COLLEGE FOOTBALL : TODAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

GAME OF THE DAY Michigan (0-0) at Notre Dame (0-0)

TV: Channels 7 and 10, 12:30 p.m. PDT

Notre Dame needs a miracle for this one but has Lou Holtz instead. Is that enough? Or is it the same? The Irish have a new coach and a new outlook, but they have the same team that finished the season under Gerry Faust with three straight defeats. Michigan, which was unbeaten in its last six games, brings Jim Harbaugh, the nation’s most efficient passer, and running back Jamie Morris. And the Michigan defense was ranked No. 2 last season. If Holtz really is a miracle worker, it will probably be in some prospect’s living room during recruiting season, not on the field this week.

THE SOUTH Texas Tech (1-0) at Miami (2-0)

Texas Tech threw a record 55 passes last week in its opener under Coach David McWilliams, a former defensive coordinator. That’s the same number Miami star Vinny Testaverde has thrown in two games. Testaverde, although he has completed 29 of his throws, is off to a somewhat slow start. He looked particularly mortal in last week’s 23-15 victory over Florida, throwing a pair of interceptions. A complicating factor in this game is that Miami might be looking ahead to Oklahoma. The Hurricanes will play the Sooners Sept. 27 in the game many believe will provide the national champion. “We can’t afford to think about that right now,” Testaverde said. “We’ve got to get past Texas Tech before we can worry about Oklahoma.”

THE PACIFIC 10 Ohio State (0-1) at Washington (0-0)

TV: Channels 2 and 8, 11:30 a.m. PDT

In last month’s 16-10 loss to Alabama, Ohio State quarterback Jim Karsatos threw two interceptions, Pat O’Morrow missed two field goals and a third try was botched on the snap, and fullback George Cooper fumbled the ball way away on first down at the Crimson Tide nine. If the Buckeyes have not improved, Coach Earle Bruce said, they are headed for “Disasterville.” Interim stop: Seattle. There the Buckeyes must stop Husky quarterback Chris Chandler and defend against Washington’s option play.

Stanford (0-0) at Texas (0-0) “I’m not sure how seriously they’ll take us,” said Stanford Coach Jack Elway, apparently kidding himself. You can be sure that Texas will be taking Stanford seriously. Last year, when these teams met in the opener, the Longhorns just squeezed by the Cardinal, 38-34. And Stanford, if not Texas, is better this season. Stanford has quarterback John Paye back, and Paye threw for 2,589 yards last season. “I do think John Paye is one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in the country,” Texas Coach Fred Akers said.

Michigan State (0-0) at Arizona State (0-0)

TV: WTBS, 7:15 p.m. PDT

Maybe in the year since Michigan State beat Arizona State, 12-3, the Sun Devils have figured out how to stop the Spartans’ Lorenzo White. He ran wild last season, gaining 174 yards in 39 carries. Of course, White gained a lot of yards against a lot of teams. He finished his sophomore season with 1,908 yards, most in the country. “I expect Lorenzo White to carry the ball 30 to 40 times,” ASU Coach John Cooper said. “They do a lot of motion and shifting, but they still pitch the ball back to Lorenzo. He’s about three-fourths of their offense.”

TODAY’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE, PAGE 12