Mike Kern: Villanova football can't afford to decline Big East invitation

I don't know what Villanova is going to do. I don't think Villanova knows what it's going to do. It ain't my money. Or commitment. But if it were, I'd be all in.

For the second time in 13 years, Villanova's football program has an opening to join all of the university's other sports at the FBS level in the Big East. It's not going to be an easy decision, mostly because it's not a decision about now.

Nobody knows what the landscape of college athletics might look like in 2020. Or maybe even 2012, given the way things were getting shaken up over the summer. And the movement could just be revving up. Still, there is something everyone seems to agree upon: It's all about the company you keep. And football is where most of the power (translated: money) lies. At least in the BCS conferences.

Moving forward, do you want to be one of the haves, or not?

Even though a bunch of issues must be resolved, it really is that fundamental.

If Villanova's basketball team was doing what it did from 1989-2003, which is win three NCAA games, maybe the answer would be different. But Jay Wright's Wildcats have become a brand well-worth protecting. Ultimately, this could be as much about that as anything else.

There's something to be said for being an FBS football member, when the doors close at NCAA meetings. And even more so, if you're in a BCS conference. What if the Big East football schools go their separate ways? Or the six BCS football conferences break away and also have their own basketball tournament?

Can't happen? After what's already gone down, it would be foolish to think that anything's impossible. So, again, in any of those scenarios, which side of the equation do you want to end up on?

Yes, there are risks, mainly financial. Do they outweigh the potential downside of standing pat? Nova Nation hasn't gotten behind FCS football, but 20,000 go to South Philly four or five times each winter to watch hoops against the Syracuses and Connecticuts of your food chain. Because it's big time. Can that translate to BCS football? That's pretty much the multimillion-dollar conundrum.

The crystal ball says . . .

Villanova doesn't have to be Alabama. But is trying to be Boston College or Wake Forest such an unattractive alternative?

A lot of schools salivate about being in Villanova's position. How many get a first opportunity? When you have the most chips, you control the table. And, in this for instance, your destiny.

There's nothing wrong with what Villanova has. But this isn't 2020 or beyond. At some point, a little foresight never hurts.

Florida is going for its sixth consecutive win over Tennessee. Who was the Volunteers' quarterback the last time they beat the Gators (30-28 in 2004)? See "Answer man."

-- North Carolina State is 2-0 for the first time since 2002, when it won the first nine games before losing the next three (finished 11-3). The Wolfpack gets Cincinnati (1-1) at home tonight.

-- UCLA, which hosts Houston, is trying to avoid its first 0-3 start since 1997. That team won its last 10, including a 29-23 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M.

Erik Ainge, who passed for three touchdowns as the Vols beat Florida back-to-back for the first time since 1971.

Small-college showdown

It might not be Ohio State and Miami. But in Division III, it doesn't get much more substantial than No. 8 Delaware Valley (2-0) at No. 3 Wesley (2-0) Saturday afternoon in Dover, Del.

Particularly this early.

"You don't get better unless you play the best," said Del Val coach Jim Clements, whose team is coming off a 27-0 home win over then-No. 20 Washington & Jefferson. "At our level, there's probably four teams that are above everyone else. Then everyone falls into place after that. They've been one of those four."

The Wolverines, who've beaten Christopher Newport (34-6) and Frostburg State (47-0) on the road, made it to the national semifinals in 2005, '06 and again last season. The only programs with more wins (than 58) in that time frame are Mount Union and Wisconsin-Whitewater, which have combined to take the last five championships.

Del Val has played Wesley each of the last three seasons, but this looks like the last scheduled meeting for the forseeable future because the Middle Atlantic Conference is adding another member in 2011. Wesley won by 18 last September in Doylestown, against a team that would get to the second round of the playoffs. Two years ago, the Aggies won by three at home. And, in 2007, they lost by three down there, after leading by 14.

"We have to play almost a perfect game," Clements said. "But we look forward to this. It's exciting. There's not a lot of teams that want to play us. Our players know how good they are. They want to prove to everyone that they can hang with those guys.

"It helps that we've played them before. The two times we lost, we basically killed ourselves. It's really the best measuring stick we can put ourselves up against right now, to know exactly where we're at. I tell the kids when we recruit them that we're going to play big games. If you want to be playing in December, this is the kind of challenge you're going to face . . .

"Our league games are the most important, because that's our automatic [NCAA] qualifier. But a game like this goes a long way in getting you ready for that."

Clements believes the highest the Aggies have ever been in the polls was No. 7, at the end of the 2005 season after they lost to Rowan in the third round.

Matt Cook, who just set a school record by scoring his 34th touchdown, needs 109 more yards to become Del Val's all-time leading rusher.

Wesley, which has several Division I transfers, lost senior quarterback Shane McSweeney to an injury in the opener. But junior Justin Sottilare has completed 33 of 61 passes for 521 yards and seven scores.

Kent State's Eugene Jarvis needs 519 yards to break the school career rushing record of 3,989, held by Astron Whatley. He missed all but six quarters in 2009, then was granted a sixth season of eligibility. He had the most yards of any FBS returnee. He also has a groin injury that will keep him out of Saturday's game against Penn State.

Ball State's MiQuale Lewis, a fifth-year senior, needs 527 yards to become that program's all-time leader. Marcus Merriweather has the record, at 4,002.

Today

8: Cincinnati at NC State, ESPN

8: Kansas at Southern Mississippi, ESPN

10: California at Nevada, ESPN2

Noon: Connecticut at Temple, Channel 6

Noon: New Hampshire at Rhode Island, CN

Noon: Vanderbilt at Mississippi, CSN

Noon: Arkansas at Georgia, ESPN

Noon: Kent State at Penn State, ESPN2

Noon: Maryland at West Virginia, ESPNU

Noon: Ohio at Ohio State, Massachusetts at Michigan, Northern Illinois at Illinois, Ball State at Purdue, Big Ten

3:30: Florida at Tennessee, Channel 3

3:30: Nebraska at Washington, Channel 6

3:30: Towson at Villanova, CN

3:30: USC at Minnesota, ESPN

3:30: Arizona State at Wisconsin, ESPN2

3:30: BYU at Florida State, ESPNU

4:30: Baylor at TCU, Versus

5: Indiana at Western Kentucky, Big Ten

7: Clemson at Auburn, ESPN

7: Mississippi State at LSU, ESPNU

7: Lafayette at Penn, Channel 60

8: Notre Dame at Michigan State, Channel 6

8: Texas at Texas Tech, ESPN2

10:30: Houston at UCLA, CSN

10:30: Iowa at Arizona, ESPN

10:30: UNLV at Idaho, ESPNU

11:20: Wake Forest at Stanford, ESPN2