NO. 17 STANFORD AT NO. 7 NOTRE DAME, 3:30 p.m.

Stanford travels to Notre Dame, and the tailgate fare of choice will be knuckle sandwiches. The Irish haven’t allowed a touchdown in their past three games, haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown dating to late last year, and have surrendered 39 points in five games. Notre Dame (5-0) hasn’t trailed all season. And while Stanford (4-1) found itself in a wacky shootout last week against Arizona, that isn’t usually the Cardinal’s M.O. This game will be more of the back-alley brawl that suits the Cardinal better.

NO. 6 KANSAS STATE AT IOWA STATE, NOON

Don’t sleep on the Cyclones (4-1), who have jumped to No. 25 in the coaches poll. K-State is prospering partly because of a plus-10 turnover margin.

NO. 15 TEXAS VS. NO. 13 OKLAHOMA AT DALLAS, NOON

The annual Red River Rivalry doesn’t have quite the shine in 2012, with both teams having a loss. In the offense-obsessed Big 12, Texas has surrendered 31 points or more in three consecutive games. The Longhorns are converting 58 percent of third downs, while in the Bob Stoops era, Oklahoma allows 30.8 percent.

NO. 5 WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS TECH, 3:30 P.M.

The Mountaineers (5-0) are all the rage, and now coach Dana Holgorsen goes back to some of his pass-happy roots. It’s not only Geno Smith putting up crazy numbers; receiver Tavon Austin has at least 10 catches in all five games, and Stedman Bailey has a ridiculous 13 touchdown catches.

NO. 10 OREGON STATE AT BYU, 3:30 P.M.

Last time OSU played in Provo (1986), Bronco Mendenhall was a safety for the Beavers. Now he’s the BYU coach. OSU is seeking its first 5-0 start since 1939 with Cody Vaz at quarterback, but he’s looking at a BYU (4-2) defense No. 1 at defending the run at 59.5 yards per game, while OSU is sixth at 67.3.

NO. 11 SOUTHERN CAL AT WASHINGTON, 7 P.M.

True or not, there’s a perception that UW coach Steve Sarkisian’s head is inside the USC playbook. It will need to be to shackle Trojans receivers Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, the best tandem in college football since, since … when?

The Seattle Times