TODAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

GAME OF THE DAY

FLORIDA AT MIAMI Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson, who took some heat for his players’ flamboyance last year, is being mentioned for NFL coaching jobs. Already. If those reports are true, he may be disappointed to find that some pro teams are not as well stocked as this college one. Despite the departure of Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde, this Miami team is one of the best in the country. The defense has eight starters back, including Bennie Blades, who had 10 interceptions, and All-American lineman Dan Stubbs. Dan Sileo, who teamed with Stubbs to account for 44 sacks last season, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA Friday because he already has been a full-time college student for five seasons. Steve Walsh won’t make anyone forget Testaverde at quarterback, but running back Melvin Bratton and wide receiver Michael Irvin will divert some attention from him. The only really new look for the Hurricanes will be sartorial. After some players embarrassed the university by sporting contra wear at a Fiesta Bowl function, the school issued dress guidelines. The players now are expected to remove their hats when entering an elevator. Florida, meanwhile, presents quarterback Kerwin Bell, the game’s best-kept secret. Off TV and out of bowls because of NCAA sanctions against his school, Bell has nevertheless passed for 5,816 yards. Observers of this rivalry may recall that Bell outpassed Testaverde last year in the Hurricanes’ closest regular-season game, although Miami won, 23-15.

THE PACIFIC 10

STANFORD AT WASHINGTON

Washington hardly ever opens the season with a conference game, probably with good reason. The last time the Huskies tried it was 1978 and they lost to UCLA, kicking off a rare bowl-less season. Washington, which has been in bowl games after each of the eight seasons since, is coming off an 8-3-1 season, and Stanford, which made a Gator Bowl trip last season, is coming off an 8-4 showing. Washington showcases quarterback Chris Chandler, who threw a school-record 20 touchdown passes last season. Stanford shows off Brad Muster, a versatile back, who was the Pac-10 offensive player of the year. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards and caught 61 passes for 565 more. An interesting statistic: Stanford is 12-4 when Muster carries the ball 20 times or more, 3-11 when he carries it fewer times. This game will be played in the expanded Husky Stadium, where seating capacity has grown from 59,800 to 72,500. But Stanford has this advantage: Greg Ennis is not the usual Stanford quarterback and will be running an offense that will look more like an option. Washington’s films of this team won’t help.

THE SOUTH

TEXAS AT AUBURN David McWilliams, who replaced a coach fired after winning just 86 games in 10 years at Texas, may be in for a rude awakening. Auburn, though without running back Brent Fullwood or anybody like him, is not expected to be much worse than last season, when the Tigers finished 10-2. Quarterback Jeff Burger returns, as do receivers Freddy Weygand, Walter Reeves and Lawyer Tillman. Nine starters return from defense, the country’s No. 2 against scoring. This is a tough opener for Texas, which dropped to 5-6 in Fred Akers’ final year. McWilliams, who returns to his alma mater after an impressive stint at Texas Tech, will be looking to quarterback Bret Stafford, a good passer and dangerous scrambler, to bail him out.

THE SOUTHWEST

LSU AT TEXAS A&M; Mike Archer, the youngest head coach in major college football at 34, could age some in his LSU debut. Said Texas A&M; Coach Jackie Sherrill: “If I was Mike, I’d be anxious.” Dialing up the anxiety level will be a sturdy A&M; team, even without quarterback Kevin Murray, the Southwest Conference’s offensive player of the year. Murray, amid rumors that he had taken illegal aid, chose to give up his final year of eligibility. Still, there is running back Keith Woodside, who may be the team’s best receiver as well as best runner. But don’t despair for Archer. He has almost the entire offensive team back, including quarterback Tommy Hodson, who broke into the lineup as a freshman last year. Still, the Aggies haven’t lost at home in 14 games. And the Aggies, who had national championship aspirations at the start of last season, won’t forget how LSU routed them in the opener.

Complete Schedule: PAGE 16.