Six Games To Watch

SAN JOSE STATE at USC

3:30 p.m., FSN2

The Pete Carroll era begins with this testy opener against the Spartans, who are also breaking in a new coach. USC needed to score 22 unanswered points last year to pull off a 34-24 win at the Coliseum. All eyes will be on USC junior quarterback Carson Palmer, who gets to show his stuff under the tutelage of first-year offensive coordinator Norm Chow. San Jose State is led by Heisman candidate Deonce Whittaker, who averaged 7.0 yards a carry last season.

UCLA at ALABAMA

4:45 p.m., ESPN

The Bruins make their first trip to the state of Alabama with plans on wrecking the debut of first-year Crimson Tide Coach Dennis Franchione. Alabama fans have been waiting a year for revenge after last year’s 35-24 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl, a defeat that sent the then No. 3-ranked Tide reeling toward a 3-8 season. UCLA also stumbled, finishing 6-6, but returns 15 starters to a team that, top-to-bottom, may be the Pac-10’s most talented.

MIAMI at PENN STATE

5 p.m., No TV

Miami opens as a legitimate national title contender while Penn State is recoiling after a 5-7 finish, only the second losing season since Coach Joe Paterno took over in 1966. The Nittany Lions have to hope emotions can overcome the talent gap, and there will be plenty of adrenaline pumping in State College. Not only is Paterno seeking to tie Bear Bryant’s major college record of 323 victories, the game also will mark the return of Adam Taliaferro, paralyzed elast year against Ohio State. Taliaferro has regained use of his legs and will lead the Nittany Lions out of the tunnel.

WISCONSIN at OREGON

5 p.m., Ch. 7

The first step on the road to Pasadena for Oregon, or a cheesy defeat that deflates the preseason hype? A win on television will do wonders for Oregon’s national image, and the game is the Ducks’ to win. Wisconsin is down a bit and coming off a season-opening win against Virginia in which it lost two starters, including quarterback Brooks Bollinger. Bollinger is listed as day-to-day with a bruised liver. Oregon has won 20 consecutive games at Autzen Stadium.

OREGON STATE at FRESNO STATE

6:30 p.m. Sunday, ESPN2

Three years ago, you would have laughed at the suggestion this would be worth watching, but this game is full of intrigue. Oregon State enters with national title aspirations but may be in for a fight. Fresno State is coming off a 24-22 win over Colorado and folks in Raisin Town say this is the most anticipated home game in school history.

Also, you have to love Coach Pat Hill calling out the California Pac-10 schools for allegedly avoiding his team. Hill says UCLA and Cal opted out of the series while USC and Stanford “flat-out” refuse to play Fresno State.

COLORADO vs. COLORADO STATE

11:30 a.m., No TV

It’s a shame this game, being played in Denver, doesn’t rank among the top 24 rivalries as chosen by the College Football Hall of Fame--that 25-year hiatus until the series resumed in 1983 didn’t help--but you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bang-for-your-buck rivalry. Colorado still dominates the series, 53-17-2, but Colorado State has won the last two. The 1999 game ended with riots and a cloud of tear gas. Given that Colorado is coming off a 24-22 home loss to Fresno State, this is almost a must win for Coach Gary Barnett, looking to rebound from a 3-8 season.