• Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald hails from the Chicago suburbs and played linebacker on the Wildcats' 1996 Rose Bowl team, so it's hard to imagine him leaving. But if Texas fires Mack Brown, or if USC fires Lane Kiffin, all bets are off. The Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein wrote that Texas and USC are the only two landing spots that make sense for Fitzgerald, beyond Evanston. He's had recruiting success in Texas, and USC athletic director Pat Haden is said to be a big fan.

• Iowa is 6-8 against Iowa State under coach Kirk Ferentz, and both teams need a victory Saturday. The Hawkeyes got 180 rushing yards from Mark Weisman last week as they ended a seven-game losing streak against Missouri State. The Cyclones had a bye week after losing to Northern Iowa, from the FCS, in Week 1.

• Michigan State has played three quarterbacks this season with little success, and that number could grow to four this week. Joe Rexrode of the Detroit Free Press wrote, "Not only do I believe [true freshman] Damion Terry will play Saturday against Youngstown State, I'll throw out this prediction: Terry starts Oct. 5 at Iowa."