2. Congress to the rescue
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) wants President Obama to ask the Justice Department to investigate the BCS. Hatch said  in a 10-page letter that the BCS “has been designed to limit the number of teams from non-privileged conferences that will play in BCS games,” which he says is a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Of course, Hatch’s home state school was bypassed last year for the national championship despite going undefeated.

3. A solemn day
It will be emotional at West Virginia, where Connecticut plays for the first time since cornerback Jasper Howard was  fatally stabbed outside a campus dance last weekend. The team will wear helmet stickers with Howard’s initials and will take his jersey and helmet to the game. It’s an unusual situation for the 22d-ranked Mountaineers, whose cornerback, Brandon Hogan, admits he’d be rooting for UConn in any other situation “but now that they’re playing us, I can’t.”

4. Pupil vs. teacher
With Dan Mullen as its offensive coordinator, Florida won two national championships with QB Tim Tebow at the  controls, and Tebow won the Heisman Trophy. Today, however, Mullen, the first-year head coach at Mississippi State (3-4), has to find ways to stop Tebow. The second-ranked Gators (6-0) seem to miss Mullen; their offense is only 6 for 20 in scoring red-zone touchdowns in their four Southeastern Conference games while averaging 25 points, 18 fewer than their SEC average last season.

5. The next LeBron?
LeBron James said he has something to offer Terrelle Pryor, which is why he is counseling Ohio State’s quarterback on how to handle celebrity. “I’m trying to … get him through life in the spotlight, which I’ve been through,” James said the other night in Columbus, Ohio, where the Cleveland Cavaliers played an exhibition game. “Being that No. 1  guy — how do you adjust to it and how do you get through it and still perform at a high level?” However, after committing four turnovers in the Buckeyes’ loss at Purdue, Pryor is more of a No. 1 target of critics than the No. 1 guy. The 18th-ranked Buckeyes (5-2) take on Minnesota (4-3).

6. Four unbeaten teams…
… from BCS conferences have a higher ranking than No. 7 Iowa (7-0), the lone unblemished team from the Big Ten. The Hawkeyes have had a strange season — narrow wins at home over Northern Iowa and Arkansas State and convincing road wins over Penn State and Wisconsin, with another crucial road contest today at Michigan State (4-3). They’re doing it with defense, which has claimed 22 opponent turnovers, second in the nation.

7. Frogs knocking on the BCS door
Texas Christian will be looking to make a statement as to why the Horned Frogs — and not Boise State — should grab the berth in a BCS bowl that goes to a team from a non-affiliated conference. The 10th-ranked Frogs (6-0), who
travel to No. 16 BYU (6-1), rank in the top 10 nationally in points and total yards allowed. They will have to be at peak form to slow down Cougars QB Max Hall, who averages 306 yards of total offense (eighth nationally).

8. Jacquizz the whiz
Southern California (5-1) better had not take it too easy tonight at home against Oregon State (4-2). Beavers  sophomore Jacquizz Rodgers is ninth in the nation in rushing and has a streak of 454 touches (387 rushes, 67 catches) without a fumble. In Oregon State’s most recent game two weeks ago, Rodgers rushed for 189 yards and four touchdowns, including a 61-yard dash off a direct snap in the team’s “Wild Beaver” formation, in a win over Stanford.

9. An SEC mess
Here’s to you, SEC commissioner Mike Slive. During the last week, Slive: 1. Suspended an officiating crew for blowing calls in two games; 2. Sent out a memo to member schools clarifying rules on crowd noise; and 3. Issued another edict prohibiting the use of tape to mark the spot for placing balls on field-goal attempts. He said there would be no penalty for teams that have used tape to date. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier questioned the legality of the tape last week when, he said, Alabama did it.

10. SpongeBob football pants
When new televisions were installed in Miami’s locker room earlier this season, they always would be tuned to ESPN. But after the Hurricanes lost to Virginia Tech, quarterback Jacory Harris, feeling that his team was a little too full of itself, ordered the TV channel changed to Nickelodeon, particularly SpongeBob Squarepants. “He said, ‘We ain’t watching ESPN, we ain’t watching CBS, we ain’t watching ABC,’” Miami coach Randy Shannon said. “If Sponge- Bob can tell you how good you are, then you deserve it.” The eighth-ranked Canes (5-1) host Clemson (3-3).

Games of the Week

South Florida at Pittsburgh, noon, 6ABC: Freshman Dion Lewis needs just 82 yards to reach 1,000 for the season as the Panthers look to start 7-1 for the first time since the days of Dan Marino.

Penn State at Michigan, 3:30 p.m., 6ABC, WNTP-AM (990), WNPV-AM (1440): Seeking to break a five-game losing streak at the Big House, the Nittany Lions can't afford to flunk their first real road test of the season.

Rhode Island at Villanova, 3:30 p.m., ESPN-AM (950): The Wildcats hope to give Andy Talley his 200th career coaching victory without putting him through too much stress.

Yale at Penn, 3:30 p.m., TCN, WFIL-AM (560): Given the Quakers' injury woes at quarterback, their defense must hold steady to keep them in the race for the Ivy League championship.

Tennessee at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., CBS3: The Crimson Tide can't relax because Vols veteran defensive guru Monte Kiffin spent the week figuring out ways to stop Mark Ingram.

Boston College at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., NBC10: The Fighting Irish couldn't break one losing streak last week against Southern Cal, now they look to snap a six-game drought against the Eagles.

Clemson at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPN: The Hurricanes must continue to receive consistent performances from QB Jacory Harris if they want to move up the BCS ladder.

Temple at Toledo, 7 p.m., WPHT-AM (1210): The Owls' defense must stop Rockets' QB Aaron Opelt, who is rolling up more than 320 yards of total offense per game.

TCU at BYU, 7:30 p.m., Versus: The Horned Frogs get a great chance to prove that they - and not Boise State - deserve the bowl bid that goes to the BCS "have-nots."

Florida at Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m., ESPN: Former Gators offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, now the Bulldogs' head coach, tries to find a way to stop his former protégé, QB Tim Tebow.

The Real Top 10

Joe Juliano's rankings for Week 8:

1.Florida
2.Alabama
3.Texas
4.Cincinnati
5.Miami
6.USC
7.Boise State
8.TCU
9.Iowa
10.Georgia Tech

Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com.