Even Undefeated, Kansas, Hawaii Fight for Respect

The upper reaches of the college football polls are sprinkled with teams that were nowhere to be found in the preseason rankings, the repercussion of a season-long run of upsets. As a result, some games that once looked like marquee affairs, such as last night's Louisville–West Virginia tilt and USC at Cal tomorrow, have slipped in importance. Still, this remains an important weekend for teams with Bowl Championship Series aspirations. ESPN's College Gameday may have opted to set up shop at the Amherst-Williams game, but here are the games that will have the most impact on the BCS picture:

No. 18 AUBURN (7–3, 4–2 SEC) At No. 10 GEORGIA (7–2, 4–2)
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS

No conference has been more reflective of this topsy-turvy season than the SEC. The home of the defending national champions (Florida), the SEC currently boasts the no. 2 team in the BCS standings (LSU), and a glut of schools that are either reflective of the league's depth — or its mediocrity, depending on your point of view.

Auburn and Georgia are two of seven ranked SEC teams, yet Georgia is the only school, besides LSU, to have fewer than three losses. Even so, the Bulldogs do not control their own destiny in the SEC East and must hope for a Tennessee loss to reach the conference championship game. Auburn stumbled to a 1–2 start, but its only loss over the last seven games was a last-second defeat to LSU.

Auburn, eighth nationally in total defense, will have its hands full with running back Knowshon Moreno and a Georgia offense that has lately been explosive. Moreno has had back-to-back career games, and is enjoying the best season by a Georgia freshman back since the legendary Herschel Walker.

Auburn's national-title hopes were derailed in a loss to Georgia last year. The Tigers have little chance to win the SEC this season, but can position themselves for an SEC at-large bid if they can pull off the road win.

No. 4 KANSAS (9–0, 5–0 Big 12) At OKLAHOMA STATE (5–4, 3–2)
Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC

As South Florida and Boston College have fallen, Kansas has assumed the mantle of the nation's most surprising team this season. The Jayhawks' early success was mostly the product of a soft schedule (they miss both Texas and Oklahoma in the Big 12's rotational regular-season schedule and their toughest non-conference foe was Central Michigan). But they are starting to open eyes after scoring 76 points against Nebraska last week.

Kansas is currently on the outside of the title-game picture looking in, but the school has the best opportunity to move up among the contenders. The Jayhawks have yet to play BCS no. 6 Missouri, and a win in that game could put them in the Big 12 championship against no. 5 Oklahoma. It might be tough for pollsters to avoid jumping Kansas over the likes of LSU and Oregon if it can finish undefeated — and look good in the process.

Statistically, Kansas is one of the nation's most well-rounded teams. It is the only school to rank in the top-10 nationally in both total offense and total defense. Oklahoma State is the complete opposite: explosive on offense (eighth overall) and awful on defense (101st). Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing (six touchdown passes against Nebraska) and tailback Brandon McAnderson (four rushing scores) should be in for another big day against the Cowboys' porous defense.

NFL scouts will be watching one key matchup in this game. Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib may be the best in the nation, and he'll spend much of the game locked up with Oklahoma State receiver Adarius Bowman, another top NFL prospect.

FRESNO STATE (6–3, 5–1 WAC) At No. 16 HAWAII (8–0, 5–0)
Saturday, 11 p.m., ESPN2

While Kansas may get knocked for a soft schedule, the Jayhawks' slate looks like a brutal slog compared to Hawaii. Still, by remaining undefeated, the Warriors have put themselves in position to earn a berth in a BCS bowl. Fresno State is by far the best team Hawaii has faced this season — but the Bulldogs have to visit the Islands, where Hawaii enjoys one of the greatest home-field advantages in all of sports.

Despite the late start in the East, this game represents one of the few chances the nation has to see both the Warriors and their star quarterback, Colt Brennan. A preseason Heisman favorite, Brennan can still play himself onto the award's stage in New York with some big performances down the stretch. His unorthodox release point looks strange to the naked eye, but it's tough to argue with its effectiveness. Brennan's lightning-quick release and uncanny accuracy are what make him an NFL prospect, not just the ridiculous numbers he puts up in coach June Jones's run-and-shoot offense.

Brennan was at maximum efficiency last week, throwing six touchdown passes in a 50–13 rout of New Mexico State, despite the Warriors' possession of the ball for just over 21 minutes.

Fresno State will likely try to follow a similar approach, pounding the ground game to keep the ball out of Brennan's hands. Clifton Smith and Ryan Matthews each had better than 100 yards in a win over Utah State a week ago.

Hawaii needs to reach no. 12 in the BCS standings to guarantee a spot in one of the marquee bowl games. The Warriors should be able to get there if they finish 12–0 against a closing schedule that also includes Nevada and Boise State (combined record: 13–5) and Washington of the Pac-10.

Mr. Levine is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.