WEEK 11: BYU-Texas Tech biggest game in Lubbock since '08

Lubbock is the center of the college football universe this week. No. 8 BYU visits No. 9 Texas Tech on Saturday for the first top-10 matchup in a Big 12 conference game since 2021. ESPN's "College GameDay" show is going to set up shop at Jones AT&T Stadium for the first time since 2008 and a tent city has sprung up outside the gates with eager students hoping to get the first crack at the best seats. Locals say the buildup for this one matches or exceeds the one for sixth-ranked Texas Tech's 39-33 win over a No. 1 Texas in 2008. Michael Crabtree caught the winning 28-yard touchdown pass with 1 second left that night. Second billing this week goes to No. 3 Texas A&M's game at No. 19 Missouri. The Aggies, playing a third straight on the road, are going for their first 9-0 start since 1975. The Tigers are facing their third top-10 opponent in four games. No. 6 Oregon goes to Iowa in the game of the day in the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes are 4-4 over the past 10 years at Kinnick Stadium against top-10 opponents. They played an 11th-ranked Indiana within 20-15 at Kinnick in late September. No. 12 Virginia, the highest-ranked team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, puts its seven-game winning streak on the line at home against Wake Forest. Best gameNo. 8 BYU (8-0) at No. 9 Texas Tech (8-1), noon The winner will take sole possession of first place in the Big 12, and it's possible the teams will meet again Dec. 6 in the conference championship game in Arlington, Texas.The Cougars come in unbeaten but banged up, and Texas Tech appears to have regained its mojo with quarterback Behren Morton healthy again. The Red Raiders were a 10-point favorite as of midweek.BYU's top rusher, LJ Martin, hurt his shoulder against Iowa State on Oct. 25 and his status is uncertain. The Cougars also have been dealing with injuries in the secondary and at linebacker.Big Ten battle No. 6 Oregon (7-1) at Iowa (6-2), 3:30 p.m. Iowa still has a shot at a playoff berth by winning the rest of its regular-season games, and the Hawkeyes could make a big statement by beating Oregon. This starts a grueling November schedule for Oregon that also includes home games with Minnesota and No. 20 Southern California and a trip to No. 24 Washington. Iowa QB Mark Gronowski has 11 touchdown runs, already the most in a single season by any Iowa quarterback. Heisman watchOhio State QB Julian Sayin has emerged as the Heisman front-runner in the wagering markets, with BetMGM Sportsbook listing him as the 7-4 favorite ahead of Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza (9-4) and Alabama QB Ty Simpson (7-2). Sayin completed 20 of 23 passes for 316 yards and four touchdown passes against Penn State last week. It was his fifth 300-yard game and seventh straight with multiple touchdown passes. Sayin leads the nation in completion rate (80.7%) and QB rating (197.1) and is third in TD passes (23). Sayin should pad his stats when the top-ranked Buckeyes visit Purdue. The Boilermakers have given up 32 pass plays of 20-plus yards, tied for 113th in the nation. Numbers to know 4% — Coastal Carolina's FBS-worst fumble rate (18 fumbles on 450 rushes, receptions or kick returns), according to Sportradar.15 — FBS-leading pass plays of 40-plus yards by San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget.81 — Combined points by which Utah and Arizona outscored Colorado, the biggest negative differential over the last two weeks. Oklahoma State's minus-59 differential is next biggest.151 — San Diego State's point differential during its 7-1 start, largest since the Aztecs outscored their opponents by 210 points during an 8-0 start in 1975.2004 — The last season when neither Clemson nor Florida State had a winning record when they met. Hot seatIt's been rinse-and-repeat for four-plus seasons at Maryland under Mike Locksley. The Terrapins are 19-3 in August and September games since 2021 and 9-25 in October and November.There was hope in College Park once again while freshman quarterback Malik Washington was leading the Terrapins to a 4-0 start against soft nonconference opponents and, well, Wisconsin. Then came the annual fall in the fall. The Terps have lost 17 of their last 21 Big Ten games.Locksley, who signed a contract extension through 2027 two years ago, would have a buyout of $13.4 million if he is fired this year.