COLLEGE FOOTBALL : TODAY’S GAMES TO WATCH

EAST

* NO. 3 NOTRE DAME (5-1) at PITTSBURGH (3-3-1)

TV: ESPN, 5 p.m., PDT.

The disappointing Panthers could be catching the Irish at an opportune time. Fresh off its victory against Miami, Notre Dame might suffer a letdown. That might be Pitt’s only chance. Notre Dame is using flanker Raghib (Rocket) Ismail more each week. Quarterback Rick Mirer still makes an occasional mistake, but for the most part, the sophomore has performed well in his first season as the Irish starter. Notre Dame’s pass defense continues to be error-prone, but overall, the Irish are tough when it counts. They have allowed only 137 points. Pitt can boast the nation’s leading punter in Brian Greenfield but not much else. Quarterback Alex Van Pelt leads an offense that has been hurt by inconsistency.

MIDWEST

* NO. 20 MICHIGAN (3-3) at INDIANA (4-1-1)

The Wolverines have lost two games in a row and face an Indiana team that is averaging 34.8 points a game. The Hoosiers are also allowing only 12.7 points a game, eighth-best in the nation. With two Big Ten losses, Michigan isn’t likely to win a trip to Pasadena this season. However, a major bowl still is within reach if the Wolverines win the rest of their games. Tailback Jon Vaughn leads the country in rushing but was held to 86 yards by Iowa last Saturday. Michigan has won nine of the last 10 games against Indiana, but the Hoosiers could cause problems this time. Tailback Vaughn Dunbar gives the Hoosiers a solid running game.

* MINNESOTA (4-2) at OHIO STATE (3-2-1)

After upsetting Indiana last week, the Golden Gophers go for their fourth Big Ten victory, which would keep them atop the conference standings, alone or in a tie. Minnesota’s defense is the key. Strong safety Sean Lumpkin played well against Indiana and cornerback Derek Fisher leads the conference in passes broken up. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes will be without Coach John Cooper, who is recovering from back surgery. Offensive coordinator Jim Colletto will take Cooper’s place. Ohio State beat Purdue by 40 points last Saturday.

* NO. 22 OKLAHOMA (5-2) at COLORADO (6-1-1)

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

The Buffaloes seem to get better every week, especially now that quarterback Darian Hagan’s shoulder is healed and tailback Eric Bieniemy is finding room to run. Bieniemy keeps breaking Colorado rushing records almost on a weekly basis. He leads the nation in running yardage (1,040) and is second in average yards a game (148.6). The Buffalo defense hasn’t allowed a team to rush for more than 100 yards in each of its last three games. A victory is vital for Colorado if it plans to keep pace with Nebraska, which also enters today’s play undefeated in the Big Eight. The Sooners are reeling. They have lost two consecutive games and were hurt by turnovers in last Saturday’s upset by Iowa State. The same problem hampered them during their loss to Texas a week earlier.

WEST

* CALIFORNIA (5-2) at NO. 7 WASHINGTON (6-1)

The Huskies are the prohibitive favorites to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, and for good reason. It’s hard to find a more balanced team than Washington. It has beaten opponents with a defense that has allowed only 98 points in seven games and an offense that, among Pac-10 teams, is second only to Oregon in points scored. Cal counters with a potent offense of its own, featuring quarterback Mike Pawlawski and tailbacks Anthony Wallace and Russell White. Cal has scored the same number of points as Washington--217--but has allowed 121 more. A Cal victory would mean a first-place tie in the Pac-10 between the Huskies and the Bears.

SOUTHWEST

* BAYLOR (3-3-1) at NO. 24 TEXAS CHRISTIAN (5-1)

Sophomore quarterback Leon Clay, ranked eighth nationally in passing, is the main reason the Horned Frogs are undefeated in the Southwest Conference. Surprising TCU has an outside chance of earning a Cotton Bowl bid, but it will have to survive the toughest part of its schedule, which begins today against the Bears, traditionally a strong defensive team. TCU then faces Houston, Texas Tech, Texas and Texas A&M.;

SOUTH

* PENN STATE (4-2) at ALABAMA (3-3)

TV: ESPN, 2 p.m., PDT.

This is the last game of a series that began in 1981. The last time Penn State beat Alabama was four years ago in Tuscaloosa. Running back Leroy Thompson leads the Nittany Lions with 349 yards and seven touchdowns. Tony Sacca has passed for only one touchdown and has thrown six interceptions. Alabama has quarterback Gary Hollingsworth, but the senior hasn’t been able to duplicate his success of a season ago. Instead, the Crimson Tide has won two of its last three games because of a solid defensive effort, allowing only 12 points. A victory today is a must for Alabama if it wants to go to a bowl.