With the release of the initial Bowl Championship Series standings, the path to the championship game has become clear for the three teams atop the poll: Ohio State, USC, and Michigan. The third-ranked Wolverines face their final tough test before a possible undefeated showdown with the Buckeyes, while several other teams with BCS aspirations also face challenging opponents. Here’s a look at the weekend’s key games:

NO. 9 TEXAS (6-1, 3–0 BIG 12) AT NO. 17 NEBRASKA (6-1, 3–0)
(Saturday, 12 p.m., ABC))

The BCS standings contained some disappointing news for Texas, which found itself behind three other one-loss teams — Auburn, Florida, and Notre Dame — as it attempts to overcome an early season loss to Ohio State to reach the BCS title game.

All hope is not lost for the Longhorns, who will get a boost in the computer portion of the rankings if they can beat Nebraska for the sixth time in seven meetings. Nebraska also has BCS aspirations, but the Cornhuskers must win this game to keep hope of an at-large invite alive.

To do so, Nebraska will have to be much more aggressive than it was in its only other game against top competition: a curiously passive loss at USC on September 16. The Huskers have made great strides in their third year of running the West Coast offense under Bill Callahan, and they must exploit Texas’s vulnerabilities in the secondary to have a chance.

On defense, Nebraska must create pressure on Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who threw a school-record six touchdown passes against Baylor last week.

NO. 23 IOWA (5-2, 2-2 BIG TEN) AT NO. 3 MICHIGAN (7-0, 4–0)
(Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC)

Iowa was supposed to challenge Michigan and Ohio State for the Big Ten title this season, but the Hawkeyes were routed at home by the Buckeyes and were stunned by Indiana last week to fall out of the race. Still, this a talented team with a veteran quarterback and an excellent coach, and they pose a serious threat to derail what is turning into a dream season for Michigan.

The Wolverines will play in the BCS title game if they finish undefeated, and they cleared a major hurdle on that path last week, with a 17–10 win in a night game at Penn State.The game was not as close as the final score would suggest, as Michigan’s dominant front seven abused the Penn State offensive line and knocked two quarterbacks out of the game with concussions.

Expect Iowa to move the pocket for DrewTate and employ lots of quick passes to neutralize the Wolverines pass rush. On the ground, it’s likely to be tough sledding for the Hawkeyes with or without injured tailback Albert Young. Michigan is tops in the nation against the run, allowing just 32.6 yards a game.

Michigan is again expected to be without leading downfield threat Mario Manningham, but quarterback Chad Henne picked his spots against Penn State and found Adrian Arrington for a scoring pass. Mike Hart should find some room to run against an Iowa defense that gave up 158 yards on the ground to Indiana last week.As long as the Wolverines avoid a rash of turnovers, they should be on their way to an 11–0 mark when they face Ohio State November 18.

NO. 16 RUTGERS (6-0, 1–0 BIG EAST) AT PITTSBURGH (6-1, 2–0)
(Saturday, 5:45 p.m.,ESPN2)

The Big East was thought to be a two-team conference with West Virginia and Louisville, yet Rutgers and Pittsburgh have dispelled that notion. None of the league’s top teams has faced each other to this point, meaning the winner of this contest will emerge as a legitimate threat to knock off either the Cardinals or Mountaineers.

Rutgers is coming off its most impressive victory of the season, a 34–0 blanking of Navy in which the Knights showed off their 10th-rated run defense.Still, Pittsburgh is the most complete team Rutgers has faced this year, and the Knights will have their hands full with senior quarterback Tyler Palko, who leads the nation in passing efficiency. Palko also has big-game experience, having won at South Bend and started in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago. Rutgers needs pressure from its front four to force Palko into bad decisions, something he has had a propensity for when pressured.

Offensively, Rutgers got its most productive game of the year from quarterback Mike Teel (215 yards, 3 TDs) in the victory over Navy, but this is still a team that wins with the ground attack, led by sophomore tailback Ray Rice.

One could argue this is the biggest game in Rutgers history — and that’s saying a lot for program that played in the first-ever college football game in 1869.

NO. 19 GEORGIA TECH (5-1, 3–0 ACC) AT NO, 12 CLEMSON (6-1, 3–1)
(Saturday, 7:45 p.m.,ESPN)

That this may be the game of the year in the ACC comes as a surprise to virtually everyone. But with Miami and Florida State struggling, this contest between ACC division leaders could serve as a preview of the conference championship game in December.

Each team comes in on a five-game winning streak, and both should be rested. Georgia Tech had a bye last week, while Clemson had the next-best thing: a Thursday-night game against Temple.

Georgia Tech rarely looks dominant, except where receiver Calvin Johnson is concerned, yet the Yellow Jackets keep finding ways to win. If not for a conservative second-half game plan in the season-opener against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech might be undefeated coming into this contest.

The best way for Clemson to limit Johnson, quite simply the most dominant player in college football, is for its defensive line to force Georgia Tech quarterback Reggie Ball into bad decisions and for its offense to control the clock with its power-running game.

If Clemson is able to run against Georgia Tech’s aggressive defensive front, the Tigers should emerge victorious and remain atop the ACC’s Atlantic Division. But the presence of Johnson gives Georgia Tech more than a puncher’s chance to pull off the upset.

Mr. Levine is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com