College football on TV: What to watch Saturday

Each week our national college football writer describes how he would handle the television remote Saturday, handicapping what’s worth watching, and skipping:

MORNING

Eastern Michigan (1-2) at No.11 Michigan State (1-1)

9 a.m., Big Ten Network

Eastern Michigan’s pass offense ranks last nationally at 5.54 yards per completion. The Eagles of Ypsilanti also lost at Florida, 65-0. Looks as if the beleaguered Big Ten might pick up a win.

9 a.m.: Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, ESPN; Bowling Green at Wisconsin, ESPN2; Iowa at Pittsburgh, ESPNU; Western Illinois at Northwestern, ESPNews; Old Dominion at Rice, FS West; Troy at Georgia, SEC Network.

9:30 a.m.: Maryland at Syracuse, KDOC; Tulane at Duke, Prime.

11 a.m.: Hawaii at Colorado, Pac-12 Networks.

AFTERNOON

Florida (2-0) at No.3 Alabama (3-0)

12:30 p.m., Channel 2

East-division Florida tries to put a dent in the Southeastern Conference West. The SEC West has five teams ranked in the Associated Press top 10. Florida survived in triple overtime last week against Kentucky.

Virginia (2-1) at No. 21 Brigham Young (3-0)

12:30 p.m., ESPN

Virginia over BYU last year was one of the stranger results of the season, considering Virginia finished 2-10 and BYU finished 8-5 with wins over Texas, Georgia Tech and Boise State. BYU should be plenty motivated for revenge as the Cougars pursue an undefeated season.

Utah (2-0) at Michigan (2-1)

12:30 p.m., Channel 7

Brady Hoke’s job security as Michigan’s coach will be on the clock if he loses at home to a lower-echelon Pac-12 school. Wonder whether Hoke knows how much better Utah looks this year?

Mississippi State (3-0) at No. 8 Louisiana State (3-0)

4 p.m., ESPN

Bulldogs, don’t read this: Since falling behind Wisconsin in the opener, 24-7, LSU has gone on a 108-0 scoring tear. Coach Les Miles’ Tigers have consecutive shutouts and haven’t lost to Mississippi State since 1999. LSU won last year’s game in Starkville, 59-26.

12:30 p.m.: North Carolina at East Carolina, ESPNU; Texas A&M at Southern Methodist, ESPN2; Central Michigan at Kansas, FS West; Louisville at Florida International, FS1; Rutgers at Navy, CBSSN.

1 p.m.: Texas State at Illinois, ESPNews; Massachusetts at Penn State, BTN.

3 p.m.: Georgia State at Washington, Pac-12.

4 p.m.: Northern Illinois at Arkansas, ESPNU; Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati, CBSSN.

4:30 p.m.: Oklahoma at West Virginia, Channel 11; South Carolina at Vanderbilt, SECN.

EVENING

Miami (2-1) at No. 24 Nebraska (3-0)

5 p.m., ESPN2

It seems like forever ago that Miami crushed Nebraska to win the 2001 national title at the Rose Bowl. Miami has since moved from the Big East to the Atlantic Coast Conference and Nebraska left the Big 12 for the Big Ten. In the past decade, both iconic programs have been outperformed by Boise State. Here’s a chance to recapture some of the old magic.

No. 22 Clemson (1-1) at No.1 Florida State (3-0)

5 p.m., Channel 7

Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will sit out the first half after he embarrassed his school, again, by screaming profanities from a tabletop at the student union. How come schools never suspend players for the second half? It’s even better when you can get baseball to do your dirty work. That was the case last spring after Winston was caught shoplifting crab legs from a market. Winston, a pitcher for the Seminoles, was suspended by the baseball coach.

No. 2 Oregon (3-0) at Washington State (1-2)

7:30 p.m., ESPN

This game might take awhile. Last year, Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti ripped Washington State Coach Mike Leach for ordering quarterback Connor Halliday to pass 89 times in a lopsided defeat. Aliotti thought Washington State should have conceded defeat and run out the clock. Aliotti has since retired but Leach is still the Cougars’ coach and Halliday is his quarterback.

San Diego State (1-1) at Oregon State (2-0)

7:30 p.m., FS1

San Diego State has lost 15 straight games on the road against schools from Power Five conferences, but Oregon State has a bad habit of stumbling in early-season games. Last year, the Beavers lost to 1-AA Eastern Washington and, in 2011, it was Sacramento State. Oregon State needed three fourth-quarter touchdowns last year to pull out a 34-30 win at San Diego State.

7 p.m.: California at Arizona, Pac-12.

7:30 p.m.: Louisiana Lafayette at Boise State, CBSSN.