He was a professor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and the son of a U.S. senator in Virginia Beach had plans for him.

“‘Pat Robertson would like to talk to you about starting a new university,’” Clark said, relating the conversation Thursday to The Pilot. Clark said he was reluctant to move — he had tenure and a job he enjoyed — but agreed to take a year off to work on setting up the university. If nothing else, he said, it would be a valuable experience. He eventually became a founding provost for what became Regent University and an executive at Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network.

Robertson died Thursday at his home in Virginia Beach. He was 93.

The host of the conservative Christian talk show “The 700 Club” sometimes drew criticism for controversial comments, and was accused of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and homophobia. But those who knew Robertson personally describe him as a man of God.

Clark remembers Robertson had one office and a “run-down” TV station in Portsmouth. The first year, the university only offered a master’s program in communications and enrolled 77 students. He said the university had nothing — no buildings, no books. They began offering classes in a rented space in Chesapeake, buying books to try to build a library.

But Clark said Robertson would often quote from the Bible in those early days: “Do not despise the days of small beginnings.”

Clark said he didn’t dream that Regent — now a top evangelical Christian college — would become what it is today, nor did he anticipate the enormous effect it has had on Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.

But Clark said Robertson was “extremely bright,” with driving ambition.

“These great people of God, and Pat was among them, are able to see beyond the immediate,” he said.

Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer said he got to know Robertson in the late 90s, when Dyer was a doctoral student in Regent University’s first class for the School of Leadership, and then during the years he spent on faculty. Dyer said Robertson was always friendly and inspirational, and the two bonded over their time in the Marine Corps.

“When I came up with some challenges with being mayor, he would pray for me and counsel me,” he said.

Dyer said with CBN and “The 700 Club,” Robertson put Virginia Beach on the map globally. And he said Regent University has turned into one of the “jewels” of Virginia Beach.

Dyer said in addition to drawing students from all over the country, Regent spurred development in the area and had a positive financial impact on the city.

He remembers when the area around Regent was a two-lane road “with nothing but farmland on both sides.” Now, Dyer says, Indian River Road has one of the highest traffic counts in the city.

“It really just had a very, very profound positive impact on the city.”

Amanda Staggenborg, chief communications officer for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, said Robertson played a pivotal role in shaping the university he founded.

“His dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to Regent University have left an indelible mark on its faculty, staff, students, and alums,” Staggenborg said. “Under Pat’s visionary guidance, Regent University achieved remarkable milestones and significantly contributed to the academic community. He fostered an environment of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity, leaving a lasting legacy to inspire future generations.”

The snow fell, and so did the revenue

Chances are, you didn’t go out much during the winter storm and you weren’t the only one. Once the roads were clear, a consultant calculated that the snowfall caused about $53 million in lost retail and restaurant revenue over four days in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area – sales that won’t likely be made up.

Other losers were hourly workers, who either couldn’t get to work or were sidelined because their employer chose not to open.

Making room at Oceanfront for a SEALs tribute

A retired Navy SEAL is leading an effort to bring a SEAL heritage monument to the Boardwalk — specifically, a stand-alone SEAL monument featuring the “Naked Warrior” statue on 38th Street.

A stone wall capped with granite and inscribed with the history of SEALs and their predecessors would surround it. A star for every SEAL and a paw print for every SEAL war dog killed in the line of duty would be embedded in the wall.

For the first time in years, a new face at head of Beach School Board

For the first time in 18 years, the city’s School Board is getting a new leader. The board on Tuesday night selected Beverly Anderson as its chairwoman.

Dan Edwards had served as chairman since 1999. He was the longest-serving School Board leader in South Hampton Roads history.

Edwards, who was elected vice chairman, said he wanted to spend more time with family.

This is the game of the year, and Ohio State’s best chance to solidify its hold on the playoffs. The hype truly has been a thing to behold. These are two historic programs that haven’t been this good at the same time in years. There’s just one problem: Michigan starting QB Wilton Speight may not play. Coach Jim Harbaugh is playing his typical mind games, saying the Richmond native is “day-to-day.” But shoulder injuries are no joke, and neither is how lousy Michigan’s offense has been without him. Ohio State is playing at home with a healthy QB and an even healthier amount of confidence in the offense. The ratings for this game will be high everywhere, but perhaps nowhere higher than in central Pennsylvania. An Ohio State win would mean Penn State can reach the Big 10 title game by beating Michigan State. Noon, WVEC

2 – No. 16 Auburn at No. 1 Alabama

Here’s a fun thought experiment: What would Alabama have to do to miss the playoffs? Given their undisputed status as the top-ranked team, would losses today and next week in the SEC title game be enough to keep the Tide out of the field? Would anything? Suspending half the team? Like many thought experiments, though, this one is a waste of time. The Tide are huge favorites for a reason. Auburn’s statistics look almost as good as Alabama’s, with the exception of those three losses and a lucky win against lowly Vanderbilt. But if Auburn can’t run the ball, it can’t win. And Alabama doesn’t let anybody run the ball. The Tide’s offense has no such limitations. 3:30 p.m., WTKR

3.– No. 21 Utah at No. 9 Colorado

The Pac-12 may not get a team in the playoff, but no one can say it’s hasn’t been exciting. This is the second game in two days that will determine a division title. Colorado would advance with a win, which makes USC the most unlikely group of Utah fans in the world. Many teams have staged unexpected resurrections in 2016, but Colorado’s is the most impressive. The Buffalos won only one Pac-12 game last year and have lost only one this year. They do it the old-fashioned way: They have the best rushing attack and the best defense in the conference. 7:30 p.m., WVBT

4 – No. 13 Florida at No. 15 Florida State

For the last few years, this has been a “rivalry” in the same sense that fire and dry wood have a rivalry. Florida State has won the last three and five of the last six. The Gators are heading to the SEC title game, but don’t go thinking they’re actually all that good. The offense hasn’t scored more than 10 points in a month. The “D” must continue its otherwordly play to have a chance, which is a tall order. FSU averages 36 points and about 500 yards; even half that could be enough. 8 p.m., WVEC

5 – Notre Dame at No. 12 USC

This doesn’t look like much of a game on paper, but Saturday’s events in Los Angeles are all about subtext. Notre Dame is imploding on the field and off (the Irish’s list of problems now includes an academic scandal.) We’re going to find out how motivated Notre Dame players are to fight for the job of coach Brian Kelly, because it’s on the line now. Meanwhile, it’s hard to overstate how much USC has improved since the season-opening humiliation at the hands of Alabama. Two months ago, USC coach Clay Helton was the one all the pundits expected to be fired. Now he’s a legitimate candidate for coach of the year, and it all started when he let super-freshman QB Sam Darnold take the reins. 3:30 p.m., WVEC

ALSO ON THE AIR

FRIDAY

Houston at Memphis, noon, WVEC

N.C. State at North Carolina, noon, ESPN

Northern Illinois at Kent State, noon, CBSSN

Arkansas at Missouri, 2:30 p.m., WTKR

Nebraska at Iowa, 3:30 p.m., WVEC

Boise State at Air Force, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Washington at Washington State, 3:30 p.m., WVBT

TCU at Texas, 3:30 p.m., FS1

Louisiana Tech at Southern Miss, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS

Toledo at W. Michigan, 5 p.m., ESPN2

Baylor vs. Texas Tech, 6 p.m., ESPN

Cincinnati at Tulsa, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Arizona State at Arizona, 9:30 p.m., ESPN

SATURDAY

Illinois at Northwestern, noon, BTN

Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville, noon, ESPN

Rutgers at Maryland, noon, ESPNEWS

Purdue at Indiana, noon, ESPNU

Kansas at Kansas State, noon, FS1

Georgia Tech at Georgia, noon, SEC

Syracuse at Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., WGNT

Boston College at West Virginia, 3 p.m., CSN

FIU at Old Dominion, 3:30 p.m., 94.1FM

Navy at SMU, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 102.1FM

Michigan St. at No. 8 Penn St. 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Minnesota at No. 5 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., BTN

San Jose State at Fresno State, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Duke at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

No. 19 West Virginia at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., FS1

Mississippi State at Mississippi, 3:30 p.m., SEC

Tulane at UConn, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS

Grambling vs. Southern, 5 p.m., NBCSN

W. Kentucky at Marshall, 7 p.m., ESPNU

UCLA at California, 7 p.m. ESPN2

No. 24 Tennessee at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., SEC

South Carolina at No. 4 Clemson, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Colorado State at San Diego State, 9 p.m., CBSSN

Utah State at BYU, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU

Wyoming at New Mexico, 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

This is shaping up to be a very competitive contest, and it will go a long way toward determining who wins the the Big 12 championship. It’s also an elimination game in the national tournament, with the winner having a good shot at the final spot in the playoff (and a date with Alabama). Despite having two terrible nonconference losses and only nominal opposition in the Big 12, Oklahoma (8-2 overall, 7-0 Big 12) has rebuilt its reputation in recent weeks. The defense has recovered against weaker competition, and QB Baker Mayfield has 17 TDs and only two picks in his last four games. West Virginia (8-1, 5-1) must continue to run the ball effectively to win – an area in which Oklahoma’s defense has been wildly inconsistent. But the Sooners may be vulnerable through the air. They allow nearly 300 yards per game. 8 p.m., WVEC

2. No. 20 Washington State at No. 12 Colorado

Anyone who says he predicted this would be a matchup of division leaders in the Pac-12 is either lying or Nostradamus. It helps that these teams have combined to play only two ranked opponents all season before today. Colorado (8-2 overall, 6-1 Pac-12) averages more than 200 rushing yards per game, and the Buffalos are likely to win if they hit that number again. If they don’t, the defense will have a hard time keeping up with the super-prolific passing attack that Washington State (8-2, 7-0) throws at you. 3:30 p.m., WVBT

3. No. 2 Ohio State at Michigan State

Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) is in an odd spot – second in the AP poll, second in the playoff rankings, yet unlikely to make the Big 10 title game or the playoff thanks to the loss to Penn State. The Buckeyes have to keep winning, and this will be a good warmup for the war against Michigan next week. Michigan State (3-7, 1-6) and its implosion is the strangest story of the year. Noon, ESPN

4. No. 15 USC at UCLA

Another strange story from this season is the resurrection of USC (7-3 overall, 6-2 Pac-12). The knives were out for coach Clay Helton when the Trojans were 1-3. Now, his team actually has a path – albeit a narrow on – to the playoff. Freshman QB Sam Darnold is the real deal, as he proved last week against Washington. 10:30 p.m., ESPN

5. No. 21 Florida at No. 16 LSU

Here’s all you need to know about the offenses in this game: Both starting quarterbacks transferred from Purdue, and neither was a starter back in August. If any game ever seemed destined to end 2-0, it’s this one. 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Also on the air

Iowa at Illinois, noon, BTN

Morgan State at Army, noon, CBSSN

UTSA at No. 23 Texas A&M, noon, TBA

Kansas State at Baylor, noon, ESPN2

Maryland at No. 19 Nebraska, noon, ESPNEWS

No. 6 Wisconsin at Purdue, noon, WVEC

Texas-San Antonio at Texas A&M, noon, ESPNU

No. 13 Oklahoma State at TCU, noon, FS1

Richmond at William & Mary, noon, CSN, WTVZ

Yale at Harvard, 12:30 p.m., CNBC

U.Va. at Georgia Tech, 12:30 p.m., WGNT, 850AM

Lafayette at Lehigh, 12:30 p.m., MASN

Norfolk St. at Hampton, 12:30 p.m., 1310AM, 91.1FM

Florida at LSU, 1 p.m., SEC

VMI at Wofford, 1:30 p.m., 1650AM

Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida. A&M, 2 p.m., ESPN Classic

Indiana at No. 4 Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Missouri at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m., WTKR

No. 17 Florida State at Syracuse, 3:30 p.m., WVEC

Texas at Kansas, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

No. 24 San Diego St. at Wyoming, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Texas Tech at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m., FS1

Va. Tech at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., WAVY, 790AM

Villanova at Delaware, 3:30 p.m., CSN

Buffalo at No. 14 W. Mich., 3:30 p.m., WTVZ, ESPNU

Navy at ECU, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS, 102.1FM

Austin Peay at Kentucky, 4:30 p.m., SEC

Old Dominion at Florida Atlantic, 5 p.m., 94.1FM

No. 5 Clemson at Wake Forest, 7 p.m., ESPN

Chattanooga at No. 1 Alabama, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Arkansas at Mississippi St., 7 p.m., ESPNU, 94.1FM

Marshall at FIU, 7 p.m., MASN, WTVZ

Arizona St. at No. 7 Washington, 7:30 p.m., WVBT

No. 9 Penn State at Rutgers, 8 p.m., BTN

Tulsa at Central Florida, 8 p.m., ESPNEWS

Mississippi at Vanderbilt, 8 p.m., SEC

N.C. Central at N.C. A&T, 10:30 p.m., ESPNU (tape-delayed)

Air Force at San Jose State, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN

New Mexico at Colorado State, 10:30 p.m., ESNP2

Also in the Top 25

No. 11 Utah vs. Oregon, 2 p.m.

No. 18 Auburn vs. Alabama A&M, 7:30 p.m.

When last we saw USC, the Trojans (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) were being humiliated by Alabama (isn’t everyone, though?) in the first week of the season. They were so bad it seemed the coach might be fired, but then the schedule eased up, freshman Sam Darnold (pictured) became the quarterback and USC took off. Still, this game is all about Washington and its chances for a national title. Now that the playoff committee has put the Huskies (9-0, 6-0) in the top four, they have to keep winning to stay there. Given the committee’s crush on teams from the Big Ten, even winning every game might not be enough for Washington to make the playoff. Style points could matter. 7:30 p.m., WVBT

2) No. 12 Penn State at Indiana

Speaking of the playoff committee’s crush on Big Ten teams, here’s Penn State! A team that lost to Pitt, and then to Michigan by 39 points is in the top 10 of the playoff rankings. To be fair, Penn State (7-2, 5-1 Big Ten) has resurrected its season. Since upsetting Ohio State, the Nittany Lions have been very impressive. This is probably the last possible loss on their schedule – and only because this game is at Indiana (5-4, 3-3). The stats for the two teams look very similar. For a team that was on the ropes less than two months ago, Penn State is very close to playing on New Year’s Day. Noon, ESPN

3) No. 25 Baylor at No. 9 Oklahoma

The playoff committee definitely does not have a crush on the Big 12, and why should it? Oklahoma is the conference’s best bet to make the playoff, and the Sooners (7-2, 6-0) lost to Houston for heaven’s sake. But that’s nothing compared to the problems at Baylor (5-2, 3-2), where the football program is falling apart. Last week’s 62-22 loss to Texas Christian proved the team is a shadow of its former self. Noon, ESPN2

4) No. 11 West Virginia at Texas

Texas’ season has been like an unpleasant carnival ride, but things are improving at the right time. RB D’onta Foreman somehow has 591 rushing yards in the last two games(!!) and the team has righted the ship. Still, the defense is a tire fire and the Longhorns need another win to play in a bowl and (maybe) save coach Charlie Strong’s job. Noon, Fox Sports 1

5) California at No. 23 Washington State

If you can only watch one game today, and your favorite team isn’t playing, watch this one. For all the talk about Washington State’s “improved” defense, the Cougars allow more than 500 yards per game … and they’re still better than Cal’s awful defense. The QBs have combined for almost 6,500 passing yards(!) and 58 TDs(!!). This game could become the perfect storm of offense. 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Also on the air

Rutgers at Michigan State, noon, BTN

South Carolina at No. 22 Florida, noon, WTKR

Tulsa at Navy, noon, CBSSN, 102.1FM

Cincinnati at Central Florida, noon, ESPNU

SMU at East Carolina, noon, ESPNEWS

Mississippi State at No. 1 Alabama, noon, ESPN

William & Mary at Towson, noon, CSN, WTVZ

N.C. State at Syracuse, 12:30 p.m., WGNT

Baylor at Oklahoma, noon, ESPN2

Lafayette at Colgate, 1 p.m., MASN

The Citadel at VMI, 1:30 p.m., 1650AM

Miami at Virginia, 2 p.m., 850AM

Norfolk State at S.C. State, 2 p.m., 1310AM, 91.1FM

Southern Miss at ODU, 3:30 p.m., WTVZ, 94.1FM

Pittsburgh at No. 3 Clemson, 3:30 p.m., WVEC

No. 8 Auburn at Georgia, 3:30 p.m., WTKR

Tulane at Houston, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Georgia Tech at No. 18 Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 790AM

Texas Tech at No. 17 Okla. State, 3:30 p.m., FS1

No. 6 Ohio State at Maryland, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Illinois at No. 7 Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Army vs. Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m., WAVY

Vanderbilt at Missouri, 3:30 p.m., SEC

Delaware at Richmond, 3:30 p.m., CSN

No. 24 Boise State at Hawaii, 7 p.m., CBSSN

No. 19 LSU at Arkansas, 7 p.m., ESPN

Wake Forest at No. 5 Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN2

South Florida at Memphis, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Middle Tenn. State at Marshall, 7 p.m., WTVZ

Minnesota at No. 21 Nebraska, 7:30 p.m., BTN

Mississippi at No. 10 Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m., SEC

No. 2 Michigan at Iowa, 8 p.m., WVEC

Colorado State at Air Force, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU

New Mexico at Utah State, 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

San Diego State at Nevada, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN

No. 16 Colorado at Arizona, 11 p.m., FS1

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

So, here we are again. This will be the sixth(!) game of the year the Tide (8-0, 5-0 SEC) have played against a ranked foe. The previous five opponents didn’t do so well. Last week’s 19-point win over Texas A&M was, unbelievably, the closest game of the bunch. So what could make LSU different? Well, the Tigers (5-2, 3-1) will have the best player on the field in RB Leonard Fournette. He’s been hurt most of the season but came back to torch Mississippi last week for 284 yards. The LSU defense is almost as good as Alabama’s, which is saying something. The Tigers allow only 15 points per game. The problem comes on offense, where they average 14 fewer points than the Tide. 8 p.m., WTKR

2) No. 9 Nebraska at No. 6 Ohio State

Has there been a less impressive one-loss team than Ohio State? The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) were touted as a potential juggernaut, but something has been … off with them this year. But even after losing to Penn State and almost losing to Northwestern, Ohio State still has a narrow path to the playoff. Step one is Saturday against a suprising Nebraska team that is 7-1 overall, 4-1 in the league and proved its mettle in an overtime loss at Wisconsin a week ago. 8 p.m., WVEC

3) No. 22 Oklahoma State at Kansas State

These are dark days for the Big 12: The conference is not represented in the top 10 and won’t be represented in the playoff. Oklahoma State (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) is the team of the moment after dominating West Virginia last week, but this is exactly the kind of game the Cowboys lose – on the road against a well-coached team that plays good defense. 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

4) Iowa at No. 20 Penn State

It’s too soon to say Penn State (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) is back, but the trend line is very encouraging. After years of NCAA sanctions and general malaise, the young Nittany Lions scored a huge upset of Ohio State and made it look legitimate by dominating Purdue. Iowa (5-3, 3-2) represents the toughest game left on the schedule and, suddenly, a 10-win season is within reach. Penn State will have the best player on the field – and one of the best in the country – in RB Saquon Barkley. 7:30 p.m., Big 10 Network

5) Georgia Tech at No. 18 UNC

There’s still plenty of time for chaos in the ACC’s Coastal division. Virginia Tech is in the best position to advance to the title game, but the Tar Heels (6-2, 4-1 ACC) are lurking. That makes this a must-win for UNC, but the Yellow Jackets (5-3, 2-3) are always dangerous with the triple option. 12:30 p.m., WGNT

Also on the air

Navy vs. Notre Dame, 11:30 a.m., WTKR, 102.1FM

No. 8 Wisconsin at Northwestern, noon, WVEC

Indiana at Rutgers, noon, BTN

Air Force at Army, noon, CBSSN

No. 5 Louisville at Boston College, noon, ESPN2

No. 7 Texas A&M at Mississippi St., noon, SEC

Vanderbilt at No. 11 Auburn, noon, ESPN

Michigan State at Illinois, noon, ESPNEWS

Georgia Southern at Mississippi, noon, ESPNU

Texas at Texas Tech, noon, FS1

Penn at Princeton, noon, CSN

Gardner-Webb at Chas. Southern, noon, WTVZ

Georgia Tech at North Carolina, 12:30 p.m., WGNT

VMI at Western Carolina, 2 p.m., 1650AM

Virginia at Wake Forest, 3 p.m., 850AM

Virginia Tech at Duke, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU, 790AM

Syracuse at No. 3 Clemson, 3:30 p.m., WVEC

Maryland at Michigan, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Purdue at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m., BTN

No. 10 Florida at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m., WTKR

BYU at Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

TCU at No. 13 Baylor, 3:30 p.m., WVBT

Oregon State at Stanford, 3:30 p.m., FS1

James Madison at Richmond, 3:30 p.m., CSN

Charlotte at Southern Miss, 3:30 p.m., WTVZ

Memphis at SMU, 4 p.m., ESPNEWS

Missouri at South Carolina, 4 p.m., SEC

Norfolk State at Savannah State, 5 p.m., 1310AM, 91.1FM

Marshall at ODU, 7 p.m., WTVZ, 94.1FM

Hawaii at San Diego State, 7 p.m., CBSSN

No. 19 Florida St. at N.C. State, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Iowa at Penn State, 7:30 p.m., BTN

Georgia at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m., SEC

Kansas at No. 14 West Virginia, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Nebraska at Ohio State, 8 p.m., WVEC

Alabama at LSU, 8 p.m., WTKR

East Carolina at Tulsa, 8 p.m., ESPNEWS

Nevada at New Mexico, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU

Utah State at Wyoming, 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

No. 4 Washington at Cal, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Also in the top 25

No. 25 Washington State vs. Arizona, 4 p.m.

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

Writing about Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC) is a lot like writing a Superman movie. Superman is the most well-known superhero, but it can be difficult to craft a compelling story about him because he’s invincible. Same deal with Alabama. Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has propelled himself into the Heisman discussion as the leader of an offense scoring 45 points a game. But he might not be the top pro prospect; that honor belongs to one of many on the defense that’s allowing only 15 points per game. Texas A&M (6-0, 4-0) is the best team the Tide has played, one with an offense that can score in bunches and a defense allowing just 19.2 points a game. But keep this in mind: Bama has played four games vs. ranked teams and has outscored them 198-89. 3:30 p.m., WTKR

2) Memphis at No. 24 Navy

After losing star QB Keenan Reynolds to graduation, and then his replacement to injury, Navy (4-1 overall, 3-0 AAC) still is position to have a magical season. But first things first: Memphis (5-1, 2-0) is a 2 1/2-point favorite, with its only loss coming to Mississippi. The winner will be in first in the AAC’s West Division and will have a chance at a top bowl. 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network and 102.1 FM

3) Eastern Michigan at No. 20 Western Michigan

Like the previous game and the TCU-West Virginia game below, this is an intriguing matchup involving an unranked team. Like many MAC games, this will be an entertaining shootout. Both teams score a lot (44.3 ppg for Western Michigan) and play a lot of matador defense. A win by EMU (5-2, 2-1 MAC) would throw open the MAC West Division race. 3:30 p.m., WTVZ

4) No. 23 Mississippi at No. 25 LSU

Around this time every season, there are a series of matchups of SEC teams that are ranked in the low 20s of the AP poll – and there’s another one of them today with Arkansas-Auburn. Neither team is going to win the conference, or even finish second in a division. But it will be entertaining matchup of a team that scores at will but can’t stop anyone (Mississippi) and one with an excellent defense and a high-school offense (LSU). 9 p.m., ESPN

5) TCU at NO. 12 West Virginia

With very little fanfare, West Virginia (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 12) has an excellent season in the works and has a chance to get in the conversation for the playoff. The Mountaineers’ schedule starts to get harder Saturday, though, with a visit from TCU (4-2, 2-1), a team that turns the ball over too much but still manages to score 40 a game. West Virginia is playing the best defense in a defensively-challenged conference, as evidenced by the excellent job it did against Texas Tech’s scoring machine last week. The Mountaineers rushed for more than 300 yards in that win. 3:30 p.m., WVEC

Also on the air

N.C. State at No. 7 Louisville, noon, WVEC

Texas at Kansas State, noon, ESPN2

No. 10 Wisconsin at Iowa, noon, ESPN

Indiana at Northwestern, noon, BTN

North Texas at Army, noon, CBSSN

UCF at UConn, noon, ESPNEWS

Rutgers at Minnesota, noon, ESPNU

Oklahoma State at Kansas, noon, FS1

UMass at South Carolina, noon, SEC

Kennesaw State at Gardner-Webb, noon, MASN

Lehigh at Holy Cross, noon, WTVZ

Syracuse at Boston College, 12:30 p.m., WGNT

Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State, 2 p.m., 1310 AM, 91.1FM; 10:30 p.m., ESPNU (tape delay)

VMI at Chattanooga, 2 p.m., 1650AM

No. 22 North Carolina at Virginia, 3 p.m., CSN, 850AM

Purdue at No. 8 Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

TCU at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m., WVEC

Illinois at No. 3 Michigan, 3:30 p.m., BTN

Texas A&M at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., WTKR

Memphis at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN, 102.1 FM

Monmouth at Liberty, 3:30 p.m., MASN

Tulane at Tulsa, 3:45 p.m., ESPNU

No. 19 Utah at UCLA, 4 p.m., WVBT

Middle Tennessee at Missouri, 4 p.m., SEC

No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn, 6 p.m., ESPN

ODU at Western Kentucky, 7 p.m., WTVZ, 94.1FM

East Carolina at Cincinnati, 7 p.m., CBSSN

No. 11 Houston at SMU, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Western Carolina at Samford, 7 p.m., MASN

Michigan State at Maryland, 7:30 p.m., BTN

Tennessee State at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

Mississippi State at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m., SEC

No. 2 Ohio St. at Penn State, 8 p.m., WVEC, 1310 AM

No. 16 Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 8 p.m., WVBT

Fresno State at Utah State, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN

Wyoming at Nevada, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2

Also in the top 25

No. 5 Washington vs. Oregon State, 6:30 p.m.

– Compiled by Brian Root, The Pilot

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

Tennessee (5-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) has earned a reputation for playing poorly, then rallying. That has earned the Volunteers so much respect from voters that a close loss to Texas A&M didn’t even hurt them in the polls. Suffice it to say, that kind of play won’t cut it against Alabama (6-0, 3-0). Tennessee will be without two top defenders, which is bad news against anyone and terrible news when you’re about to play the Tide. The most important player for Alabama will be true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has thrown for nine touchdowns with only two interceptions. 3:30 p.m., WTKR

2) No. 2 Ohio State at No. 8 Wisconsin

Ohio State (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) has looked like Godzilla all season, but now is when the schedule gets tougher. The Buckeyes still must play all the top Big Ten teams, and they have a couple problems to solve – most notably a poor passing attack. QB J.T. Barrett’s average play hasn’t mattered against the likes of Rutgers and Tulsa, but Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1) plays top-flight defense and won’t be bothered by pressure. This is the Badgers’ fourth game against a top-10 foe this season. Still, Wisconsin will need to generate more offense to earn the upset – the 14-7 loss to Michigan proved the defense-first approach can keep the Badgers in the game against good teams, but can’t secure a victory. 8 p.m., WVEC

3) North Carolina at No. 16 Miami

Miami (4-1 overall, 1-1 ACC) has made it this far largely because of its excellent defense. The Hurricanes allow only 13 points and fewer than 300 yards per game. They may need to do it again today because QB Brad Kaaya has a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, UNC (4-2, 2-1) has some recovering to do from last week’s soggy beat-down by Virginia Tech. The loser of this game likely will be out of ACC Coastal Division race. 3:30 p.m., WVEC

4) No. 12 Mississippi at No. 22 Arkansas

How unbalanced are the SEC’s two divisions? Both of these teams would be threats to win the SEC East, but they don’t play there. So Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1) is fifth and Arkansas (4-2, 0-2) is seventh in the SEC West. Mississippi will play its first true road game of the season – the second will be next week against LSU – and it needs a win to have any chance at a top-tier bowl. Arkansas has beaten Mississippi two straight times. 7 p.m., ESPN

5) No. 20 West Virginia at Texas Tech

In the offense-crazed world of the Big 12, West Virginia (4-0, 1-0) is what passes for a defensive power because it only allows 20 points per game. Texas Tech, meanwhile, is doing what it always does: scores a lot of points, then waits for its defense to allow yet another touchdown. For example, the Red Raiders (3-2, 1-1) scored 55 points against Arizona State two weeks ago … and lost by 13. For all you wannabe NFL draft scouts, the person to watch here is Texas Tech QB Patrick Mahomes II. The son of a former MLB pitcher, he leads the nation with 2,274 passing yards. Noon, Fox Sports 1

Also on the air

Iowa at Purdue, noon, ESPN2

Kansas St. at No. 19 Oklahoma, noon, ESPN, 94.1FM

Minnesota at Maryland, noon, ESPNU

N.C. State at No. 3 Clemson, noon, WVEC

Lafayette at Army, noon, CBSSN

Illinois at Rutgers, noon, ESPNEWS

Vanderbilt at Georgia, noon, SEC

JMU at New Hampshire, noon, CSN, WTVZ

Pitt at Virginia, 12:30 p.m., WGNT, 850AM

VMI at Samford, 3 p.m., 1650AM

No. 10 Nebraska at Indiana, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Wake Forest at No. 14 Florida St., 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Northwestern at Michigan St., 3:30 p.m., BTN

No. 24 W. Michigan at Akron, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN

Air Force vs. New Mexico, 3:30 p.m., ESPNEWS

Southern Cal at Arizona, 3:30 p.m., WVBT

Kansas at No. 11 Baylor, 3:30 p.m., FS1

Villanova at Richmond, 3:30 p.m., CSN

Louisiana Tech at UMass, 3:30 p.m., WTVZ

Missouri at No. 18 Florida, 4 p.m., SEC

UConn at South Florida, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Tulsa at No. 13 Houston, 7 p.m., ESPN2

FAU at Marshall, 7 p.m., MASN, WTVZ

Temple at UCF, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU

Stanford at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m., WAVY

Southern Miss. at LSU, 7:30 p.m., SEC

Colorado St. at No. 15 Boise St., 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

Nevada at San Jose State, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN

UCLA at Washington State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

Also in the top 25

No. 21 Utah at Oregon State, 4 p.m.

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

The pundits are coming around on Tennessee (5-0) as a threat to win the SEC, but color us skeptical. Last week’s win over a hobbled Georgia was the textbook definition of luck, and the Vols have trailed in four of their five wins. But hey, it’s better to be lucky than good – and the Vols might get lucky again today because all-everything Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is still injured. If the Aggies’ excellent pass rush isn’t up to par, then Tennessee QB Joshua Dobbs can take advantage of a questionable secondary. Texas A&M will try to go 6-0 for the first time in 22 years, led by a typically crazy offense that’s averaging almost 40 points a game. 3:30 p.m. Saturday, WTKR

2) Texas at No. 20 Oklahoma

If you believe the ominous internet reports from Austin and Norman, this game may have a lot in common with professional wrestling: The loser might have to leave town. Texas’ win over Notre Dame looks much less impressive now, its defense has done its best impression of a pasta colander in two straight ugly losses, and powerful people in Texas are starting to use the words “coach Charlie Strong” and “fired” in the same sentence. Oklahoma (2-2, 1-0 Big 12) was touted as a playoff contender, but that was two losses ago. Coach Bob Stoops is considered more safe after last week’s win over TCU, but his defense still allows 35 points per game. Noon Saturday, Fox Sports 1

3) No. 23 Florida State at No. 10 Miami

Speaking of playoff contenders whose seasons have imploded, here’s Florida State. The Seminoles are 3-2 overall, 0-2 in ACC play and it’s easy to see why: The defense is allowing 35 points and 438 yards per game. After a fairly easy schedule, this is Miami’s chance to prove it deserves that top-10 ranking. The aptly-named Hurricanes (4-0, 1-0) are allowing 11 points per game but they haven’t faced an offense like this. 8 p.m. Saturday, WVEC

4) No. 1 Alabama at No. 16 Arkansas

The people who think someone in the SEC actually might beat Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) believe this is the part of the Tide’s schedule where it can happen. Maybe they’re right, but Arkansas’ leaky defense allows 163 rushing yards per game and gave up 45 points in a loss to Texas A&M. Even with a freshman QB, Alabama’s offense is eerily balanced and productive – 253 passing yards, 232 rushing yards per game. 7 p.m. Saturday, ESPN

5) No. 5 Washington at Oregon

The pundits wondered whether Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) is for real until the Huskies humiliated Stanford. Now the Pac-12’s only remaining hope for a playoff spot will travel to Oregon for what looks like a trap game against the Ducks, who have one last chance to right a sinking ship. Oregon’s defense is a dumpster fire – Washington State has 651 yards against the Ducks last week – but the offense is still productive. Oregon (2-3, 0-2) has beaten Washington 12 straight times, but for the first time in years the Ducks will play as a distinct underdog (9 points). 7:30 p.m. Saturday, WVBT

Also on the air

Cincinnati at UConn, 11:30 a.m., CBSSN

Iowa at Minnesota, noon, ESPN2

Maryland at Penn State, noon, BTN

ECU at South Florida, noon, ESPNEWS

TCU at Kansas, noon, ESPNU

Notre Dame at N.C. State, noon, WVEC

Auburn at Mississippi State, noon, SEC

Rhode Island at Villanova, noon, CSN, WTVZ

Georgia Tech at Pittsburgh, 12:30 p.m., WGNT

No. 6 Houston at Navy, 1 p.m., CBSSN, 102.1FM

ETSU at VMI, 1:30 p.m., 1650AM

BYU at Michigan State, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Indiana at No. 2 Ohio State, 3:30 p.m., ESPN

Iowa State at Oklahoma St., 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

Purdue at Illinois, 3:30 p.m., BTN

William & Mary at JMU, 3:30 p.m., CSN

Vanderbilt at Kentucky, 4 p.m., SEC

N. Illinois at W. Michigan, 6:30 p.m., CBSSN

No. 4 Michigan at Rutgers, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Texas Tech at Kansas State, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Arizona at Utah, 7 p.m., FS1

Stony Brook at Towson, 7 p.m., CSN

Marshall at North Texas, 7 p.m., WTVZ

Utah State at Colorado State, 10 p.m., CBSSN

UCLA at Arizona State, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2

Wash. St. at No. 15 Stanford, 10:30 p.m., ESPN

UNLV at San Diego State, 10:30 p.m., ESPNU

Bethune-Cookman at South Carolina State, 2:30 a.m., Sunday, ESPNU (tape-delayed)

Georgia at South Carolina, 2:30 p.m,. Sunday, SEC

Also in the top 25

No. 21 Colorado at Southern Cal, 4 p.m.

No. 24 Utah vs. Arizona, 10 p.m.

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com

How impressive has Louisville (4-0, 2-0 ACC) been? Consider this: The Cardinals are favored against a top-5 team on the road. Their offensive statistics look like a series of crazy typos – 682 yards per game, 64 points per game. And Lamar Jackson continues to be a superhero and a clear favorite for the Heisman. But a little perspective never hurts: Clemson (4-0, 1-0) is a difficult place to win, the Tigers’ defense allows only 11 points per game and Clemson QB Deshaun Watson is going to be a top-10 draft pick . It’s still relatively early in the season, but the winner of this one likely will win the ACC’s Atlantic division (unless Florida State can pull itself together soon). 8 p.m. WVEC

2) NO. 8 WISCONSIN AT NO. 4 MICHIGAN

So many college games feature teams with wide-open offenses and questionable defenses. Here, not so much. Michigan (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) is a surprisingly large favorite (10 points), but Wisconsin can at least keep it close by doing two things: stop the Wolverines’ rushing attack and put points on the board. Michigan averages 230 rushing yards per game and racked up 326 last week against Penn State. Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) has allowed only 80 rushing yards per game, so something’s going to give there. 3:30 p.m., WVEC

3) NORTH CAROLINA AT NO. 12 FLORIDA STATE

This game has “shootout” written all over it. The offense for UNC (3-1, 1-0 ACC) has been impressive, with QB Mitch Trubisky throwing for more than 1,300 yards and 10 TDs with no interceptions. A loss would end Florida State’s dreams of a national title, and maybe even its chances at an ACC title. The Seminoles’ best bet is their best player, RB Dalvin Cook. UNC’s run defense has been lousy, allowing more than 240 yards per game. Florida State (3-1, 0-1) has to get a few stops on defense, though, and those have been surprisingly hard to come by. The Seminoles are last among Power 5 conference teams in yards allowed per play (6.78) and have have allowed 30 or more points in all three games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. 3:30 p.m., ESPN

4) NO. 14 MIAMI AT GEORGIA TECH

Who would’ve guessed there would be so many interesting ACC games? Finally, we’re going to learn something about Miami, unless you think that win over Florida Atlantic was meaningful. The ACC’s Coastal division is shaping up to be a free-for-all, and Georgia Tech needs a win to stay in touch with the rest of the teams near the top. Noon, ESPN2

5) NO. 11 TENNESSEE AT NO. 25 GEORGIA

Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC), the team that barely beat Appalachian State and Ohio, can put itself in a strong position with a win. The Volunteers can use all the momentum they can get, because after this game, the schedule gets much harder. Georgia (3-1, 1-1) is in dire straits regardless because star RB Nick Chubb is hurt and QB Jacob Eason is a freshman. 3:30 p.m., WTKR

ALSO ON THE AIR

Notre Dame vs. Syracuse, noon, ESPN

No. 22 Texas at Oklahoma State, noon, WVEC

Rutgers at No. 2 Ohio State, noon, BTN

UCF at East Carolina, noon, CBSSN

SMU at Temple, noon, ESPNEWS

Northwestern at Iowa, noon, ESPNU

No. 13 Baylor at Iowa State, noon, FS1

No. 23 Florida at Vanderbilt, noon, SEC

Virginia at Duke, 12:30 p.m., WGNT, 850AM

Mercer at VMI, 1:30 p.m., 1650AM

Howard at Norfolk State, 2 p.m., 1310AM, 91.1FM

Illinois at No. 15 Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2

Minnesota at Penn State, 3:30 p.m., BTN

Navy at Air Force, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN, 102.1FM

Kansas State at West Va., 3:30 p.m., ESPNU

Tulane at UMass, 3:30 p.m., WTVZ

No. 9 Texas A&M at S. Carolina, 4 p.m., SEC

Oklahoma at No. 21 TCU, 5 p.m., WVBT

Old Dominion at Charlotte, 5 p.m., 94.1 FM

W. Michigan at C. Michigan, 7 p.m., CBSSN

Kentucky at No. 1 Alabama, 7 p.m., ESPN

Memphis at No. 16 Mississippi, 7 p.m., ESPN2

South Florida at Cincinnati, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Missouri at LSU, 7:30 p.m., SEC

No. 17 Michigan State at Indiana, 8 p.m., BTN

No. 19 S. Diego St. at S. Ala., 8 p.m., ESPNEWS

Arizona State at USC, 8:30 p.m., WVBT

Utah St. at No. 24 Boise St., 10:15 p.m., ESPN2

Wyoming at Colorado State, 10:15 p.m., ESPNU

Fresno State at UNLV, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN

ALSO IN THE TOP 25

No. 18 Utah at California, 6 p.m.

No. 20 Arkansas vs. Alcorn State, Noon

?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com