Fast Forward

? Kansas State (11-0) vs. Texas A&M (10-2)
When the Aggies met on Sunday, two days after their 26-24 loss at Texas, coach R.C. Slocum stressed the big picture. "If we had lost to Florida State in the opener, lost a game in the middle of the year and finished 10-2, we would have thought, Man, what a deal," Slocum says. Give him that point, then think about this one: Slocum believes Texas A&M matches up better on defense with Kansas State than it did with the Longhoms. " Texas had a huge offensive line on a wet day with a big, strong running back," Slocum says. At the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, "we'll be able to put our speed on the field." Though Slocum may be right, the Wildcats will win a close game because of the indomitable spirit of quarterback Michael Bishop.

?BYU (9-3) vs. Air Force (10-1)
If the upcoming defection of half its members isn't proof enough that the WAC is losing its identity, consider that the Cougars and the Falcons each have won seven straight games thanks to their defense. Who's going to tell BYU passing master LaVell Edwards? Best matchup: Cougars sophomore tailback Ronney Jenkins (1,216 yards, 13 touchdowns) against Air Force's rushing defense (111.6 yards allowed per game). If Falcons quarterback Blane Morgan recovers from a sprained left ankle, we'll go with Air Force, otherwise we'll take BYU.

? Tennessee (11-0) vs. Mississippi State (8-3)
Bulldogs tailback James Johnson (1,345 yards, 12 touchdowns) has a pulled groin muscle and a separated left shoulder. Without him, Mississippi State is ordinary. Can Tennessee get any more breaks?

? UCLA (10-0) at Miami (7-3)
With lips stretched so tight you could hear his face creak, Miami coach Butch Davis said last Saturday that his Hurricanes would scrape themselves together after their 66-13 loss to Syracuse and hold their own against the equally explosive Bruins. "I'll be surprised if we don't bounce back," Davis said. Three, two, one: Surprise!

?Army (2-8) vs. Navy (3-7)
The Cadets and the Middies are dead set on proving that records don't mean anything when it comes to this rivalry. So ignore the records. Army hung tough with Notre Dame, Tulane and Louisville, bowl teams all, down the stretch. The Cadets will bear the fruit of that labor in Philadelphia.