of old friends from Western Pennsylvania watching on TV when the Hawkeyes host Pittsburgh. Ferentz grew up in Upper St. Clair, right outside the Steel City, and once served as a graduate assistant with the Panthers. He knows how fertile of a recruiting area it is there, but he laments: "We're almost 0-for-recruiting in Pittsburgh. I guess it just shows you the clout I've got there," Ferentz said.

We're usually pretty tough on the Big Ten when it comes to scheduling nonconference games, but most teams in the league have done a pretty good job this week. Penn State has kept its intrastate rivalry with Temple alive. Michigan State (Notre Dame) and Ohio State (Miami, Fla.) have marquee matchups, and Illinois (Arizona State) is welcoming the nation's 22d-ranked team to Champaign. Iowa (Pitt) is playing the favorite to win the Big East, and Nebraska (Washington) hosts a rising Pac-12 team. Or maybe Nebraska likes the fact that it's Huskers vs. Huskies.

At the other end of the spectrum, there's California, which will take on the Blue Hose (yes, the Blue Hose) of Presbyterian College at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Presbyterian, with an enrollment of 1,200, is an FCS program from Clinton, S.C., just five years removed from playing in Division II. As Cal officials explain it, the Bears, who are playing their home games in the Giants' ballpark while their stadium undergoes renovations, had to wait for the baseball team and the Pac-12 to release their schedules and once that happened, few options for opponents remained.

TOP CHOICE

Oklahoma at Florida State, 8 p.m., 6ABC: Given their remaining schedules, chances are you could see either one of these teams, or both of them, in the BCS championship game. The fifth-ranked Seminoles were trounced, 47-17, last year in Norman and need to show that their secondary can neutralize the dynamic passing combination of Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles.

PICK SIX

Auburn at Clemson, noon, 6ABC: This game has gone into overtime in their last two meetings, and Clemson would love to snap Auburn's 17-game winning streak in front of its fans.

Pittsburgh at Iowa, noon, ESPN2: The Hawkeyes allowed Iowa State to score touchdowns on its last four drives in a stunning loss and now get the Panthers, who struggled at home against FCS member Maine.

Michigan State at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC10: Let's see . . . the Spartans are 2-0, ranked 15th, and have won six of their last seven games at Notre Dame. And the Fighting Irish, struggling at 0-2, are favored?

Tennessee at Florida, 3:30 p.m., CBS3: The 16th-ranked Gators have won six straight in this rivalry, but the Volunteers have found some offensive life behind quarterback Tyler Bray and wide receiver Justin Hunter.

Ohio State at Miami, 7:30 p.m., ESPN: Between the two teams, eight players will be returning from NCAA suspension.

Stanford at Arizona, 10:45 p.m., ESPN: Watch out for 6-foot-6, 244-pound Stanford tight end Coby Fleener, who has scored on six of his last nine catches, with five of the touchdowns ranging from 38 to 60 yards.

- Joe Juliano

The Real Top 10

1. Oklahoma 1-0

2. Florida State 2-0

3. Alabama 2-0

4. LSU 3-0

5. Boise State 1-0

6. Stanford 2-0

7. Oklahoma State 2-0

8. Wisconsin 2-0

9. Nebraska 2-0

10. Texas A&M 1-0

- Joe Juliano