UAB: San Diego native Jacob Tauanuu got an early sign that UAB would be the best place to display his football talents.

SOUTHERN MISS: Last year’s game against East Carolina came down to a play in the end zone that the Golden Eagles won’t soon forget.

TULANE: Quarterback Scott Elliott sustained a sprained foot against Mississippi State last week, but appears ready to go for the Green Wave’s conference game against Houston.

EAST CAROLINA: If running back Chris Johnson is coming your way, don’t blink. He’s so fast that he might be gone when you look again.

MARSHALL: The foe is “just” a Division 1-AA New Hampshire team. But with an 0-2 start, Marshall players know better than to look ahead.

HOUSTON: Sebastian Vollmer is a big dude, at 6-8 and 290 pounds. But a back problem left him in pain on the sidelines last year. He’s making a mark in the Cougars’ offensive line this year.

RICE: Expect a wide-open game when the spread offense of Texas Tech meets the spread offense of Rice.

UTEP: Record-setting quarterback Jordan Palmer is gone, but the Miners have been a model of efficiency without him.

TULSA: When the Hurricane take on Brigham Young, both sidelines will be controlled by defensive minds.