UNDATED (AP) — The spotlight shines on the Big Ten this week with three games sure to effect the division races and possibly the College Football Playoff. The best of the bunch is in East Lansing. That’s where No. 8 Michigan State hosts No. 6 Michigan in a matchup of unbeatens that will start separating the East Division. No. 20 Penn State goes to No. 5 Ohio State as a big underdog in a meeting of teams heading opposite directions in recent weeks. No. 9 Iowa visits Wisconsin in what figures to be a defensive battle in the West.

CINCINNATI (AP) — No. 2 Cincinnati has embraced the grit and low-frills aspects of its program. They call it Clifton Style, a shoutout to the rough-around-the-edges neighborhood surrounding the urban campus. Linebacker Joel Dublanko says the Bearcats want to have a gritty, tough team to match their blue-collar city. They may not have all the creature comforts typically found at college football powerhouses, but it has not held them back. Heading into the second half of the season, Cincinnati is trying become the first team from outside the Power Five conferences to make the College Football Playoff.

UNDATED (AP) — Lousiville’s trip to North Carolina State headlines the Week 9 schedule for the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Wolfpack fell out of the AP Top 25 after a loss at Miami. But Dave Doeren’s team still controls its own destiny in the Atlantic Division. The Cardinals have two league losses and are trying to stay in a race led by No. 13 Wake Forest. The schedule includes Florida State visiting Clemson after last year’s meeting was called off due to COVID-19 concerns. In addition, Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett and North Carolina receiver Josh Downs are top players to watch this weekend.

UNDATED (AP) — Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall will face his former school for the first time this weekend in Provo, Utah. Mendenhall’s not sure the type of greeting he will receive from the BYU faithful after being hired by Virginia in December 2015. Mendenhall led the Cougars to a bowl game each season he was in charge. The 25th-ranked Cougars are now coached by Kalani Sitake. He’s carried on the winning tradition since stepping in for Mendenhall. The Cougars are 14-4 under Sitake when ranked.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — No. 13 Wake Forest hosts Duke this weekend in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Demon Deacons are 7-0 for the second time in program history. They won their first seven games in 1944. This is the first time Wake Forest has been 4-0 in ACC play. The Demon Deacons are the league’s highest-ranked team in the Top 25. They’re hosting a Duke team Saturday that is still looking for its first league win. Both teams rank among the nation’s best in total offense. But Wake Forest is scoring more and protecting the football better on the season.

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney says fans of his football program don’t know how to act or what to say with the Tigers struggling through their season. Swinney says normally friendly faces now avoid his gaze and he gets plenty of “praying for you” texts as the once-mighty Tigers have been humbled this season. Clemson looks to bounce back from its 27-17 loss to No. 17 Pittsburgh when the Tigers face Florida State on Saturday. The Tigers have won the last five against the Seminoles. Florida State is trending in the other direction with three straight win after opening the season with four losses in a row. 

UNDATED (AP) — North Carolina State hosts Louisville in a key matchup for their Atlantic Coast Conference division race. The Wolfpack lost last weekend at Miami to fall out of the Top 25. But N.C. State still controls its own destiny to win the Atlantic Division race going into Saturday night’s game. Louisville has two league losses and needs to win to stay within reach of No. 13 Wake Forest in the division. The Cardinals are coming off a win against Boston College. This is the Wolfpack’s only home game in a 47-day span.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — College Hall of Famer Mack Brown is hoping his North Carolina team can avoid a Halloween Eve nightmare on his first coaching visit to suddenly revived No. 11 Notre Dame. “This is a good football team,” the 70-year-old Brown said of good friend Brian Kelly’s 6-1 Fighting Irish. “They’re 27-1 at home and they’ve won 37 straight against unranked teams.” Kelly, Notre Dame’s winningest football coach who turned 60 on Monday, considers Brown’s 4-3 Tar Heels, led by QB Sam Howell, a sleeping giant. “They’re as good as any team we’ve played this year,” he said. 

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