TODAY’S COLLEGE GAMES TO WATCH : GAME OF THE DAY

Michigan (4-0) at Michigan State (2-2) The Spartans will be without one of the country’s best running backs for this one. Lorenzo White, who appeared to be coming on this season after a rocky start, is out with a sprained knee. Bad week to go down. The Wolverines can now focus on Michigan State quarterback Dave Yarema. Poor Dave. The Wolverines, meanwhile, have tailback Jamie Morris back. And that pesky Jim Harbaugh is still throwing those winning passes.

THE MIDWEST Ohio State (3-2) at Indiana (4-0)

Same time last year, the Hoosiers were 4-0 and about to play Ohio State. The Buckeyes beat them, 48-7, and Indiana was never heard from again, finishing the season 4-7. But it’s different this year. This game will be at Bloomington, Ind., for one thing, and the Buckeyes aren’t as good, for another. What’s more, Indiana is better. It has five tailbacks who, as a group, lead the Big Ten in rushing. Still, Indiana hasn’t beaten Ohio State since 1951. There must be a reason for that.

Wisconsin (1-4) at Iowa (4-0) See if you can tell what Iowa Coach Hayden Fry means by this. “It is possible Mark Vlasic will play, but it’s possible he will not play.” There you have it. Anyway, does it matter? When the NCAA’s top-rated quarterback went down before last week’s game with Michigan State, third-string quarterback Tom Poholsky passed for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns. You could say it is possible Poholsky will play, but it’s possible he won’t. Iowa, by virtue of its victory over the Spartans, may be for real. But you won’t be able to tell by this game.

THE SOUTHWEST Oklahoma (3-1) vs. Texas at Dallas (2-1) TV: Channels 7 and 10, 12:30 p.m. PDT

ABC decided Friday to show this game in Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Barbara--rather than Miami vs. West Virginia. Texas has lost to Stanford, barely hung on to beat Missouri and then rallied with a fourth-quarter field goal to beat Rice. Had anybody ever imagined that the Longhorns could reach such depths? Answers Texas hater and Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth: “I never imagined, only hoped.” Perhaps because this game is shaping up as a relative mismatch for once, Bosworth is taking it relatively easy on the Longhorns, his favorite whipping boys. He did, however, describe any victory provided by a field goal as lowly. And in an aside, he said he “hates those damn cowbells.” Texas’ only chance to do better than last year’s 14-7 loss to the Sooners rests with quarterback Bret Stafford, who poses a few more problems than Todd Dodge did last year. On the other hand, Sooner quarterback Jamelle Holieway poses a few more problems than Troy Aikman did. Bosworth, for one, wants a decisive victory. Winning by 14-7 isn’t decisive. What is? “Sixty-three to nothing.”

THE SOUTH Auburn (4-0) at Vanderbilt (1-3)

Auburn is traveling for the first time this season. Apparently, it has to travel to find competition. Except for its rout of defending SEC champion Tennessee, Auburn has played host to a succession of Division I-AA teams. Vanderbilt is a step up. A teeny, tiny step. Vanderbilt won its first game last week with Tim Richardson taking over at quarterback. Said Auburn Coach Pat Dye: “Tim Richardson is a quicker and better runner than Mark Wratcher, but I don’t see any difference in their passing game.” Auburn may not notice, anyway. The Tigers have allowed just 28 points this season.

THE PACIFIC 10 Washington (3-1) at Stanford (4-0)

TV: WTBS, 4 p.m.

Stanford is off to its best start since 1952 but now faces one of the Pac-10’s toughest teams and certainly one of its shrewdest coaches. Washington’s Don James is already suggesting a game plan. He’s going to have his team draw a bead on Stanford quarterback John Paye. “People have really gone after Paye,” he said. “If you want to watch some hits, Paye has really taken them. Their offensive line has four new players from last year.” The game could develop into a defensive struggle. Stanford is second in the conference against the rush. Washington is first.