This week’s Stanford-California is a Big Game, indeed

1: The Big Game. Stanford at California has huge BCS implications for the Cardinal, still looking to earn a major bowl bid with an 11-1 finish: Problem: Cal has won two straight in the rivalry and seven of the last eight.

2: Boise State needs a home win over Fresno State on Friday to set up a showdown at Nevada on Nov. 26. Fresno State had a late lead on Nevada on Saturday in Fresno before losing, 35-34.

3: Ohio State at Iowa was the preseason game of the year in the Big Ten, but the teams meet in Iowa City with a combined four defeats. One-loss Ohio State may get squeezed out of the league title but, at 11-1, would be an attractive BCS at-large candidate.

4: Virginia Tech continues its remarkable recovery from its 0-2 start with an important Atlantic Coast Conference game at Miami. The Hokies (8-2) own a two-game lead in the Coastal Division with two games to play.

5: Just for fun, check out Georgia State at Alabama on Thursday night, the matchup of a first-year program coached by former Alabama coach Bill Curry against the defending BCS champions. Georgia State is 6-4 in its first year, soon to be 6-5.