Many Missing Pieces In Top 25 Picture
Nebraska and Georgia won’t have their best running backs, UCLA won’t have its top quarterback, and Notre Dame won’t have its head coach Saturday.
When second-ranked Nebraska plays its home opener against Arizona State, the Cornhuskers will be missing star runner Lawrence Phillips. He was indefinitely suspended after being arrested for allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
Nebraska, which averaged 532 rushing yards in its first two games, should still have a powerful ground attack without Phillips.
Senior Clinton Childs is expected to start at tailback, but junior Damon Benning, sophomore James Sims and freshman Ahman Green also are expected to play. Sims and Green had long touchdown runs last week at Michigan State, and Childs gained 83 yards against the Spartans.
Freshman Cade McNown will be the starting quarterback for No. 12 UCLA against visiting 20th-ranked Oregon at the Rose Bowl. McNown is filling in for junior Ryan Fien, knocked out of last week’s game against BYU with a concussion and injured shoulder.
No. 23 Georgia, host to New Mexico State, must overcome the loss of tailback Robert Edwards, who broke his left foot in a loss to Tennessee last week. Edwards, the SEC’s leading rusher with 325 yards in his first two games, will be replaced in the starting lineup by Hines Ward, who started the season as a wide receiver.
“There’s no doubt he can handle it,” coach Ray Goff said.
With Lou Holtz recovering from spinal surgery, defensive coordinator Bob Davie will coach No. 24 Notre Dame against visiting Vanderbilt.
xxxx TOP 25 GAMES N. Carolina St at (1) Fla. St., 9 a.m. Arizona St. at (2) Nebraska, 11 a.m. Tulsa at (3) Texas A&M, 10 a.m. (8) Tenn. at (4) Florida, 12:30 p.m. (5) Auburn at LSU, 5 p.m. Houston at (6) Southern Cal, 7 p.m. Temple at (7) Penn St., 9:08 a.m. NE La. at (9) Colorado, 11:10 a.m. (18) Washington at (10) Ohio St., 12:30 p.m., ABC (11) Michigan at Boston College, 3:30 p.m., ESPN (20) Ore. at (12) UCLA, 12:30 p.m. Ark. at (13) Alabama, 9:30 a.m. SMU at (14) Oklahoma, 11:30 a.m. Pitt at (15) Texas, 12:30 p.m. Ga. Tech at (16) Virg., 10:30 a.m. (17) Arizona at Ill., 9:30 a.m., ESPN Colorado St. at (21) Air Force, 12:30 p.m. New Mex. St. at (23) Ga., 10 a.m. Vanderbilt at (24) Notre Dame, 11:30 a.m. (NBC) Miami-Ohio at (25) Northwestern, 10 a.m.