Former Bucs coaches Dirk Koetter, Jeff Tedford face off at Boise State
Former Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter told reporters he was playing golf three times a week before Boise State fired its offensive coordinator. Koetter accepted the role at a program he led from 1998-2000, and his offense scored 35 second-half points in last week’s win over San Diego State. This week, he’ll go up against Fresno State and coach Jeff Tedford, who was briefly a Bucs assistant, with the Milk Can Trophy at stake.
Viewing guide
Lamest time window: Late. The primetime slate is good, not great, and the graveyard shift doesn’t move the needle much.
Noon: Prepare to flip between No. 8 Tennessee at No. 25 LSU (ESPN) or No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas (FS1). Texas-Oklahoma (ABC) is always worth monitoring, too, even if it doesn’t deserve top billing.
2:30: USF desperately needs a good first half and some momentum as four-touchdown underdogs at No. 24 Cincinnati (ESPN+).
3:30: Beating No. 11 Utah will tell us that Chip Kelly and the No. 18 Bruins are for real (Fox).
4: How will Miami respond from the Middle Tennessee State loss against North Carolina (ESPN2)?
7:30: Washington State will be arguably the biggest test so far for No. 6 USC (Fox).
8: Florida State has traditionally struggled in Raleigh but has a solid chance of upsetting No. 14 North Carolina State (ACC Network).
11: Not that Stanford needs any more signs that things aren’t working, but losing at home to Oregon State (ESPN) would be another.
Auburn watch
The Bryan Harsin situation at Auburn is beyond uncomfortable; every game feels like it could be his last. But it seriously might finally be the end if No. 2 Georgia blows his team out. The Bulldogs won by 24 points last year and have five consecutive victories in the Deep South’s oldest rivalry.
Remember the Jimbo-Saban feud?
It happened in the offseason, when Alabama coach Nick Saban accused Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher of buying every player in his top-ranked recruiting class. Fisher didn’t like it and suggested Saban has some skeletons in his closet. Anyway, they meet Saturday night in a game that has lost its sizzle thanks to the Aggies’ unimpressive 3-2 record.
‘GameDay’ breakdown
Just as we all expected in July, TCU at Kansas is the biggest game of the day. Expect a lot of scoring. Both teams rank in the top 12 nationally in points, and both have good quarterbacks. The Jayhawks’ Jalon Daniels is in the early Heisman Trophy conversation as the team’s leader in passing (983 yards, 11 touchdowns) and rushing (335 yards, five touchdowns). TCU’s Max Duggan is one of only two players with at least 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions (Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel is the other). Ignore the fact that neither team is a big brand. Enjoy a fun matchup.
Clemson nearing milestone
The No. 5 Tigers answered some questions with last week’s impressive win over North Carolina State and shouldn’t have an issue with Boston College. A win would be the 750th regular-season victory in program history and give Clemson a 6-0 start for the seventh time in eight seasons. FSU hosts the Tigers next week.
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