Columbia, S.C.

TV » ESPN2

Radio » 1500 AM

For the third straight week, the mission of Navy (2-0) is to contain a prolific back, and it will have to do it with an outside linebacker corps so depleted that ILB Caleb King and 192-pound S Tra’ves Bush could see action there. The man to stop is sophomore Heisman candidate Marcus Lattimore (50 carries, 288 yards). Navy QB Kriss Proctor (38 carries, 199 yards) could get opportunities against the leaky defense of South Carolina (2-0), which has surrendered 79 points.

Arkansas State at No. 13 Virginia Tech

When » Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where » Lane Stadium,

Blacksburg, Va.

TV » CSN

Radio » 106.7 FM

Virginia Tech (2-0) doesn’t play a BCS conference school until October, a good way for sophomore QB Logan Thomas to get comfortable as a starter. So far his results have been spotty: 17-for-39, 240 yards. Arkansas State (1-1) of the Sun Belt has been outscored 147-14 in three lopsided games in Blacksburg. This is a “white out” game for fans, and the Hokies will follow suit with white-on-white uniforms and new white helmets with a vintage logo.

Norfolk State at Howard

When » Saturday, 1 p.m.

Where » Greene Stadium

Norfolk State (1-1) threw a scare into West Virginia last week, leading at halftime 12-10 before the Mountaineers got their passing attack going. West Virginia’s 431 passing yards were its most in a game since 1998. Look for freshman QB Greg McGhee to try to take similar advantage as Howard (1-1) seeks to halt its 27-game losing streak in the MEAC. The Bison fell to the Spartans 10-9 last year.

Georgetown at Yale

When » Saturday, noon

Where » Yale Bowl,

West Haven, Conn.

Just like last year, Georgetown enters the Yale game 2-0. The Hoyas hope for a different outcome this time, however, as it tries to corral QB Patrick Witt, who threw for 407 yards and scored the clinching touchdown on the final play of a 40-35 victory. This will be the opener for Yale. Georgetown, seeking its first winning season since 1999, counters with dual-threat QB Isaiah Kempf.

Top FIVE MATCHUPS OF WEEK 3

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No. 22 Arizona State at Illinois » It’s an interesting matchup between Arizona State (2-0), which ranks 14th in the nation in passing yards, and Illinois (2-0), which ranks No. 8 in rushing. The Illini might be ready to turn sensational freshman RB Donovonn Young (13 carries, 104 yards) loose. At 6-foot-8, Sun Devils QB Brock Osweiler (43-for-58, 615 yards) has lived large so far. (Saturday, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network)

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No. 6 Stanford at Arizona ?» Last week in a 37-14 loss at Oklahoma State, the secondary of Arizona (1-1) was riddled by Brandon Weeden. So it will be interesting to see what Stanford QB Andrew Luck can do. This is the first real test for the Cardinals (2-0) and new coach David Shaw. With QB Nick Foles (71-for-93, 810 yards), Arizona has a chance to make this one a shootout. (Saturday, 10:45 p.m., ESPN).

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No. 21 Auburn at Clemson?» How many escape acts can Auburn pull off? In their 17-game winning streak, the Tigers have trailed or been tied in the fourth quarter of nine games. One of those came against Clemson last year. After trailing 17-0, Auburn rallied for a 27-24 victory in OT. Sophomore QB Tajh Boyd (169.3 rating) of Clemson (2-0) has been impressive in his first season as starter. (Saturday, noon, ABC)

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No. 17 Ohio State at Miami?» Cleverly dubbed the “Supplemental Draft Bowl.” The reputation of both programs has been tarnished as multiple players have been penalized for receiving impermissible booster benefits. Still it’s Ohio State (2-0) and Miami (0-1), two of the most recognizable brands in the sport. After serving a one-game suspension, QB Jacoby Harris returns to start for Miami. (Saturday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)

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No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State » Last year’s 47-17 blowout loss in Norman suggested that Jimbo Fisher was not up to the task of replacing Bobby Bowden. But the Seminoles rallied for their first 10-win season since 2003. Now the question is: Can Fisher win a national title in his second season, as Bob Stoops did at Oklahoma in 2000? Stoops is hitching his 2011 hopes to QB Landry Jones (Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC).

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