10 THINGS TO WATCH

By Matt Hayes

updated 10:37 p.m. ET Oct. 3, 2008

Matt Hayes

It's OK to admit it. Come on, you can do it. All that preseason hype, all that publicity for a guy who hadn't taken a snap of football at the collegiate level, was all worth it.

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor is the real deal. And he's only five games into his college career.

Earlier this week, Ohio State tailback Chris Wells spoke of still winning the Heisman Trophy this year. Uh, Chris? You're not even the best player on your team.

Pryor is.

Now we know why Pryor's recruitment meant so much to so many coaches — specifically, the two coaches at Ohio State and Michigan. Consider, if you will, the Buckeyes without Pryor: a minimum three-loss team with the now exposed Todd Boeckman under center.

And Michigan if it had Pryor? Probably unbeaten.

This weekend is Pryor's first significant road game within the Big Ten, and we all know how most freshmen respond on the road. Don't give me that excuse that Pryor played against USC, and that it can't be much harder than that.

Here's how much harder: He's playing against a team (Wisconsin) that knows Ohio State's personnel and schemes much better than USC, and playing in a stadium (Camp Randall) that's three or four times louder and more intimidating than the Coliseum.

And he's playing against a desperate team, a team that has won key league games under coach Bret Bielema the last two seasons. This game, more than any on the Ohio State schedule and because of those unique circumstances, will be the biggest test of the season for Pryor.

2. All Ty-ed up
Arizona plays host to Washington this weekend, and this game has absolutely zero significance in the Pac-10 race. So why are we here, you ask?

Because for some bizarre reason, Washington coach Tyrone Willingham has talked about playing injured quarterback Jake Locker at another position until his injured thumb heals enough to throw again. Think about this for a moment: Locker is clearly is the team's best player, clearly has a future as an NFL quarterback and clearly could be a much better college player — an All-American type of player — if he were coached properly. Instead, Willingham was talking about risking further injury and playing the West Coast version of Tim Tebow at another position.

Locker, of course, will do anything to help the team. He says he'll play another position because, really, what do you think a guy with his competitive fire is going to say? Without Locker, the Huskies may not have won a game last year — and he has just scratched the surface of his potential.

Video   Stayin' alive Oct. 1: After a week of upsets who can bounce back and still make the BCS title game. John Walters breaks it all down. NBC Sports

Locker is a lot like Brady Quinn earlier this decade. A huge recruit, Quinn showed signs of potential but looked like a bust his first two seasons under Willingham at Notre Dame. Then a guy named Weis came along and coached him properly, and Quinn set Notre Dame records and developed into a first-round pick.

Hold on, Jake. Lane Kiffin is coming.

3. The thrill is gone
I still remember the 2000 game like it was yesterday. A delirious crowd in the Old Lady Orange Bowl, two national title contenders trading blows and a national television audience. Miami scores late, and FSU quarterback Chris Weinke drives the 'Noles into field-goal position to try yet another last-second, game-winning field goal in this storied series.

Who among us didn't know it would come to the inevitable? Sure enough, Matt Munyon's 49-yard field goal sailed--where else?--wide right and Miami beat FSU again.

Now, we have this: Two bad teams, playing in an antiseptic NFL stadium and absolutely no one outside the state of Florida who cares. Yipee.

4. To succeed or not to succeed
Purdue-Penn State pregame conversation with a coupla Joes:

Special feature BCS Busters Taking a look at the non-BCS teams that have the biggest chances of getting to a BCS bowl. NBCSports.com

Joe T: "You should really look into this succession thing. Gives you peace of mind."

JoePa: "I've got a piece for you."

5. Lights, camera, Vandy!
Here we are, in the first week of October: Leaves are changing, the weather is turning cool and Vanderbilt is in the middle of the SEC race.

And you thought App State was a big deal last year.

You know you've hit the big time when ESPN's GameDay crew forgoes trips to Lincoln, Miami, South Bend, Madison — really, anywhere other than Nashville. Partial list of things you'll see and hear about Vandy on the two-hour show:

• The team's GPA.
• Coach Bobby Johnson/Steve Martin jokes.
• Johnson's no cursing policy.
• Video of Whit Taylor quarterbacking the 1982 team to the school's last bowl game.

Then, right on cue at 6 p.m., when you can't possibly stand more black-and-gold excitement, reality enters storied Vanderbilt Stadium in the form of the Auburn defense.

Good luck, 'Dores. Been nice having you around for a month.

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