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EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

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CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel breaks down this week's games.

Week Three
		Rutgers (1-0)	4 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 1 Miami (1-0)	• Game preview • Rutgers team page • Miami team page
The Setup	The newly anointed No. 1 'Canes make their home opener following a 33-7 win at Penn State. They'll see a familiar face across the way in former defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, Rutgers' head coach.
The Plan	Schiano is well versed in Miami coach Larry Coker's offense, but it might not help much. Miami is loaded with more athletic ability at every position, and will be able to maximize it most on the ground, where mammoth lineman Bryant McKinnie helps clear gaping holes for RB Clinton Portis (17 carries, 164 yards).
The Man	Ryan Cubit, QB, Rutgers A steep challenge for the freshman, who went 11-of-23 for 157 yards, 2 TDs and two INTs against Buffalo.
The Call	Miami, 52-10
		La.-Monroe (0-1)	6:30 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 2 Florida (1-0)	• Game preview • La.-Monroe team page • Florida team page
The Setup	This could get ugly. The Gators are coming off a 49-14 thumping of normally respectable Marshall. Louisiana-Monroe started with a 20-9 defeat at the hands of mighty Sam Houston State.
The Plan	Florida will obviously use this game to fine tune some things before Tennessee arrives next week. The first string will be gone by halftime, if not earlier. QB Rex Grossman (20-of-30, 375 yards, 3 TDs) was sensational against Marshall, but also solid Brock Berlin (5-of-8, 58) will get his chance again as well.
The Man	Andra Davis, LB, Florida Looks better than ever despite missing nearly all of all last season with a knee injury.
The Call	Florida, 70-6
		North Texas (0-1)	7:30 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 3 Oklahoma (2-0)	• Game preview • North Texas team page • Oklahoma team page
The Setup	The Sooners finally get a true cupcake after games against North Carolina and Air Force. The "Mean" Green managed just 129 yards in a 19-5 loss to TCU and now face perhaps the nation's finest defense.
The Plan	The more game experience the better for Oklahoma QB Nate Hybl (34-of-60, 313 yards), who enters his third start. Between Hybl, his receivers and RB Quentin Griffin (134.5 yards per game), points won't be hard to come by for the Sooners. Anything above a shutout will be a pleasant surprise for pitiful North Texas.
The Man	Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma The highly touted true freshman has lived up to billing in action thus far.
The Call	Oklahoma, 51-3
		North Carolina (0-2)	Noon EDT Saturday (ABC)
		No. 4 Texas (1-0)	• Game preview • North Carolina team page • Texas team page
The Setup	Things just get harder for John Bunting and the Tar Heels. Texas coach Mack Brown will be facing his former team, but few players remain from his last (1997) UNC squad.
The Plan	Longhorns QB Chris Simms (17-of-33, 182 yards) got off to a good start against New Mexico State, and he has a solid offensive line to contend with UNC sack master Julius Peppers. The Heels have been anemic on offense, where senior QB Ronald Curry has been awful (11-of-27, 135 yards, 2 INTs).
The Man	Willie Parker, RB, North Carolina UNC's sole glimmer of hope on offense had 102 yards on 13 carries against Maryland.
The Call	Texas, 34-7
		No. 17 Notre Dame (0-0)	8 p.m. EDT Saturday (ABC)
		No. 5 Nebraska (2-0)	• Game preview • Notre Dame team page • Nebraska team page
The Setup	In a rematch of their overtime thriller last year -- which the Huskers won 27-24 -- Nebraska has two wins under its belt already but its normally dominant offense has looked shaky. The Irish begin another tough schedule.
The Plan	It should be a grind-it-out battle. Nebraska QB Eric Crouch has yet to show a flair for throwing downfield and will likely keep it on the ground with I-back Dahrran Diedrick (177 yards, 3 TDs last week). The Irish have a good runner of their own in Julius Jones (657 yards last year).
The Man	Matt LoVecchio, QB, Notre Dame The sophomore is the guy you want leading a team into Lincoln after going 7-1 as a freshman.
The Call	Nebraska, 20-16
		UAB (1-0)	5:30 p.m. EDT Saturday (ESPN2)
		No. 6 Florida State (1-0)	• Game preview • UAB team page • Florida State team page
The Setup	The Blazers will provide a better early test for FSU than Duke, who the retooled Seminoles struggled against early before pouring it on in a 55-13 thumping. Last year, UAB scored an upset at LSU.
The Plan	'Noles QB Chris Rix (9-of-18, 135 yards) isn't being asked to do much but must avoid mistakes. He got a big lift against Duke from RB Nick Maddox (eight carries, 86 yards) but the Blazers have a tenacious defensive line that held Montana State to minus-1 rushing yards.
The Man	Craphonso Thorpe, WR, Florida State The true freshman had five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in his debut.
The Call	Florida State, 31-6
		Utah (1-0)	3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 7 Oregon (1-0)	• Game preview • Utah team page • Oregon team page
The Setup	The Ducks survived a stiff test from Wisconsin last week, winning a 31-28, back-and-forth battle to extend their Autzen Stadium win streak to 21 games. The Utes held off Utah State 23-19 in their opener.
The Plan	Oregon is loaded on offense, with QB Joey Harrington (277 yards) and the one-two running punch of Maurice Morris and Onterrio Smith (eight carries, 88 yards). Its restocked defense looked soft, though, against Wisconsin, especially in the secondary. It needs to show some improvement against a revamped Utah offense.
The Man	Keenan Howry, WR, Oregon Harrington's top receiving target had seven catches for 90 yards against Wisconsin.
The Call	Oregon, 45-17
		No. 8 Tennessee (1-0)	9 p.m. EDT Saturday (ESPN2)
		Arkansas (0-1)	• Game preview • Tennessee team page • Arkansas team page
The Setup	The Vols were booed in their own stadium as their offense struggled in a 33-9 win over Syracuse. Arkansas was far worse, using four quarterbacks (12-of-32) against UNLV.
The Plan	Arkansas will go with Ryan Sorahan at QB, but don't expect much improvement with Tennessee's ferocious pass rush. The Hogs' best hope is a big game from RB Cedric Cobbs. Tennessee will grind it out after losing top receiver Donte Stallworth, but QB Casey Clausen still needs to be consistent.
The Man	Fred Talley, RB, Arkansas Cobbs is the star, but Talley gives the Razorbacks a different look and a potent second running threat.
The Call	Tennessee, 21-6
		W. Michigan (1-0)	Noon EDT Saturday
		No. 9 Virginia Tech (1-0)	• Game preview • W. Michigan team page • Virginia Tech team page
The Setup	The Hokies opened with a 52-10 thumping of UConn but must overcome the loss of All-America RB Lee Suggs. The Broncos played for the MAC championship last year and thumped Illinois State 48-7 last week.
The Plan	Virginia Tech will turn to junior Keith Burnell (9 carries, 71 yards) and freshman Kevin Jones (11, 63) to replace Suggs, but its defense will probably have to carry the day. Ben Taylor leads a defensive front that will need to get pressure on dangerous Broncos QB Jeff Welsh (19-of-26, 330 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs).
The Man	Grant Noel, QB, Virginia Tech Alleviated many doubts about his abilities as the starter by going 16-of-20 for 267 yards against UConn.
The Call	Virginia Tech, 29-14
		No. 10 Georgia Tech (2-0)	Noon EDT Saturday
		Navy (0-1)	• Game preview • Georgia Tech team page • Navy team page
The Setup	It's the talented Yellow Jackets' final warmup before next week's much-anticipated date with Florida State. The Midshipmen were 1-10 a year ago and started 2001 with a 45-26 loss to Temple.
The Plan	Tech's one weakness thus far has been its ground game, something it needs to work on against Navy. But that doesn't mean QB George Godsey can't pull off a couple back-breaking plays. The Midshipmen's defense suffered several lapses against Temple and could be exploited.
The Man	Craig Candeto, QB, Navy With starter Brian Madden suspended two games, the sophomore needs to improve on a 5-of-14 effort.
The Call	Georgia Tech, 38-7
		No. 11 Michigan (1-0)	3:30 p.m. EDT Saturday (ABC)
		No. 15 Washington (0-0)	• Game preview • Michigan team page • Washington team page
The Setup	The defending Rose Bowl champion Huskies play their first game without star QB Marques Tuiasosopo. Following a season-opening win over Miami of Ohio, UM heads west for a daunting challenge.
The Plan	The Wolverines showed last week their extensive youth on offense and may need their defense to carry them early. Led by LBs Larry Foote and Victor Hobson, that unit will try to fluster UW first-time starting QB Cody Pickett, but may have their hands full explosive sophomore RB Rich Alexis (738 yards last year).
The Man	Reggie Williams, WR, Washington True freshman has looked sensational in fall drills and may be Pickett's top deep threat right off the bat.
The Call	Washington, 23-16
		No. 12 Kansas State (0-0)	6:30 p.m. EDT Saturday (Fox Sports)
		USC (1-0)	• Game preview • USC team page • Kansas State team page
The Setup	The Trojans were victorious in coach Pete Carroll's debut against San Jose State. The Wildcats have won 11 games each of the past three seasons but have not faced a non-conference foe of USC's caliber.
The Plan	Dangerous Trojans QB Carson Palmer (21-of-28, 213 yards) will look to spread the field, opening holes for RB Sultan McCullough (167 yards, 3 TDs), but face an always top-notch K-State defense, led by LB Ben Leber. The Wildcats, with bruising RBs Josh Scobey and Rock Cartwright, hope to control the ball.
The Man	Ell Roberson, QB, Kansas State The sophomore, who first wowed fans at the 2000 spring game, finally gets his chance to run the show.
The Call	USC, 28-24
		Utah State (0-1)	8 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 13 LSU (1-0)	• Game preview • Utah State team page • LSU team page
The Setup	The Tigers looked as advertised in a season-opening 48-17 whooping of cross-state rival Tulane. The Aggies fell 23-19 to its rival, Utah, in a game not nearly as close as the final score.
The Plan	LSU comes at you two ways, with QB Rohan Davey (19-of-29, 253 yards, 2 TDs) able to pick apart defenses and find deep threat Josh Reed (135 yards) and RB LaBrandon Toefield (3 TDs) able to outrun defenders. The Aggies have a formidable offense, with WR Kevin Curtis grabbing 11 catches for 171 yards last week.
The Man	Emmett White, RB, Utah State Set an NCAA record last year with 578 all-purpose yards against New Mexico State last November.
The Call	LSU, 44-21
		No. 14 UCLA (1-0)	12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday (Fox Sports)
		Kansas (1-0)	• Game preview • UCLA team page • Kansas team page
The Setup	The Bruins began their season with an impressive win in a hostile road setting at Alabama. The Jayhawks could use an upset to boost confidence for coach Terry Allen's make-or-break season.
The Plan	UCLA has several weapons on offense, most notably Heisman candidate DeShaun Foster (24 carries, 110 yards). But its swarming defense stole the show in Tuscaloosa. Only fatigue should keep it from bottling KU's suspect offense, which lacks a proven running threat and is young at quarterback.
The Man	Tab Perry, WR, UCLA In his first start for the Bruins, the sophomore stepped up with 113 yards on five catches against the Tide.
The Call	UCLA, 34-12
		No. 16 Northwestern (0-0)	8 p.m. EDT Friday (ESPN)
		UNLV (0-1)	• Game preview • Northwestern team page • UNLV team page
The Setup	The Wildcats are the Big Ten favorite but must overcome the death of safety Rashidi Wheeler . The Rebels also carry great expectations but opened their season with a last-second loss to Arkansas.
The Plan	Northwestern QB Zak Kustok and his multiple receivers spread the field, and Heisman-contending RB Damien Anderson (2,063 yards) finds the holes. But defense was a sore spot last year, and it needs to contain versatile UNLV QB Jason Thomas, fired up coming off a subpar performance against the Razorbacks (40 passing yards).
The Man	Sam Simmons, WR, Northwestern The fourth-year contributor is the leader of NU's deep receiving corps.
The Call	UNLV, 41-35
		No. 19 Fresno State (2-0)	Noon EDT Saturday (ESPN)
		No. 23 Wisconsin (1-1)	• Game preview • Fresno State team page • Wisconsin team page
The Setup	Fresno State soared into the polls this week following impressive upsets of both Colorado and then-No. 10 Oregon State. The Badgers beat Virginia before suffering a 31-28 loss at No. 7 Oregon last week.
The Plan	Anthony Davis (138.5 yards per game) and the always-potent Wisconsin running game go against a stifling Bulldogs defense that held Oregon State's Ken Simonton to 42 yards. The Badgers will need to win the ground war, because Fresno's David Carr (21-of-34, 340 yards, 4 TDs last week) is a step above Wisconsin's QBs.
The Man	Kendall Edwards, CB, Fresno State Got some serious TV time with two bone-crunching hits on punt returns against Oregon State.
The Call	Wisconsin, 31-27
		Wofford (0-0)	1 p.m. EDT Saturday
		No. 20 Clemson (1-0)	• Game preview • Wofford team page • Clemson team page
The Setup	Clemson is looking to open things up following a subpar offensive performance in a 21-13 win over Central Florida. Wofford is likely looking at 0-2, with defending I-AA national champ Georgia Southern to follow.
The Plan	Tigers star QB Woodrow Danztler (15-of-25, 154 yards) was decent but not dominating against UCF. He's still trying to gel with his receivers following the losses of Rod Gardner and Kevin Youngblood , but he also needs to get unheralded RB Travis Zachery more involved after only 15 carries against UCF.
The Man	Roscoe Crosby, WR, Clemson True freshman was Clemson's top receiver against UCF with three catches for 64 yards.
The Call	Clemson, 40-6
		No. 21 South Carolina (1-0)	7:45 p.m. EDT Saturday (ESPN)
		No. 25 Georgia (1-0)	• Game preview • South Carolina team page • Georgia team page
The Setup	The Bulldogs looked good in coach Mark Richt's debut last week, a 45-17 win over Arkansas State. They'll have revenge on their mind facing the Gamecocks, who stunned UGA early last season.
The Plan	South Carolina's stellar defense will provide an interesting test for Georgia redshirt freshman QB David Greene (21-of-29, 285 yards, 2 TDs). He'll be under a steady stream of pressure and will likely rely heavily on RB Musa Smith (158 yards). The Gamecocks will look for a big-time effort from RB Derek Watson (71 yards).
The Man	Terrence Edwards, WR, Georgia Talent-wise, he stacks up with any of the vaunted receivers to play for Richt at Florida State.
The Call	Georgia, 21-14
		No. 22 Oregon State (0-1)	9 p.m. EDT Saturday
		N. Mexico St. (0-2)	• Game preview • Oregon State team page • N. Mexico St. team page
The Setup	The Beavers must regroup following a stunning 44-24 loss to Fresno State to begin what many expected to be a championship season. The Aggies face their third straight 2000 bowl team.
The Plan	The Beavers must get more production out of star Ken Simonton (only 42 yards last week). Either Fresno State's defense was that good, or OSU's lack of proven receivers has turned it into a one-trick pony. Aggies QB K.C. Ensminger runs the option well, but the Beavers should have enough muscle up front to stop it.
The Man	Chris Gibson, C, Oregon State The leader of OSU's offensive line must rally the unit following last week's disaster.
The Call	Oregon State, 38-10
		Akron (1-0)	Noon EDT Saturday
		No. 24 Ohio State (0-0)	• Game preview • Akron team page • Ohio State team page
The Setup	After 12 seasons under John Cooper, Ohio State begins life with Jim Tressel, former coach of I-AA power Youngstown State. Akron began its season with a dramatic 31-29 win over MAC foe Ohio.
The Plan	Most eyes in Ohio Stadium will be focused on QB Steve Bellisari, whose inconsistency has been blamed for much of the Buckeyes' downfall. He'll be working with a talented tailback in Jonathan Wells (598 yards last year). Akron has a talented running back in Brandon Payne, who had 115 yards on 23 carries last week.
The Man	Mike Doss, S, Ohio State Considered the hardest hitter in the Big Ten, Doss should be one of the Buckeyes' biggest strengths.
The Call	Ohio State, 41-15

All rankings from The Associated Press.

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