Florida State lost its No. 1 ranking while winning by 18 points on the road over Syracuse last Saturday. Imagine that. The standards are so high and so many teams can compete at the highest level that simply winning no longer carries privilege.

The smarting Seminoles (6-0), now ranked No. 2 behind Mississippi State, can regain some of that missing luster when they host No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday night. The 6-0 Irish have fashioned two impressive comebacks in recent weeks to beat Stanford and North Carolina but their defense, which allowed 510 yards to the Tar Heels, will be challenged by FSU quarterback Jameis Winston.

Here’s a little comfort for the Seminoles: The Irish are 1-16 against top-five teams since 1999, including eight straight losses, and seven in a row by at least 13 points.

OTHER GAMES WE’LL BE WATCHING

No. 4 Baylor (6-0) at West Virginia (4-2): Expect racehorse football from start to finish. Baylor’s defense is leaky and WVU’s Clint Trickett and receiver Kevin White are a potent tandem. White has five straight 100-yard games and leads the nation with 888 receiving yards. Baylor freshman K.D. Cannon averages 22 yards a catch.

No. 14 Kansas State (4-1) at No. 11 Oklahoma (5-1): Neither team can afford a loss in the Big 12. Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight has struggled in conference play and the Sooners vaunted defense has allowed 96 points in three conference games.

No. 15 Oklahoma State (5-1) at No. 12 TCU (4-1): More Big 12 fun. The Cowboys have a young defense and the Horned Frogs rank third among major college, scoring 45.8 points a game. Crank up the generator, the scoreboard needs help.

Today’s question

Which games will you be watching, and why?

Answers in the comment box, please.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .