Big Ten's top game has Michigan State's Pat Fitzgerald trying to deliver another upset at Notre Dame

Things to watch this weekend in the Big Ten:

Michigan State (2-0) at No. 3 Notre Dame (2-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

This is the 80th matchup between these teams, but they haven't met since a Notre Dame 38-18 victory at Michigan State in 2017. Although Notre Dame leads the series 49-29-1, only Southern California has beaten the Fighting Irish more often than the Spartans have.

Michigan State coach Pat Fitzgerald posted upset wins at Notre Dame as a Northwestern linebacker in 1995 and as Northwestern’s coach in 2014. Notre Dame is favored by 29 ½ points.

Virginia Tech (2-0) at Maryland (2-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

These two former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals face off for the first time since Maryland's 54-10 blowout victory in the 2021 Pinstripe Bowl. Maryland has won 20 straight nonconference games, which represents the longest active streak of any Bowl Subdivision team.

Purdue (1-1) at UCLA (2-0), Saturday, 11 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)

This is the first Big ten game for new UCLA coach Bob Chesney after he led the Bruins to nonconference victories over California and San Diego State. Purdue is seeking its first Big Ten win since a 35-31 triumph over Indiana in its 2023 season finale.

Colorado (2-0) at Northwestern (1-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

An early measuring stick game for each program. Northwestern QB Aidan Chiles threw for 273 yards and a touchdown in his debut for the Wildcats, a 34-18 win over South Dakota State, an FCS playoff team last season. Colorado is 2-0 after a thriller at Georgia Tech and then a comfortable win at home over Weber State.

— Penn State QB Rocco Becht has thrown seven touchdown passes without an interception this season. He is ranked fourth among all Bowl Subdivision players in passer rating.

— Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea is the first Cornhuskers quarterback since Tommy Armstrong Jr. in 2016 to throw at least three touchdown passes in back-to-back games. Colandrea threw four touchdown passes in the first half of a 56-7 victory over Bowling Green.

— Michigan DE John Henry Daley had three tackles for loss and one sack in a 17-10 win over then-No. 11 Oklahoma.

The Big Ten’s six losses in nonconference games last week represented its highest total in a single week since Week 3 of the 2018 season, when it had seven. … Oregon had won 41 straight matchups with unranked opponents before falling 39-31 at Oklahoma State. The loss, which dropped Oregon from No. 6 to No. 21, snapped an FBS-leading 12-game road winning streak. … During Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin coaching tenure, the Badgers are 9-0 when they’ve had someone run for at least 100 yards and 9-22 when they haven’t had a 100-yard rusher. … Four players are tied for the FBS lead in touchdown catches with five, and three of them are from the Big Ten: Indiana TE Charlie Becker, Rutgers WR KJ Duff and Illinois WR Collin Dixon. ... Illinois and No. 18 Iowa are among the 10 FBS teams that haven't allowed a sack this season.

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Southern California tight end Mark Bowman, top, jumps over Louisiana cornerback Avery Demery, left, and safety Kody Jackson during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

FILE - Michigan State head coach Pat Fitzgerald walks the sideline during an NCAA college football game, Sept. 4, 2026, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:

No. 7 LSU (2-0) at No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0), Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

LSU visits Ole Miss as Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season. Not only is it a heavyweight SEC opener for two playoff hopefuls but it's loaded with grudge potential and off-field storytlines that includes court fights.

While Kiffin’s departure led to turnover on both teams, the Rebels have the benefit of two Heisman Trophy contenders in the backfield with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. LSU has allowed just two offensive touchdowns through two games but it will be challenged on the road by this duo. Likewise, new Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt has had mixed results and is coming off a three-interception game.

LSU leads the overall series between these border rivals 65-39-3, but Ole Miss has won three of the past five meetings, including last year in Oxford. The Tiges are 2.5-point favorites.

Florida (2-0) at Auburn (2-0), Saturday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Both teams have new quarterbacks and coaches after disappointing 2025 campaigns, with coach Alex Golesh and quarterback Byrum Brown both at Auburn after leaving USF. Former Tulane coach Jon Sumrall snagged quarterback Aaron Philo out of the transfer portal in his rebuild at Florida.

Florida cruised to two expected victories, while Auburn stopped Baylor just short of the Week 1 upset before rolling past Southern Miss 43-8.

This SEC opener is the kind of game each team needs to win if it is truly on the way back toward the upper echelon of the SEC. The Gators are 3-point favorites.

— Vernell Brown III: The Florida return man had back-to-back punt returns for touchdowns against Campbell, tying a school record.

— Arch Manning: The Texas quarterback led three fourth-quarter touchdown drives to climb back from a 20-point deficit and knock off then-No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night. The Longhorns host UTSA.

— DeSean Bishop: Tennessee’s top returning offensive playmaker picked up where he left off, running for 244 yards and three touchdowns in two games. Bishop’s 147 rushing yards and two scores led the Vols past Georgia Tech. Tennessee hosts Kennesaw State.

Georgia has the top-scoring offense in the FBS, averaging 66.5 points per game through 2 games. Florida ranks third nationally with 59 points per game. … Mississippi State is averaging a conference-high 620.5 yards of offense per game, and quarterback Kamario Taylor leads the conference in passing yards. LSU follows with 586 ypg. … LSU’s defense is holding opponents to the fewest yards per game (142). … Tennessee has given up a conference-high 142 penalty yards per game. … Gunner Stockton boasts a conference-high 87.5 completion percentage, second to only Miami’s Darian Mensah nationally.

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FILE - Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor, center, leaps over Minnesota defensive lineman TJ Bush Jr. (3) in the first half during an NCAA college football game in Minneapolis, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig, File)