Howdy again, everybody!

Bit of a late update, but I've got you all set up for a fine, fine weekend of football.

Oregon vs. USC, Saturday, 9/26, 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET, NBC
Oregon’s shocking upset loss to Oklahoma State two weeks ago is still the defining story — so far — of this college football season, and their 84-0 frustration-hammering of poor, hapless Portland State doesn’t tell us anything new, because, let’s face it, it was Portland State. This weekend is the Ducks’ first serious test, and they’ve already failed one of the unserious ones. USC is 4-0, and they’ve got something to prove against an Oregon squad that’s beaten them four straight times. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava has faced virtually no pressure at all this year; a solid showing on Saturday can put the Trojans in the driver’s seat for the College Football Playoff.

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh, Sunday, 9/27, 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET, CBS
The Bengals and Steelers have been shoving each other around the AFC North for two decades, and this year they’ve turned up having swapped identities. Cincinnati is 2-0 behind a defense that held Houston to six points, which is not a sentence anyone has written about the Bengals since Joe Burrow was drafted. Pittsburgh has managed 23 points in two games with Aaron Rodgers — the feeblest start of his very long career — and is being carried instead by T.J. Watt and one of the best defenses in the league. Watt is the guy to watch, because Burrow has been among the worst quarterbacks in football against the blitz this year and hasn’t seen a pass rush like Pittsburgh’s yet. Win on Sunday and Cincinnati is 3-0 with a two-game cushion on the Steelers in the division.

Have an excellent weekend, and enjoy the games, everyone!