Arizona passed its first real test in Big 12 play, though nearly surrendering a 19-point second-half lead against BYU raises some concerns. The Wildcats have two more opportunities to fine-tune before a brutal stretch against Kansas, Texas Tech, BYU, and Houston.
A road win at Wisconsin keeps USC afloat, but an undefeated nonconference slate has yet to translate into meaningful Big Ten results. With the schedule easing this week, the Trojans have little room for error. Any slip-up over their next three games could put their at-large hopes in jeopardy.
Virginia Tech missed a chance to strengthen its résumé with a loss at Louisville and now faces a difficult stretch against Duke, NC State, and Clemson. To stay in at-large contention, the Hokies likely need at least two wins from that group, which is a tall order.