Play it forward: Week ahead in college football

Five things to watch this week in college football.

1. The good news about Alabama at Louisiana State this week is that it appears the schools will play only once this season. Unless, of course, Alabama loses and LSU goes on to win the Southeastern Conference title and Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame all lose one game. The chances of all those things happening are very remote, gulp, right?

2. Lost in all the preseason hype over USC was the fact Oregon was always going to enter the Nov. 3 showdown at the Coliseum as the three-time defending conference champion. It’s not even close how much better Oregon is playing now than USC, but the Trojans can help save their season by pulling a repeat of last year’s dramatic win in Eugene.

3. Notre Dame (8-0) is hosting Pittsburgh (4-4) and we strongly suggest not making any dramatic costume changes. In 2002, after a victory at Florida State improved Notre Dame’s record to 8-0, the Irish donned green jerseys the next week against Boston College — and lost.

4. It is Oklahoma State’s turn this week to attempt to find some penetrable weakness in undefeated Kansas State. The 8-0 Wildcats look scary good entering Halloween week and are only a few minor obstacles from a 12-0 season. Kansas State also doesn’t have to worry anymore about an extra Big 12 title game.

5. Legends division leader Nebraska (6-2) heads to Michigan State as the only bowl-eligible Big Ten team ranked in the top 25. The Cornhuskers are No. 21 in the latest Associated Press poll and are, at this point, probably the best bet to provide an alternative to Wisconsin as the Big Ten representative in the Rose Bowl.