Another Vick at Virginia Tech

Anticipation for the start of the season is more intense than ever in Blacksburg, Va., where Virginia Tech is ranked ninth and ready to unveil a new Vick at quarterback.

Marcus Vick is the younger brother of Michael Vick, the Hokies' most dazzling player ever, and he's expected to see his first action Sunday against Central Florida.

"He's going to play," coach Frank Beamer said of the redshirt freshman, who spent last season learning the playbook and bulking up from a wispy 180 pounds to a solid 208.

Vick completed 17 of 34 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Tech's three preseason scrimmages, including a 70-yard play.

Big game in Big 12

No. 24 Oklahoma State and unranked Nebraska (7-7 last year) don't get to ease into the schedule. They play each other Saturday in the Big 12 opener, the only conference game before Sept. 27.

"I would normally prefer to open with a nonconference opponent and build into conference play," Nebraska coach Frank Solich said.

The Cowboys are the only Big 12 team to return a 3,000-yard passer (Josh Fields), a 1,000-yard rusher (Tatum Bell) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Rashaun Woods).

Don't-miss weekend

Mark down Nov. 1. It could be the best day of games all year: On tap are Miami at Virginia Tech, Florida vs. Georgia, Florida State at Notre Dame, Ohio State at Penn State, Virginia at N.C. State, and Oklahoma State at Oklahoma.

Quick hits

Michigan's Lloyd Carr has asked fans to stop the tradition of throwing marshmallows - they'll melt and stick to the Wolverines' new artificial playing surface. ... The last time Indiana won its first road game of the season was in 1996, when it beat Toledo 40-6. Indiana's game at Connecticut on Saturday will mark the debut of UConn's new stadium, the 40,000-seat Rentschler Field. ... Southern Cal's Pete Carroll declined an invitation to become a voter in the ESPN/USA TODAY coaches poll, saying, "Someone could do a better job who knows more about it."