Week 4 Preview

As we embark upon the 4th week of the season we are excited about the conference match ups and shake ups that are sure to occur in the BCS rankings.

A look ahead at towards this weeks matchups:

Miami vs. Pitt - Sept. 23rd 7:30 ET - ESPN & ESPN3.com -
Will a week off help rally a team to victory this early in the season against a team that is struggling to gather it’s defensive with out their star player?

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Miami - DT/DE Allen Bailey
Pitt - OT Jason Pinkston & DE Greg Romeus

TCU vs. SMU - Sept. 24th 8:00 ET - ESPN & ESPN3.com -
The Iron Skillet matchup is HOT, nearly three years of perfection by TCU up against a sizzling SMU team coming off of a tremendous victory over Washington State for their first BCS victory since 2000! Who’s gonna have what it takes to fry the bacon?

Lombardi Award Watch List:
TCU - OT Marcus Cannon, LB Tank Carder, DE Wayne Daniels & C Jake Kirkpatrick

Michigan State vs. Northern Colorado - Sept. 25th - 12:00 ET - Big Ten Network -
Passion and sentiment can drive a team, both of which will be on the side of Michigan State who will be with out Coach Dantonio as he continues to recover from his recent heart attack. Dantonio is expected to make a full recovery. The Spartans & Bears have never encountered one another prior.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Michigan State - LB Greg Jones

Wisconsin vs. Austin Peay - Sept. 25th - 12:00 ET - Big Ten Network -
The Badgers have one final week of non conference play before the Big Ten match-up’s begin. Badgers standout, LB Chris Borland, will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Wisconsin - LB Chris Borland, OT Gabe Carimi, TE Lance Kendricks & G John Moffitt

Iowa vs. Ball State - Sept. 25th - 12:00 ET - Big Ten Network -
The Hawkeyes will try to bounce back after last weeks loss when they host Ball State this weekend. During Ball State’s only other trip to Iowa, in 2005, the were defeated 56-0 at Kinnick Stadium by the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Iowa - DE Broderick Binns & DE Adrian Clayborn

USC Trojans vs. Washington State - Sept. 25th - 3:00 ET -
Pac-10 play opens up with a matchup that has seen the Trojans win the last seven straight. Under Lane Kiffin the Trojans have been searching for a groove, trying to start his career at 4-0, making himself the first since Jess Hill in 1951.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
USC - LB Chris Galippo & C Kris O’Dowd

Alabama vs. Arkansas - Sept. 25th - 3:30 ET - CBS -
Game of the week. Period.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Alabama - OT James Carpenter, DT Marcell Dareus & LB Dont’a Hightower
Arkansas - OT DeMarcus Love

Stanford. vs. Notre Dame - Sept. 25th - 3:30 ET - NBC -
Luck will not be on the Irish side. Okay, all kidding aside, Luck will be looking to secure a Cardinal victory for Stanford for the first time since 1992 and their first 4-0 start to a season since 1986. The Irish have never fallen to Stanford two straight.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Stanford - OT Jonathan Martin
Notre Dame - DE Ethan Johnson, TE Kyle Rudolph & LB Manti Te’o

Ohio State vs. Eastern Michigan - Sept. 25th - 3:30 ET - ABC -
Rush or be rushed. This could be a long game folks! EMU coach Ron English is still looking for his first win after an 0-12 season last year.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Ohio State - G Justin Boren, DT/DE Cameron Heyward & LB Ross Homan

Penn State vs. Temple - Sept. 25th - 3:30 ET - Big Ten Network -
The Temple Owls are preying on anything standing in their way of making a statement. The Nittany Lions have always walked into this match viewing it as a final tune-up, they may need to shift gears quickly to keep up based on Temples recent performance. Penn State has dominated Temple since 1941 - this could be the upset of the weekend.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Penn State - C Stefan Wisniewski

Texas vs. UCLA - Sept. 25th - 3:30 ET - ABC -
A split series of 2-2 sets this up to be a duel of stellar status! The last time UCLA strolled in the Austin in 1997 they easily walked over the Longhorns 66-3. UCLA is now climbing an uphill battle - having lost 15 consecutive road games to ranked teams.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Texas - DE Sam Acho & OT Kyle Hix
UCLA - LB Akeem Ayeers

Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati - Sept. 25th - 6:00 ET - ESPN2 & ESPN3.com -
A battle to get ahead is what this is all about. The Sooners are still looking to find their zone while the Bearcats will be trying to recover from their first 2 losses and scoring fewer points than they averaged last season.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Oklahoma - DE Jeremy Beal & Travis Lewis

Florida vs. University of Kentucky - 7:00 ET - ESPNU -
The SEC opens with a showdown that has delivered a single winner since 1986. The Gators.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Florida - G Mike Pouncey

Nebraska vs. South Dakota State - 7:00 ET -
The Cornhuskers have been running circles around their opponents, hopefully the Jack Rabbits will be able to keep up! Nebraska is attempting to wrap up their non-conference schedule untarnished for the first time since 2005.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Nebraska - DE Pierre Allen & DT Jared Crick

South Carolina vs. Auburn - 7:45 ET - ESPN & ESPN3.com -
A loss is in someone future. Will the stats hold true and deal the Gamecocks a 5th straight loss since beating the Tigers in 1933?

Lombardi Award Watch List:
South Carolina - DE Cliff Matthews & TE Weslye Saunders
Auburn - C Ryan Pugh & OT Lee Ziemba

Boise State vs. Oregon State - 8:00 ET - ABC -
The boys in blue are quickly becoming comfortable in the spotlight, but will it be enough to make the big dance? Meanwhile the Beavers are fighting to prove they belong in the national title hunt.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Boise State - DE Ryan Winterswyk
Oregon State - DT Stephen Paea

LSU vs. West Virginia - 9:00 ET - ESPN2 & ESPN3.com
Hello, can you hear me? It’s loud in here. Good Luck WV, it’s a daunting task, the Tigers have won 28 consecutive home games against nonconference foes - avoiding a loss since 2000.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
LSU - LB Kelvin Sheppard
West Virginia - LB J.T. Thomas & DE Julian Miller

Arizona vs. California - 10:00 ET -
QB showdown is the highlight of this matchup. Check out Bears Kevin Riley and Wildcats’ Nick Foles, both ranked in the top 15 in the nation in pass efficiency.

Lombardi Award Watch List:
California - LB Mike Mohamed

Oregon vs. Arizona State - 10:30 ET -
After an impressive opening few weeks the Ducks will need to adjust to the Pac-10 play and likely not scoring a point per minute. Can they hold onto the lead in total points scored and total yards?

Lombardi Award Watch List:
Oregon - LB Casey Matthews, DE Kenny Rowe & G Bo Thran
Arizona State - LB Vontaze Burflict