Associated Press
The college football notebook …
NEW YORK ó Navy and Air Force are the top choices for Big East expansion, but as football-only members.
Navy is an independent and has played in a bowl eight straight seasons. Air Force plays in the Mountain West Conference and has been to a bowl each of the last four years.
VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ó Virginia is already entering the most critical portion of its season ó and it’s only September.
The Cavaliers (2-1) have said from the outset that getting to their first bowl game in five years is the primary goal this season, and the next five weeks will go a long way toward determining if they succeed.
Beginning with a visit from Southern Miss (2-1) on Saturday, Virginia will be at home for five straight weekends.
CYCLONES SURGING
AMES, Iowa ó Hardly anyone expected Iowa State to get off to a 3-0 start, their best beginning in six years.
The surging Cyclones, picked ninth in the 10-team Big 12’s preseason poll, have the week off before hosting No. 19 Texas (3-0) in their conference opener on Oct. 1 that will rank among the most anticipated home games in Iowa State history.
MAC RATINGS
CLEVELAND ó The Mid-American Conference says last week’s game between No. 4 Boise State and Toledo was the highest-rated ESPN football telecast from a MAC stadium in conference history.