There is a corny saying that college football coaches like to use that goes something like this: They remember what you did in November.
The first weekend of November features a light slate of big games, another marquee matchup in Atlantic Coast Conference that could get ugly and a Big Ten rivalry that has been turned upside down in recent years.
Five things to know about in Week 10 of the college football season.
SUNSHINE STATE BEATDOWN? Miami-Florida State games bring back a rush of great college football memories. Wide Right. Wide Left. Games filled with future NFL players and Heisman Trophy winners. This latest matchup of the Hurricanes and Seminoles will be the first since 2003 in which both teams are ranked in the top 10 deep into the season. But while it’s clearly the most interesting game of the weekend in terms of rankings (Florida State is No. 3 and Miami is No. 7) and brand names, that 21½-point spread hints that another Seminoles’ blowout similar to the 51-14 beating it put on Clemson is very possible in a matchup of a good team (Miami) versus an elite team (Florida State).
LITTLE BROTHER: In 2007, after Michigan beat Michigan State for the sixth straight time, Wolverines star tailback Mike Hart referred to the Spartans as the little brother of the rivalry. Well, the little brother has grown up and has been taking it to big bro lately. The Spartans ripped off four straight victories after that 2007 game, matching Michigan State’s longest winning streak in a long-running series that has mostly been dominated by Michigan (68-32-5). Michigan snapped that streak last year with a 12-10 victory. Expect something similar this season. Michigan State’s defense is one of the best in the nation and both teams have offensive issues.
RESTING AND GETTING READY: There are only 14 games, including Thursday night’s matchup between No. 25 Arizona State at Washington State, involving ranked teams this week, the fewest of any week so far this season. Why? Well, the calendar broke in a way that put an extra week in the college football season this year and it’s allowed some teams to have as many as three open dates. Plenty of top teams are taking advantage of that by getting a little extra rest before huge games next week. On Thursday, Nov. 7, No. 2 Oregon is at No. 6 Stanford and No. 5 Baylor hosts No. 13 Oklahoma. Then on Nov. 9, No. 1 Alabama faces No. 11 LSU.
LAS VEGAS BOWLING: Among the 17 FBS teams that can reach six wins this week is UNLV (5-3). The Rebels host Mountain West Conference rival San Jose State (4-3). A victory makes UNLV bowl-eligible. The Rebels haven’t played in a postseason game since the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.
ARMY GROUNDING AIR FORCE: Since 1989, Army has beaten Air Force just three times, including last season’s 41-21 victory at West point, N.Y. The Cadets (3-5) are trying to make it two straight against the struggling Falcons (1-7) in Colorado on Saturday. Army’s last winning streak against Air Force came when it won three straight from 1976-78. The Falcons, already assured of their first consecutive losing seasons under seventh-year coach Troy Calhoun, haven’t started a season this poorly since going 0-8 in 1979. Their first victory that season came against Army.