While the top teams in the Big Ten are still licking their wounds from last week’s shocking losses, the SEC looks ahead to the conference race this Saturday with the season’s first scheduled meeting between conference heavyweights. Elsewhere Notre Dame, which has gone from unranked to no. 10 in the AP poll after road wins over Pitt and Michigan, finally opens at home against upset-minded Michigan State. And in the ACC, a pair of matchups between ranked teams will help to shape the conference race.

(5) TENNESSEE AT (6) FLORIDA
(Saturday, 8 p.m., CBS)

This is expected to be the best game of the day, a contest with SEC and national-title implications. The game also kicks off what is effectively a round-robin competition among the top contenders in the SEC: Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and LSU.

While most of the attention will go the offenses, it’s the defenses that are likely to determine the winner. Tennessee has been off since a shakier-than-expected season-opening win over UAB. Coach Phil Fulmer has turned to Rick Clausen to start at quarterback after he outplayed the more-heralded Erik Ainge in that contest, but both are likely to see time. Clausen has shown poise since taking over the starting job late last season, and spreads the ball all over the field, taking what the defense gives him. The Vols will also feature a standout running back in Gerald Riggs, Jr., who can help to keep the pressure off whichever QB is under center. That will be important against an athletic Florida defense that is ranked fifth in the nation after two weeks.

For Florida, this game represents the biggest test ever for coach Urban Meyer’s vaunted spread-option offense. He consistently won with the attack at both Bowling Green and Utah – where his Utes went undefeated and won the Fiesta Bowl last season – but in doing so never played a team ranked higher than no. 19 in the polls. Gator quarterback Chris Leak has looked good throwing the ball in the complex scheme, but has struggled with the option game. He’s sure to face a much sterner test against a Tennessee defense that is considered one of the nation’s best. A big performance in a Florida win could propel Leak into Heisman consideration.

(8) FLORIDA ST. AT (17) BOSTON COLLEGE
(Saturday, 7:45 p.m., ESPN)

In the ACC, no. 8 Florida State, fresh off wins over Miami and The Citadel, travels to no.17 Boston College in a key game in the conference’s Atlantic Division. The Seminoles could barely move the ball against Miami, and were actually trailing 10-3 late in the second quarter against The Citadel before exploding in the second half for a 62-10 win. Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford ended up throwing for 342 yards in that game after mustering just 67 against the Hurricanes. Another effort like the Miami game will likely result in a loss against a tough Boston College defense led by defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka.

Weatherford looked completely overmatched against Miami and will need help from the running back tandem of Lorenzo Booker and Leon Washington to slow down the pass rush of the Boston College front seven. If Weatherford struggles, look for Xavier Lee, more of a scrambler, to see some action.

This is the first-ever ACC conference game for Boston College,2-0 after dominating BYU and Army and allowing just 10 points in the process. Quarterback Quinton Porter is likely to have his hands full with a Seminole defense that has speed at every position, particularly the linebackers.

(13) MIAMI AT (20) CLEMSON
(Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC)

Another Atlantic Division team, Clemson, will suddenly be a factor in the ACC conference race if it can beat Miami for the second straight year. Clemson is already battle tested after grinding out a pair of come-from-behind wins over Texas A &M and Maryland. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst looks more like the standout of 2003, rather than the confused, struggling player he was last year, and leads the ACC in passer efficiency rating. His job has been made much easier by a strong offensive line and a deep stable of running backs led by Reggie Merriweather and James Davis. Look for Clemson to establish the run early and open things up for Whitehurst downfield.

Miami outperformed Florida State in most areas of their lost last week, but was done in by a poor kicking game. Inexperienced but highly touted quarterback Kyle Wright weathered a storm of pass rushers against FSU and threw the ball well when given time. Look for him to throw it often to Greg Olsen, the latest in a long line of standout Miami tight ends, as the Hurricanes look to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1977.

MICHIGAN ST. AT (10) NOTRE DAME
(Saturday, 3:30 p.m., NBC)

If there’s one team that is the national storyline thus far, it is Notre Dame, whose season is suddenly full of possibilities. New coach Charlie Weis is no doubt concerned about overconfidence as his squad hosts Michigan State in its home opener Saturday (3:30 p.m., NBC).

The Spartans have been a thorn in Notre Dame’s side in recent years, and have won four straight meetings in South Bend. They also feature a spread offense quite unlike those Notre Dame faced against Pitt and Michigan. Spartans quarterback Drew Stanton is one of the nation’s most underrated players and has the ability to make plays with his feet and his arm.

Other than instilling his charges with the confidence they were lacking under previous coaches Tyrone Willingham and Bob Davie, Weiss has mentored junior quarterback Brady Quinn into a seasoned veteran. Meanwhile, Darius Walker grinded out some tough yardage running behind the offensive line against Michigan, and may find more room to run in this game.

On defense, Notre Dame’s front – which has won the battle of the line of scrimmage against both its opponents – must penetrate to disrupt the timing of Michigan State’s preferred delay draws and trap runs. The Spartans are not as tested as Notre Dame after a pair of blowouts against Kent State and Hawaii, but their recent run of success against the Irish should give them plenty of confidence Saturday.

Mr. Levine is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.