www.roanoke.com

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

OKLAHOMA AT MIAMI

8 p.m. Saturday | WSET

Storyline: After their 31-7 loss to Virginia Tech last week, the Hurricanes (2-1) will try to regroup in a prime-time matchup against the No. 8-ranked Sooners (2-1).

"It's going to hurt," Miami coach Randy Shannon said of the Tech defeat. "It hurt Sunday. It hurt Monday. But we came back Tuesday, and we got back going quick."

Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, who was injured in a season-opening loss to BYU, has been working towards a return. Coach Bob Stoops said he won't know until late this week whether Bradford can go.

"Is he able to make all the throws?" Stoops said. "Is he able to do it without too much soreness? How does he react the next day? All of those things need to be determined."

If he can't play, Landry Jones will make his third straight start under center.

Oklahoma leads the nation in scoring defense and rushing defense.

FLORIDA STATE AT BC

3:30 p.m. Saturday | WSET

Storyline: A 17-7 home loss to South Florida left the Seminoles (2-2, 0-1) looking for answers to their inconsistency.

"Play well, play bad, play well, play bad..." FSU coach Bobby Bowden lamented, blaming the ups and downs on a lack of mental focus.

"Glaring mistakes," he said. "You get down in the red zone and fumble the ball twice. You get down on the 3-yard line, first down, and don't score. You give 'em two uncontested touchdowns.

"Man, if we don't stop that, we won't beat anybody."

The Seminoles face a BC team (3-1, 1-1) coming off an OT win against Wake Forest and trying to prove the perpetual doubters wrong yet again.

"I don't think we've proved anything this year yet," BC coach Frank Spaziani said.

The road team has won each of the past four meetings.

CLEMSON AT MARYLAND

Noon Saturday | ESPNU

Storyline: The Tigers (2-2, 1-1) cleaned up their turnover issues and ran the ball effectively against a stout TCU rush defense last week, but their red-zone offense fizzled. That could change against the Terrapins (1-3, 0-0), who are ranked 103rd in total defense.

"The biggest thing we've got to do is finish some plays," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.

Maryland is minus-10 in turnover margin. Coach Ralph Friedgen has punished the entire offense with up-downs after fumbles and interceptions this week in practice.

"If we can stop that, I think you'll see a big growth in our team," he said.

N.C. STATE AT WAKE FOREST

3:30 p.m. Saturday | ESPNU

Storyline: Both the Wolfpack (3-1, 0-0) and Demon Deacons (2-2, 0-1) had games go to the final seconds last week, with State defeating Pittsburgh 38-31 and Wake falling to BC in OT.

"I don't think it's easy to put one of those games behind you," Wake coach Jim Grobe said.

The nation's No. 1 defense will get a test from veteran Wake Forest QB Riley Skinner.

"He has tremendous pocket presence," State coach Tom O'Brien said. "He doesn't take sacks. He understands where the pressure's coming from."

GEORGIA TECH AT MISS. STATE

7:30 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Yellow Jackets (3-1) won this matchup 38-7 in Atlanta last season, but the Bulldogs (2-2) -- who nearly upset LSU last week -- should be better equipped to stop the triple-option this year.

GARDNER-WEBB AT VMI

1:30 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Bulldogs (2-1, 0-0 Big South) look to go to 7-0 all-time vs. VMI (1-2, 0-0).

After allowing more than 340 yards passing to both JMU and Richmond, the Keydets hope to do better against G-W QB Stan Doolittle (624 passing yards.

"They really throw it very well," VMI coach Sparky Woods said of the Bulldogs. "We've obviously got to pressure the quarterback better so we do not have to cover them as long. If we can put them in passing situations where it's second-and-long, third-and-long, then we can have an opportunity to get a better pass rush and play the pass."

FERRUM AT N.C. WESLEYAN

1 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Panthers (2-1) open USA South play against North Carolina Wesleyan (1-2, 0-0).

Wesleyan was picked second and Ferrum third in the league's preseason coaches poll.

Bo Jordan has thrown for 742 yards for the Bishops.

"We're going to have to score with them, because they're going to score," Ferrum coach Dave Davis said.

W&L AT RANDOLPH-MACON

1 p.m. Saturday

Storyline: The Generals (1-3) open ODAC play against the Yellow Jackets (2-2, 1-0).

All three of W&L's losses have been by six points or fewer.

"We're not that far off," coach Frank Miriello said. "We're a young, inexperienced team. Defensively, I'm surprised at how well we picked it up. ... I'm happy where we're at right now, even though we're 1-3."

Due to injury problems, John Fitzgibbons (Martinsville) will switch from tackle to center.