TODAY’S COLLEGE GAMES TO WATCH

GAME OF THE DAY Notre Dame (0-1) at Michigan State (0-1) TV: Channels 2 and 8, 11:30 a.m. PDT

The Irish, rebuilding under Coach Lou Holtz, nearly upset Michigan last week. But the fun of that game was the multiple-formation offense Holtz has put in. For once, Notre Dame was entertaining in defeat. Steve Beuerlein even got to throw 33 passes. That’s a lot for Holtz. The Spartans, who also lost a close one in their opener, got some unexpected passing as well. Dave Yarema, who is supposed to call running plays, completed 26 of 33 passes for 258 yards. Of course, the Spartans would have been in trouble if he hadn’t. Last year’s leading ground gainer, Lorenzo White, was held to just 61 yards by Arizona State.

THE SOUTH Alabama (3-0) at Florida (1-1) All-American Alabama linebacker Cornelius Bennett, who missed the first three games, will finally start one. Not good news for Florida. In the Gators’ loss, Miami sacked quarterback Kerwin Bell six times. It’ll be worse if somebody doesn’t get in the way of Bennett and fellow linebacker Derrick Thomas. If Bell remains upright, it will be a nice study of two fine quarterbacks. Alabama has a fine thrower in Mike Shula, even though Coach Ray Perkins favors a grind-it-out offense--two runs for every pass. But, oh, those runs; Gene Jelks is averaging 7.6 yards a carry. Alabama has never lost in Gainesville.

THE PACIFIC 10 Brigham Young (2-0) at Washington (1-0) Another one of those revenge games. The Huskies are still seething over the 31-3 whipping the Cougars put on them last year. “It wasn’t a lot of fun,” Washington Coach Don James recalled. Even though the Huskies get to face a new BYU quarterback, fifth-year senior Steve Lindsley, this one doesn’t figure to be a walk in the park either. Lindsley, in the tradition of BYU throwers, has completed 67.5% of his passes for 730 yards and 5 touchdowns. “I don’t think 24-year-old quarterbacks should be allowed to play,” James has decided. BYU, which may be without receiver Dave Miles, had to come from behind to beat New Mexico last week, 31-30.

SMU (1-0) at Arizona State (1-0) The Mustangs are without a freshman class because of NCAA probation, which fails to stir sympathy in Arizona State Coach John Cooper. “They didn’t go on probation for nothing,” he said. Anyway, SMU did OK with what it had last week, beating Rice, 45-3. The Mustangs had 514 yards in total offense, including 266 passing from Bobby Watters and 132 rushing from Jeff Atkins. The Sun Devils bottled Michigan State’s touted Lorenzo White last week, though. On offense, tailback Darryl Harris carried for 89 yards.

THE MIDWEST Nebraska (1-0) at Illinois (1-1) TV: WTBS, 4 p.m. PDT

Cornhusker Coach Tom Osborne dares opponents to try to stop option quarterback Steve Taylor, who rushed for 139 yards in the opener two weeks ago. That’s because Osborne has tailback Keith Jones trailing Taylor out of the backfield. “There’s a guy who can probably run a 9.4 100-yard dash,” Osborne says. “He’s the Big Eight sprint champ, so if he get in the open, it’s going to be lights out.” Illinois has its own Keith Jones, who gained 25 yards in last week’s 31-16 loss to USC. Nebraska’s Jones gained 67 yards starting in place of injured Doug DuBose.

Minnesota (1-0) at Oklahoma (1-0) Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer said: “Minnesota is physically much better prepared to play us than UCLA was.” Good thing, because college football will be outlawed if there are many more games like the Sooners’ 38-3 rout of the Bruins. What Switzer means is that the Minnesota line averages just 20 pounds lighter a man in match-ups. That’s better than match-ups with UCLA’s linemen, who were outweighed 40 pounds a man.

THE EAST Penn State (1-0) vs. Boston College (1-1) TV: ESPN, 4:30 p.m. PDT

Mark Kamphaus is Boston College’s third starting quarterback this season, so you have an idea of the problems here. The Eagles don’t fly too well. Penn State isn’t likely to let BC play as close last year when the Lions eked out a four-point win. Penn State’s Joe Paterno is, of course, concerned. He’s worried about a two-week layoff, but then, Paterno worries about everything.