Heated rivalries and high stakes

There’s no better way to salvage a disappointing season than ruining your archrivals’ grand plans.

Alabama, Ohio State, BYU and Stanford have that opportunity today.

Auburn (10-0), tied for second in the Associated Press rankings, brings national title hopes into the Iron Bowl against Alabama.

Alabama (6-4) has the No. 2 total defense in the nation and the top rushing offense in the Southeastern Conference. But the Crimson Tide has been limited by season-ending injuries to quarterback Brodie Croyle and tailback Ray Hudson. Croyle’s injury has left Alabama with a one-dimensional offense, a major problem against an Auburn defense that ranks No. 1 in the country in points allowed (9.3 per game).

In the Big Ten’s most heated rivalry, No. 7 Michigan (9-1) will try to lock up a second straight conference title and trip to the Rose Bowl against Ohio State (6-4, 3-4)..

Fifth-ranked Utah (10-0) is trying to become the first team from a non-BCS conference to earn a BCS bowl bid. A win over in-state rival BYU (5-5) would all but seal a trip to one of the $14 million games. A loss sends Utah to the Liberty Bowl as MWC champs, where it would get a check for $1.35 million.

Then there’s the Big Game between California (8-1) and Stanford (4-6). The fourth-ranked Golden Bears are trying to reach the Rose Bowl for the first time in 46 years, while their Bay Area rivals are trying to break a four-game losing streak.