The Front Seven tackles Saturday's top games

• A win at Southern California puts Notre Dame on the verge of the BCS title game
• Florida and Florida State meet in Tallahassee with BCS dreams of their own
• Stanford travels to UCLA with a chance to sew up a spot in the Pac-12 title game ... against UCLA

1. For the money: Topping the marquee Saturday, of course, is No. 1 Notre Dame's bid to secure a spot in the BCS title game after being ranked a barely mentionable 24th in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. Even with a loss Saturday at archrival Southern California (8 p.m. ET, ABC), the Fighting Irish will almost certainly be in a BCS game. That's where the Trojans expected to be, but a four-loss campaign has them hoping to play spoiler, and now they'll be without starting QB Matt Barkley (shoulder). His replacement, Max Wittek, is a redshirt freshman, meaning he's had nearly two full seasons to absorb the Trojans' system. Moreover, he has the arm strength to take advantage of the team's biggest assets, WRs Marqise Lee and Robert Woods. He is unlikely to get much ground support since the Trojans haven't had much success there all season, and few teams stop the run better than LB Manti Te'o and the Fighting Irish. The USC defense can mount a solid pass rush, led by DE Morgan Breslin, but Notre Dame QB Everett Golson is mobile enough to avoid trouble. He'll count on TBs Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick along with TE Tyler Eifert to keep USC's big-play targets off the field.

2. For the show: No. 5 Florida State and No. 6 Florida stage their annual showdown in Tallahassee (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) with higher stakes than in recent years. Just how high, however, will depend on circumstances beyond either team's control, as the winner would still need a few breaks to reach the top two in the BCS rankings. They should nevertheless put on a competitive, if not particularly high-scoring, contest. Gators QB Jeff Driskel (ankle) will be available, but he's likely to be under duress all day from Seminoles DEs Bjoern Werner and Cornellius Carradine. The Florida interior line must provide superb protection and create room for TB Mike Gillislee from the outset. FSU QB EJ Manuel and his backfield mates, TBs Devonta Freeman and James Wilder Jr., can also expect heat from Gators DT Shariff Floyd. Neither secondary is likely to give up many long gainers, so it is a good bet that the veteran kickers, Florida's Caleb Sturgis and FSU's Dustin Hopkins, will play some role in the outcome.

3. To get ready: No. 11 Stanford's final Pac-12 contest of the regular season at No. 16 UCLA (6:30 p.m. ET, Fox) will have a strange dynamic, not just because both teams are coming off emotional victories. UCLA's place in next week's league title game is secured. But the Bruins might wind up playing Stanford again if the Cardinal win or if Oregon loses to Oregon State. But the Bruins could only host the game if they win, and Stanford would rather not leave its own spot in the title tilt to chance. UCLA TB Johnathan Franklin is the Pac-12's second-leading rusher, but he might have a harder time this week finding real estate against Shayne Skov and the Cardinal's superb crew of linebackers. Bruins QB Brett Hundley is going to have to test the deep waters, if only to keep the Stanford secondary honest. Cardinal TB Stepfan Taylor and Bruins LB Eric Kendricks are going to become well acquainted, but the Bruins' second-level defenders must also account for Cardinal TE Zach Ertz.

4. To go: No. 12 South Carolina looks to make it four wins in a row in the series against No. 9 Clemson (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). But the host Tigers have shown far more consistency this season, and a victory in this home finale could mean an at-large BCS invitation. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd and his dazzling array of weapons, WRs Sammie Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins as well as TB Andre Ellington, have been on a tear in their closing ACC stretch. Boyd figures to face more of a challenge from the Gamecocks' front, though DE Jadeveon Clowney (foot) might not be at full speed. South Carolina QB Connor Shaw's offense has understandably struggled since losing TB Marcus Lattimore to injury. Clemson DE Vic Beasley will try to disrupt his rhythm further, but WR Bruce Ellington is capable of breaking loose.

5. Blue suede horseshoe? No. 20 Michigan die not receive the help it needed to win the Big Ten Legends Division. But a victory at unbeaten Ohio State (noon ET, ABC) would certainly raise the Wolverines' spirits heading into the postseason. The Buckeyes can't play for the Big Ten or BCS championships, but QB Braxton Miller & Co. can make a final statement for Heisman and AP poll voters against their biggest rivals. TB Carlos Hyde can help, Wolverines LB Desmond Morgan will try to keep them bottled up. Michigan's new-look offense with QB Devin Gardner at the controls and Denard Robinson becoming an all-purpose threat will test the Buckeyes' defensive preparations. OSU DE John Simon, however, might be able to stifle plays before they get started.

6. You can do anything? Maybe, but No. 4 Oregon's overtime loss to Stanford means they no longer can play their own way into the national championship game. The Ducks aren't completely out of the equation, but another setback at 'Civil War' rival No. 17 Oregon State (3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Networks) would remove them and hand the Pac-12 North title to Stanford. The first priority for Oregon is to recapture its offensive momentum. QB Marcus Mariota and RBs Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas do most of their damage when they get to the outside, a fact that will not be lost on LB Michael Doctor and the Beavers' defensive front. The injury issues in the Ducks' secondary haven't gone away, which could bode well for OSU's pass-heavy attack with a healthy Sean Mannion back at QB. But powering the ball on the ground is not the Beavers' strength, and Ducks' LB Michael Clay hopes to keep it that way.

7. For another show: No. 13 Oklahoma hosts this year's edition of "Bedlam"against No. 21 Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), in what could be one of the day's most entertaining contests. The Sooners will also look to stay in the picture for at least a share of the Big 12 championship. After outlasting West Virginia in the kind of wild shootout that has typified league play this season, QB Landry Jones & Co. might have to put up another high score. The weapons are there, notably WRs Kenny Stills and Justin Brown along with TB Damien Williams. The Cowboys are piling up points as well despite taking a beating at the QB position. Clint Chelf will get another start this week, and having conference rushing leader Joseph Randle behind him has helped him settle in. WR Josh Stewart should again be his primary target. Sooners S Tony Jefferson and Cowboys LB Alex Elkins figure to do a lot of chasing in this one.