With No. 7-ranked BYU hosting traditional ACC front-runner Florida State, and No. 18 Utah visiting Pac-10 power Oregon today, the Cougars and Utes have tremendous opportunity and potential for disaster. Wins against a pair of teams from Bowl Championship Series leagues would be yet another big step in bolstering the credibility of the Mountain West Conference. Losses, though, to programs that haven't exactly been setting the college football landscape on fire this season would be more ammunition for the naysayers who insist the MWC teams don't belong among the big boys. With so much on the line, BYU and Utah need their players to come up big. So, who will do it? The Salt Lake Tribune looks at three players from each team who have to get it done today.

1. MAX HALL BYU quarterback

Hall has been good and bad against speedy, athletic defenses that primarily play man-to-man defense in the secondary. He was able to riddle UCLA last year, but he also struggled mightily against Utah. The Seminoles play man-to-man almost exclusively.

2. JORDAN PENDLETON BYU linebacker

Due partly to Pendleton's blitzing ability, BYU was able to hold Oklahoma quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Landry Jones in check. The Cougars will need to do the same to FSU's Christian Ponder, perhaps the best combo quarterback they will face.

3. ANDREW RICH BYU safety

With fellow safety Scott Johnson (concussion) most likely a game-time decision, Rich will be called on to get the defense in the right formations and limit the explosive Seminoles' big plays, all while working with some relatively inexperienced cornerbacks.

4. TERRANCE CAIN Utah quarterback

The junior is making his third start for the Utes, but since the first two games were against lesser opponents from the bottom of the Western Athletic Conference, this game will give a much better indication of the player who leads Utah's offense.

5. EDDIE WIDE Utah running back

Matt Asiata has rushed 56 times for 258 yards in Utah's first two games. Wide, a junior, has rushed 63 times for 301 yards in his career. But the player frequently used as a change-up back could see his busiest day ever in a Utah uniform if Asiata doesn't play.

6. R.J. STANFORD Utah cornerback

The senior was picked on and picked on by San Jose State quarterback Jordan La Secla and was called for pass interference three times. The Utes are sticking with him and his roommate, Brandon Burton, at the corners against the Ducks, who will test the duo.