NEWS & NOTES: Sept. 11

Let's take an early look at some important showdowns in college football this weekend, starting with a key ACC showdown.

When Clemson hosts Georgia Tech, the Tigers figure to benefit tremendously from the return to full strength of blue-chip sophomore wideout Derrick Hamilton.

	Chan Gailey continues to do a superb job at Georgia Tech.

Against Georgia in Athens two weeks ago, Hamilton struggled mightily, limited by a high ankle sprain. Through the first two games, he's hauled in just four receptions for 37 yards. This week, though, Hamilton is reported to be 100 percent for the first time this season.

The key for the Tigers' defense will be slowing down Georgia Tech RB Tony Hollings. The converted DB is off to a fast start, rushing for 297 yards and six TDs while averaging an impressive nine yards every time he touches the football.

This week, Hollings will be facing a fast and athletic Clemson defense, keyed by DT Nick Eason, LBs John Leake and Rodney Thomas and rover Altroy Bodrick.

Leake, an instinctive performer and superior tackler, has 28 stops in two games. Bodrick, who is coming off a major knee injury, played with reckless abandon against Louisiana Tech after appearing to be a bit tentative in the season opener against Georgia.

As for coach Chan Gailey's Rambling Wreck, the level of competition changes dramatically. Following one-sided victories over Vanderbilt and Connecticut, they are at Death Valley this week before hosting BYU on Sept. 21.

While Tennessee transfer RB A.J. Suggs opens as the starter, Gailey has also been working talented redshirt freshman Damarius Bilbo into the mix. Look for Gailey to continue to pick his spots with Bilbo.

WASHINGTON STATE-OHIO STATE
In what shapes up as quite an intersectional battle Saturday, Pac-10 co-favorite Washington State travels to Columbus to take on Big Ten favorite Ohio State.

The Cougar attack -- led by multidimensional senior QB Jason Gesser and physically talented wideouts, highlighted by senior Mike Bush (6-5, 205) and sophomore Devard Darling (6-3, 205) -- squares off against a super-talented Buckeye defense that features the pass-rushing exploits of junior DE Will Smith.

Smith, who flies off the edge, has recorded five stops behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks. His ability to harass Gesser is a key, since Buckeye CBs Dustin Fox and Richard McNutt likely will have their hands full against Bush, Darling and company.

Of note, however, is the questionable injury situation of underrated Cougar WR Jerome Riley. The 6-1, 186-pound senior suffered a hamstring injury last week against Idaho. He hasn't practiced so far this week and is listed as questionable for Saturday.

Riley has five receptions in two games for a whopping 23.4-yard average and one TD. Bush has five catches for an impressive 21.8-yard average and one TD. Darling leads the way with 11 grabs for a 10.6-yard average and two TDs.

Standout redshirt freshman LB Will Derting is also questionable for Saturday's game. Derting suffered an ankle injury in the Cougars' win over Idaho and, like Riley, has yet to practice this week.

OLE MISS-TEXAS TECH
In another intriguing non-conference showdown, Ole Miss travels to Lubbock to take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. While the Rebels defeated Memphis last week, the final score of 38-16 is very deceiving.

The Rebels held just a 24-16 lead with five minutes to go, with a critical part of the equation being their outstanding special teams play. Senior wideout Jason Armstead made his mark against Memphis in the punt-return game, accounting for 157 return yards (which broke a 55-year-old school record that was previously set by Will Glover in 1947). Included was Armstrong's 62-yard punt return for a TD.

In the win over Memphis, field position was a major factor for Ole Miss. Credit Rebel punter Cody Ridgeway for a job well done. On four punts, Ridgeway averaged an impressive 48.2 yards.

This week against the Red Raiders, Ole Miss super blue-chip QB Eli Manning will be looking to gain the consistency that has been lacking in the early going. While he's thrown for nearly 400 yards and four TDs (and just one interception), Manning is completing just 50 percent of aerials.

One reason for the slow start has been the injuries which hampered the Ole Miss receiving corps throughout preseason practice. So far, their timing has been off, with Manning not yet in sync with his receivers.

On the injury front, it looks as though standout senior LB Eddie Strong could be sidelined again. Strong, who suffered an ankle injury on Aug. 17 during a scrimmage, has returned to practice. However, with this game being played on artificial turf at Jones Stadium, his status is questionable.

In the game last week against Memphis, Rebels head coach David Cutcliffe had to deal with several scares on the injury front. Quality veteran anchor Ben Claxton injured his knee during the first series but has returned to practice and figures to start against Texas Tech.

In addition, Manning caused some anxious moments for Cutcliffe and Rebel fans when he opted against sliding down when he turned upfield on just the second play of the game. The result of the hit was a bruised knee, which he played with the rest of the game. Rest assured that Cutcliffe has instructed Manning to never allow that to happen again. "Get into your slide mode or head out of bounds" had to be the theme of the week at Ole Miss.

The most serious injury for the Rebels last week was that of experienced backup CB and special teamer Marcus Woodson. He's out for the year after suffering a torn ACL.

As for the Red Raiders, high-profile senior QB Kliff Kingsbury has not yet clicked for 60 minutes, even though he's completing 62.3 percent of his passes for over 700 yards. Kingsbury has thrown six TD passes and three interceptions. Junior wideout Carlos Francis, a critical performer for the Red Raiders, is listed as day-to-day with a hamstring injury, although he is expected to see action on Saturday. Blue-chip senior OG Rex Richards returned to practice this week after missing the SMU game last Saturday because of a bruised knee.

USC-COLORADO
When the Colorado Buffaloes host USC this week, they'll be led by former juco All-American QB Robert Hodge. The athletically gifted 5-11, 185-pounder will be filling in for starter Craig Ochs, who is sidelined with a concussion.

While Hodge will have some questions to answer about his consistency throwing the football, expect the Buffaloes to take advantage of his ability to run the option and scramble for yardage. He's viewed as an explosive performer with the ability to make defenders miss.

For USC, RB Justin Fargas is still waiting to make his debut in a Trojan uniform. The former Michigan transfer has returned to the practice field this week, but his status for the Colorado game on Saturday is still questionable.

ARIZONA STATE-SAN DIEGO STATE
Quietly, the Arizona State Sun Devils have moved to 2-1, and if they come away with a victory on the road against a competitive San Diego State squad on Saturday, the next three games versus Stanford, North Carolina and Oregon State are at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.

The key thus far has been the vastly improved Sun Devil defense. Led by feared outside pass rusher Terrell Suggs and an athletically gifted secondary -- featuring sophomore blue-chippers Jason Shivers, Riccardo Stewart and R.J. Oliver -- the Sun Devils are flying around the field with reckless abandon.

Suggs has proven to be virtually unblockable, recording seven sacks in the first three games. Shivers is a big-time FS, while Stewart has come out of nowhere to lead the defense with 24 tackles. Oliver is making his mark as one of the top young cover men in the Pac-10.

Against San Diego State, Oliver and redshirt freshman CB Josh Golden will be matched up with talented Aztec senior wideouts J.R. Tolver and Kassim Osgood. Osgood, who sat out last year after transferring from Cal-Poly, brings eye-catching size (6-4, 210) and tremendous overall skill to the Aztec aerial attack. In two games, Osgood has 23 receptions for a 10.3-yard average, while Tolver is averaging 13.2 yards on 18 catches.

CAL-MICHIGAN STATE
The 2-0 Cal Golden Bears travel to East Lansing on Saturday to face Michigan State, where all eyes will be on the Spartans' supremely gifted junior wideout, Charles Rogers.

At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Rogers brings a Randy Moss-like skill level to the position. He's able to just take over games with his awesome talent and competitive approach. In the first two games, Rogers has 13 receptions for a staggering 22.5-yard average and three TDs. Eleven of those catches have produced first downs.

Look for Rogers to be working against CB Jameel Powell, the Golden Bears' steadily improving senior. After a sub-par 2001 campaign, Powell has performed at a solid level so far, coming away with a pair of interceptions in the opener against Baylor, one of which he returned 26 yards for a TD.

WEST VIRGINIA-CINCINNATI
When West Virginia travels to Cincinnati, a key for head coach Rich Rodriguez's Mountaineers will be finding a way to keep super blue-chip senior DE Antwan Peek at bay.

Based on the early returns in the season opener against TCU, it appears that Peek is set to become a more complete DE while still maintaining his status as one of the more effective pure pass rushers in the nation.

In the victory over TCU, Peek was credited with 10 tackles, including three for loss, and one sack. He also caused a fumble and had three QB hurries.