Ohio State draws what should be an easy assignment at home against Eastern Michigan, while Akron travels to Indiana and Bowling Green takes on No. 21 Michigan.
View full sizeBowling Green will try to slow down Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, above.Division I
No. 2 Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium, Columbus.
TV/radio: WEWS Channel 5; WKNR AM/850.
Notable: The Buckeyes needed to fill out the schedule with another home date before opening Big Ten play next week at Illinois. EMU, which has lost its past 15 games, needed an $850,000 check to underwrite its athletic program. Ohio State's third- and fourth-teamers should get a lot of work.
Next for OSU: Oct. 2 at Illinois, noon.
Akron at Indiana
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
TV/radio: Big Ten Network; WARF AM/1350, WHK AM/1420.
Notable: The Zips (0-3) have been thumped by bad teams (Syracuse, Gardner-Webb, Kentucky) and face another projected cellar-dweller in Indiana (2-0). IU looks has wins over winless Western Kentucky and Towson State of the Football Championship Subdivision. Akron RBs Alex Allen (158 yards rushing, 3 TDs) and Nate Burney (179 yards rushing) will try to keep the Zips in the game. Zips QB Patrick Nicely is 30-of-75 passing for 333 yards and one TD with one INT this season. His favorite target has been WR Jeremy LaFrance (15 catches for 186 yards, 1 TD). The Zips have four sacks and have caused six turnovers this season, and could use a few more to put some pressure on the Hoosiers.
Next for Akron: Oct. 2 vs. Northern Illinois, 6 p.m.
Bowling Green at No. 21 Michigan
Kickoff: Noon Saturday at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Mich.
TV: ESPN2.
Notable: BG (1-2) will be starting backup quarterback Aaron Pankratz against the Wolverines (3-0) as starter Matt Schilz is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury. Pankratz came off the bench last week and passed for 111 yards (1 TD, 1 INT) to lock down BG's first win of the season, a 44-28 decision over Marshall. BG will need a strong running game from Willie Geter (243 yards, 2 TD), to keep Michigan's offense off the field. The Wolverines feature Heisman Trophy candidate Denard Robinson, who has rushed for 559 yards and four TDs, and thrown for 671 yards and four TDs.
Next for Bowling Green: Oct. 2 vs. Buffalo, 3:30 p.m.
Toledo at Purdue
Kickoff: Noon Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: Big Ten Network.
Notable: Toledo (2-1, 2-0 Mid-American Conference) is last in the conference in total offense (221.0 ypg.) and near the bottom in defense (372.3 ypg., 5.2 yards per play) despite playing just one quality team (Arizona) so far this season. Purdue (2-1) appears vulnerable after struggling to hold off MAC cellar-dweller Ball State, 24-13, last week.
Next for Toledo: Oct. 2 vs. Wyoming, 7 p.m.
Miami (Ohio) at Missouri
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday at Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
Notable: Miami (2-1, 1-0), the most surprising team in the MAC so far, takes on Missouri (3-0), which has won 20 straight nonconference games. The challenge for the RedHawks will be containing sophomore QB Blaine Gabbert (88-of-120, 852 yards, 4 TDs). Miami's defense is second in the MAC (280.0 ypg) and is particularly strong against the run (55.3 ypg). The defense has forced 10 turnovers. RedHawks QB Zac Dysert showed signs against Colorado State (18-of-22, 231 yds., 3 TDs, 0 INTs) that he is coming out of an early-season funk.
Next for Miami: Oct. 2 vs. Kent State, 1 p.m.
Ohio at Marshall
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Edwards Stadium, Huntington, W.Va.
Notable: OU (1-2, 0-1), the defending MAC East champion, faces an 0-3 team that is not only a nearby rival, but is coming off a stunning loss at Bowling Green. The Bobcats have their own issues, primarily on offense, as no starting quarterback has emerged -- Boo Jackson (29-of-47, 303 yards, 3 TDs) leads the team in passing; Phil Bates leads the team with 101 yards rushing.
Next for Ohio: Oct. 2 at Eastern Michigan, noon.
Division II
Lake Erie at No. 12 Hillsdale
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Frank Waters Stadium, Hillsdale, Mich.
Radio: WFUN AM/970.
Notable: Lake Erie (0-3, 0-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) will play its second straight road game and plays a nationally ranked foe (Hillsdale 2-1, 1-1)for the first time. The Storm is coming off a 49-17 defeat at Saginaw Valley State. Junior QB Sean Bedevelsky (Brunswick) surpassed the 5,000-yard mark passing for his career last week. He needs 39 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for his career. Junior wingback David Romeo (Eastlake North) has 11 receptions in his past two games and is just 2 yards from reaching 2,000 all-purpose yards. Hillsdale defeated Ashland last week, 27-17, to rebound from a 44-41 road loss to top-ranked Grand Valley State the previous week. Storm coaches will participate in the Coach to Cure MD campaign Saturday to help raise awareness and funds for muscular dystrophy research. Fans can text "CURE" to 90999 to make a one-time $5 donation.
Next for Lake Erie: Oct. 2 vs. Ferris State, 1 p.m.
NAIA
Notre Dame College at Taylor
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Jim Wheeler Memorial Stadium, Upland, Ind.
Radio: WWGK AM/1540
Notable: Notre Dame (1-3) takes on one of the top passing teams in NAIA football: Taylor comes into the game ranked ninth in the nation at 284.0 passing ypg. The Trojans threw for a school-record 418 yards in their season-opening 42-20 win Sept. 2. In four games, NDC has improved offensively in each one, posting 127, 191, 233 and 324 yards of total offense. Last week against NAIA No. 10 Walsh, RB Pedro Powell and WR Derrick Paster (Berea) notched the program's first 100-yard rushing and receiving games, respectively.
Next for NDC: Oct. 2 at Central State, 1:30 p.m.
Division III
Case Western Reserve vs. Denison
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Case Field, Cleveland.
Notable: CWRU (2-0) is coming off its bye week. The Spartans scored a last-minute touchdown to defeat Rochester, 14-10, in Week 2 and have won 33 consecutive regular-season games. Senior QB Joey Baum (Walsh Jesuit) has thrown for 480 yards and four touchdowns. Senior WR Zach Homyk has been Baum's favorite target, hauling in 19 receptions for 252 yards and two scores. Junior LB Jacob Adams has paced the Spartans with 27 tackles, and junior end Richard Doolin has a team-best three sacks. Denison is 3-0 for the first time since 1990 but has not defeated the Spartans since 2004. The game is Heritage and Fireworks Night, with Case wearing throwback uniforms and a postgame fireworks show.
Next for Case: Oct. 2 vs. Allegheny, 1 p.m. (homecoming).
John Carroll vs. Marietta
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday at Don Shula Stadium, University Heights.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio (tape delay at 11); WJCU FM/88.7.
Notable: John Carroll (0-2, 0-1 Ohio Athletic Conference) tries to avoid an 0-3 start for the first time since 1986. The Blue Streaks are 21-0-1 against Marietta. JCU has four of the top five tacklers in the OAC, led by Jonathan Cooley with 27. Marietta features dual-threat quarterback Andrew Keller, who is seventh in the OAC in rushing (56.0 ypg.) and sixth in passing (128.5 ypg).
Next for John Carroll: Oct. 2 at Otterbein, 1:30 p.m.
No. 2 Mount Union at Wilmington
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Williams Stadium, Wilmington, Ohio
Radio: WDPN AM/1310, WRMU FM/91.1.
Notable: Mount Union (2-0, 1-0 OAC) beat John Carroll, 51-7, last week. Sophomore QB Neal Seaman completed 20-of-25 passes for 260 yards with three touchdown passes. The win was Mount's 45th straight regular-season victory, the nation's longest streak. All-American WR Cecil Shorts III (Collinwood) had five catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Wilmington (0-2, 0-1) has scored seven points in both of its losses.
Next for Mount: Oct. 2 vs. Ohio Northern, 1:30 p.m.
Information from the college sports information departments was used in these preview capsules.