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.

UNDATED (AP) — No. 16 Baylor could pretty much knock Texas out of a chance to get into the Big 12 championship game in coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season. The 6-1 Bears have already tripled their overall win total in coach Dave Aranda’s second year. Both teams are coming off open dates. Texas is 4-3 after losses in its last two games when blowing double-digit leads. Baylor in its last game beat ranked future Big 12 team BYU. Fourth-ranked Oklahoma is home against Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have interim coach Sonny Cumbie in charge after Matt Wells was fired this week.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Second-year Baylor coach Dave Aranda has the No. 16 Bears fighting for the top of the Big 12 standings. First-year Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has the Longhorns still stuck in the middle of the pack and searing for a breakthrough win. Texas could get one Saturday in Waco. Or the Bears could bury Texas in the Big 12 title chase and finish out a miserable October for the Longhorns. Baylor has a powerful run that game put up more than 300 yards in a win over BYU. Texas has given up big leads late in consecutive losses.  

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma looks to put together a complete game. The Sooners trailed struggling Kansas last week before rallying in the second half to win 35-23 and improve to 8-0. They dropped from No. 3 to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 this week. Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley still sees big things ahead. He wants more out of his veteran leaders when the Sooners host Texas Tech. The Red Raiders fired coach Matt Wells earlier in the week. Sonny Cumbie was named interim coach.

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — One play here or there could have made a difference for No. 15 Oklahoma State in its 24-21 loss to Iowa State last week, the first defeat of the season. TheCowboys want to be sure that they don’t overlook a pesky Kansas squad that nearly pulled off a monumental upset of No. 4 Oklahoma.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Brock Purdy seems to have his way against West Virginia. On Saturday the Iowa State quarterback has the chance to beat the Mountaineers for the fourth straight season. He’s already done it against Kansas, and another fourpeat is possible next month against Texas Tech. Iowa State is 12-2 with Purdy in the month of October alone. Purdy is second in the Bowl Subdivision with a 75% completion rate. He’s thrown for seven touchdowns against West Virginia in his career with two interceptions. He’s also run for two scores and has been sacked three times. West Virginia’s offense has averaged 175 yards over the teams’ last three meetings. 

UNDATED (AP) — TCU heads to Kansas State on Saturday with coach Gary Patterson suddenly on the hot seat. The longtime Horned Frogs coach has overseen a defense that has been a big part in their 3-4 start to the season, and many fans are beginning to turn against the coach that led them from also-ran in the Mountain West to Big 12 contender. But they’ll have a chance to turn things around against the Wildcats, who are coming off a much-needed win over Texas Tech last weekend.

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