Viewers’ TV guide to college football

Morning

No. 3 Oklahoma (4-0) vs. No. 11 Texas (4-0)

9 a.m., Ch. 7

There’s nothing better than the smell of Cotton Bowl candy, deep-fried butter, the State Fair of Texas and two undefeated rivals. To think Bob Stoops said only weeks ago that the big Ferris Wheel Earth would still turn if the Texas-OU series were discontinued. But that was back when it appeared the Big 12 was headed toward divorce court. This is a series worth saving, and it’s great to see the conference is sticking together for the kids. Texas vs. Texas A&M, we fear, won’t be so lucky.

Midday

No. 17 Florida (4-1) at No. 1 Louisiana State (5-0)

12:30 p.m., Ch. 2

This Creole recipe for indigestion has Florida heading to Baton Rouge without a quarterback and top-ranked LSU suddenly having two. The Gators lost starter John Brantley to a high ankle sprain in last week’s loss to Alabama, and the Tigers welcomed back Jordan Jefferson. LSU was roaring along fine with Jarrett Lee while Jefferson was suspended for his role in a preseason bar fight. The trick for LSU Coach Les Miles is finding a role for Jefferson without messing with Lee’s head. But that’s why they call Miles “The Hat.”

No. 22 Arizona State (4-1) at Utah (2-2)

12:30 p.m., Prime

It’s not fair that Utah must break in a new quarterback against an Arizona State defense that features linebacker Vontaze Burfict, but no one said joining the Pac-12 would be easy. Utah is already 0-2 in the South Division and forced to play junior college transfer quarterback Jon Hayes in place of the injured Jordan Wynn. Arizona State, despite its own rash of injuries, is the team to beat in the South.

Afternoon

No. 15 Auburn (4-1) at No. 10 Arkansas (4-1)

4 p.m., ESPN

Auburn has no business being so relevant in October, but the Tigers obviously are still sponging off last year’s dream. Auburn has survived scrapes against Utah State, Mississippi State and South Carolina with its only blemish against Clemson. Arkansas got rolled at Alabama two weeks ago but rebounded nicely last week with a come-from-behind win over future SEC teammate Texas A&M.

Colorado (1-4) at No. 7 Stanford (4-0)

4:30 p.m., Versus

A rare chance to see Heisman Trophy candidate Andrew Luck before the sun goes down. Luck called many of his own plays in last week’s win against UCLA and can pretty much call the score in this Pac-12 North/South mismatch. Colorado hasn’t won a road game since 2007 and will be further weakened by the suspension of five players this week.

Evening

Ohio State (3-2) at No. 14 Nebraska (4-1)

5 p.m., Ch. 7

What the World Wide Leader hoped would be a Big Ten national title elimination game has devolved into a finger-food appetizer. Ohio State has gone off the rails with scandal, ineptness and bizarre statements from its president and needed a late touchdown last week against Michigan State to avoid being shut out at home for the first time since 1982. Nebraska’s dreams of a Big Red October were doused at Madison when Wisconsin wrecked the Cornhuskers’ Big Ten debut with a blowout win.

Washington State (3-1) at UCLA (2-3)

7:30 p.m., Prime

How long will the AD stick with the long-suffering coach? It has been a question asked for years by Washington State fans but now is being pondered by UCLA fans. Washington State’s Paul Wulff needs two wins to match his total in his first three years in Pullman. Has Wazzu finally turned a corner? This is another must-win on UCLA’s Rick Neuheisel’s quest to find the six wins he might need to keep his job.

Texas Christian (3-2) at San Diego State (3-1)

7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network

TCU woke up Thursday as a member of the Mountain West Conference with an agreement to join the Big East in 2012, and went to bed with an invitation from the Big 12. Another league switch would make six since 1995 for the Fort Worth wanderers: Southwest, Western Athletic, Conference USA, Mountain West, Big East and Big 12. Just call them TCU-Haul. San Diego State hasn’t jumped conferences since it left the WAC for the Mountain West.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com