COLLEGE FOOTBALL : TODAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

NONCONFERENCE

* BAYLOR (0-0) at NEBRASKA (0-0)

TV: ESPN, 4:30 p.m., PDT.

Nebraska features a defense that includes seven returning starters, notably linebacker Mike Croel, who is as skilled a linebacker as there is in college football, and preseason All-Americans Reggie Cooper, a safety, and Pat Tyrance, a linebacker. Leodis Flowers becomes the full-time starter at I-back, where he averaged 7.5 yards a carry in 1989. Baylor boasts a solid defense--the best in the Southwest Conference--but its offense remains suspect. The Bears have switched to the I-formation veer, the same offense Baylor Coach Grant Teaff used in 1972, his first year at the school.

* TEXAS A&M; (0-0) AT HAWAII (0-0)

TV: ESPN, 1 p.m., PDT.

The Aggies had better not expect this to be a beach party. Hawaii has the best defensive unit and the best defensive player, linebacker Mark Odom, in the Western Athletic Conference. Also back is running back Jamal Farmer, who as a freshman scored 18 touchdowns--an NCAA record--and gained 986 yards. This is the same team that beat BYU last year, 56-14. Texas A&M;, with 16 returning starters, is favored to win the SWC title.

* DUKE (0-0) AT SOUTH CAROLINA (0-0)

Duke lost Coach Steve Spurrier to Florida, but not much else. The offense, one of the best in the nation last year, returns nearly intact. Junior running back Randy Cuthbert had a 1,000-yard season and caught 50 passes. The Gamecocks finished 6-4-1 in 1989 but will start this season with a new quarterback and a suspect defense.

* LOUISVILLE (0-0) AT SAN JOSE STATE (0-0)

TV: SportsChannel, 6 p.m., PDT.

The Cardinals, who have postseason aspirations, get a fair test in San Jose State. Quarterback Browning Nagle heads 15 returning starters for Howard Schnellenberger’s Louisville team. Nagle threw for more than 2,500 yards last season, his first as a full-time starter. San Jose, now coached by Terry Shea, has tailback Sheldon Canley, who rushed for 1,201 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

* BRIGHAM YOUNG (0-0) at TEXAS EL PASO (0-0)

Quarterback Ty Detmer begins his run at the Heisman Trophy. He shouldn’t have much trouble with UTEP, which lost 28 players from last year’s team. BYU’s only problem might be the defense, which gave up an average of more than 400 yards and 26 points last year.